Camping Baby Gear

MrsSarahRenee · May 2014

I did a search for this and I didn't find anything. I kind of hate the bump search - I think it is useless, so if this has already been addressed recently I apologize!!!

DH and I camp often and I know DH wants to camp even after baby comes. I am a FTM and due in October. We won't camp until the following summer 2015, so baby will be not quite a year. So, any camping people out there? What is necessary gear for baby? Do people use the PNP for camping or something else? What about hiking carrying gear?

ALSO, feel free to tell me I am nuts for camping with an infant, because I feel that way but DH won't listen. Sigh.

dogperson11 · May 2014

I don't think you're nuts, but it will definitely be different then camping pre-child. The kids going to get dirty, especially if it's crawling/walking. It's going to put things in its mouth. Gross things. Our friends take a giant tarp and set it on the ground and keep their baby on that while they're in camp. They use their PnP if they take their big tent but if they take a small tent they use a cardboard box (calm down folks, it's lid free). They also have a portable high chair and love it.

ciao! baby Portable Highchair, Sage by ciao! baby https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A47J6YU/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_2yOGtb0HN54DG

LittleFish1 · May 2014

i have not seen your question come up on here in the year plus have been following the board, but seem to recall a camping discussion once on my BMB. Maybe introduce & ask on the Parenting board.

Camping is doable though; my parents drove to Alaska from California when I was about 10 months old, so is doable. You'll definitly want some sort of a carrier. As your LO gets bigger, would be using a framed carrier but when younger could still do a soft structure. Have heard about people using PNPs.

BBColt78 · May 2014

I would definitely suggest a good carrier that is comfortable for you. Are you into babywearing? An Ergo may work good for you because you'll be able to do a back carry with it. I loved back carrying my DD.

drpayne · May 2014

My oldest is 3 and I can just now imagine taking him camping. My kids as infants wouldn't sleep in a tent with us right there. I'd see how you're feeling about it closer to when you'd consider going as opposed to buying gear now. Camping with an infant sounds pretty miserable to me... But that's just my 2 cents!

AKB090609 · May 2014

If you plan to hike I would suggest a nice pack rather than a soft structured carrier. We have and love the osprey poco plus. I also like our go crib for camping because it is inflatable so it can't rip tent fabric.

chardonnay24 · May 2014

We've been camping with our kiddo since he was about 5 months old. When he was little, we used a pack n play. Last summer, he was 2.5 and we had him sleep on a regular air mattress with us. This year, he'll have his own little air mattress and sleeping bag. We take a North States Super Gate and set up an area on a tarp with some outdoor toys to keep him contained when necessary. Otherwise, I just don't worry about the dirt and let him wander around on the ground (once he was walking). We always brought our regular booster seat (FP Healthy Care Deluxe booster) for eating, since it's small and portable. As far as hiking, I used the Ergo comfortably with him until last summer. He was 2.5 and about 30 lbs.

Good luck! Camping with a little one is not really a ton of work but it's a lot of fun! My son loves camping now at 3 and I'm glad we've been able to take him and give him those memories.

MrsSarahRenee · May 2014

Thanks all! Yes we are going to do baby wearing so we are already looking at an Ergo and a soft wrap too. I will look into those other suggestions too.
I think DH really wants a backpack to carry baby with also. He wants to backpack with baby. Hmmmm.
I am definitely going to see how I feel and feel out baby's temperament before we camp.
I will check on over at parenting as potential camping gets closer! Good idea!

SunAndRain · May 2014

We took DD camping once when she was an infant. It was fun but she didn't sleep well so it killed the idea for us after that.

We put her in a PNP in the tent. She slept next to me part of the night too. But she went to bed before we did so a PNP was super helpful.

We also brought her FP space saver high chair which was great because holding her on my lap for one meal is fine but for several meals per day over a few days is exhausting and not fun.

We have two carriers. I cannot recommended either highly enough.

When DD was a newborn I would hike with her in my Ergo. I have the performance model. I also used this to travel...it has been fairly indispensable.

Once she hit 6 months we switched her over to the Cadillac of framed baby back packs: Osprey. I SO love this thing and DD is a happy hitchhiker in it. She is 22 months now and we still hike with her in it. Super comfy for her. Totally adjustable to fit me and DH perfectly. Easy to adjust on the trail so we can switch off (even the torso length which is critical for a proper and comfortable fit). And has loads of bells and whistles like a canopy and stirrups for DD. It is only around 6 pounds too which is light considering!

Well, I also have a moby wrap which is a pain so I never used it and would be ridiculous in the outdoors considering all the fabric dragging that goes on while you wrap that thing around you umpteen times.

MrsBigTime · June 2014

We went camping with our 9 month old last summer and it was definitely different than pre-kids, but totally doable!

I loved having my Bumbo, and I would bring a lot of blankets you can set on the ground and let the baby play on. I think if she was smaller, I would have appreciated a bouncer.

We brought our Ergo and used it a lot.

We have a GoCrib, but didn't bring it because it was too big to fit in our tent. We borrowed a "Pea Pod" from a friend, but honestly, the baby ended up sleeping with us (she was big enough to hold her own on the air mattress, but none of us slept very well, TBH).

I packed some very warm clothing for DD, including a Carter's bear suit and hats and mittens. At night time, I put her in socks and a long sleeved onesie under her fleece pajamas and she was toasty warm.

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