Camping Trip - Grand Prairie,TX

my husband and I are avid out door people...though it's been a while since I have been out fishing or golfing with my hisband since we had our child now over a liittle over 14 months now....it's getting warm, and am starting to itch to get out there on camping grounds again but this time with our little one...any advice on how to pack and what to take...and how will I get my child to sleep in an outside enviroment, or even in a tent????

what would be most helpful to take and or be smart to take???

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K.B. answers from Tulsa on February 25, 2011

Take the baby's favorite toys and blankets and put the usual pjs on with additional clothing on top.

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S.H. answers from St. Louis on February 25, 2011

use a packNplay for safety! It works....we've even used one on the riverbank for infants & toddlers.

Try to pack lots of drinks (hydration, hydration!), sunscreen, & child-safe bug spray. A really good 1st aid kit is mandatory, especially one with some burn cream. A few toys, books....& a fav blanket.

& most importantly....pack that camera. You'll have lots of photo ops!

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K.B. answers from Tulsa on February 25, 2011

Take the baby's favorite toys and blankets and put the usual pjs on with additional clothing on top.

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R.. answers from Chattanooga on February 25, 2011

You might try seeing if he will sleep in a pack n play (or a co-sleeper thing) before taking him camping. If he will, take it with you for him to sleep in. :)

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T.K. answers from Dallas on February 26, 2011

As a resident of Grand Praire, you get free entrance to camping at Joe Pool lake. I forget the name of the park, but it's the entrance right before the Marina and restaraunt/bar south of Camp Wisdom. Take your 1st trip right here at home, 10 minutes down the road as a training session. That way if you forget something or it's not going so well, you are just around the corner from home and you can pack up and sleep in your own bed or send honey home for that 1 thing you forgot. If that goes well than you know what to expect and what you'll need and you can start to venture further out.

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M.E. answers from Dallas on February 28, 2011

We also take a small pool or water table with us camping. The kids love it. If its not warm enough for water then you can add balls or any toys to the pool and they will play in it for awhile, this way keeping them off the ground.

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C.J. answers from Dallas on February 28, 2011

I totally agree with the packnplay. If you head to a national park or plan on doing any hiking, I would invest in a hiker back pack for you child. My son was seven months and we went to Grand Canyon. I rented a Kelty for about $5 a day and it was worth its weight!
As far a places, lake texoma has some nice spots and there are some other parks near here that are perfect weekend getaways.
As I mentioned we did the Grand Canyon with our kiddos and last summer we treked to Yellowstone and camped, but we also stopped in Steamboat, CO and camped - great.
You all could hit the four corners or Durango. All great!
have fun:)

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S.B. answers from Kansas City on February 25, 2011

we got a cosco pack-n-play from Walmart specifically for the outdoors so that we wouldnt have to worry about dirt in the one we use at my grandparent's house.

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J.O. answers from Chicago on February 25, 2011

Bring the stroller! Also if your kid is arunner as away from your you may a pack n play too. We use the over sized cots and the baby sleeps on mine. Just remember you are outside and will be dirty. Dirt happens so be ok with it. Also bring along a few favs of the kiddo. Also try to get a campsite closer to the bathroom/showers and water. Have a good time!
J. O

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K.L. answers from Washington DC on February 25, 2011

We started camping with our son when he was 5 wks old. Take extra outfits, plenty of snacks, sunscreen and any special lovies or blankets.

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A.S. answers from Spokane on February 25, 2011

I've been camping with all of my little ones. My youngest was only a couple of months old the first time she went! We really like to rough it and I never had a problem with them falling asleep at all. They're usually too tired from all the running/swimming/climbing etc. they do during the day. Just make sure to pack plenty of extra clothing (washing them out in the creek is not fun; learned that the hard way), diapers, and blankets. I love footy jamma's for the kids at times like this. Bring his toys you won't mind getting messed up or are easy to wash.

If you're concerned about him wandering off, bring a play pen but I never brought one. I just put cow bells on all the kids so I know where they are. They clank pretty loudly! A few times I did tie a rope around my daughters waste and secured it to a tree so she could still wander quite a big but not be under foot if I was cooking.

As soon as we set up camp, we always recount all of the rules of safety such as no running, no touching the fire etc. It's worked well for us. :) Oh, and we didn't pack any special food for them, even when they were toddlers. We cooked everything over the fire and took nothing processed with us.