Tent Camping with a 6 Mo. Old

We started camping with our kids when they were infants (our first was 3 months old the first time he went!) We always bring a pack and play, but we have the car space to do so. Honestly, they often times end up in our sleeping bag because it's hard to keep them warm at night. We used one of those Halo sleepsacks and lots of layers, including socks and a stocking cap for sleeping. I agree with the other poster that just putting some sort of mattress pad down next to you would work fine. I had bought an insect net for our pack and play, but never felt the need to use it.

If he's not mobile yet, it should be a breeze. We also brought our Bjorn or a backpack to enjoy some hiking. It's helpful to have a place to put them while you're preparing meals or such, but just a really big blanket works (if you don't care if it gets dirty.) And I would bring toys that are easy to wash. Expect that they will get DIRTY! :)

My kids always loved being outside though, so camping was always a really great time! I'm sure you'll love it.

2 moms found this helpful

We have 2-yr old triplets and have camped since they were 9 months old. We bought a trailer just because there were 3 babies but with one - there are some great products out there. I think it is Cabella's that has an inflatable crib and also try onestepahead.com. We also bought folding rocking lawn chairs for "fire" time in the evenings. Take a small spray bottle of full-strength regular Listerine and use it to spray your environment to keep the mosquitos away. Take a sturdy stroller, baby sunscreen, baby hat, a backpack for a diaper bag, and it will be just like you two camping! Enjoy! It really will engrain in him that the outdoors is special! =)

1 mom found this helpful

Hi E.! I took my daughter camping with me on a girls camping trip when she was 2 months old. It went just fine! She did great. I brought my baby bjorn and if we walked anywhere, she was strapped to me. Also, I don't have it anymore, but Fisher Price makes a "Dome Bounce and Play", (there are some on Craigslist)that zips up with a screen-like material to keep bugs out, and it worked perfect for me to put her next to me for bedtime too. It is compact, and folds up nicely. Much better than taking a Pack and Play. I say do it, before she is walking! Enjoy!

If he normally sleeps with you I suppose you will have him sleep with you in your sleeping bags or whatever... but if he normally sleeps in a crib, then buy or borrow a pack n play. You will not regret it, and you will use it a lot in the future, too.

We used a pack and play for our babies to sleep in. We also, layered their clothes and pajamas and they wore snow hats. If they get cold (which if it's cold they will) it will be hard to get them warmed up and back to sleep in the middle of the night. On cold nights we just had them sleep in our zipped together sleeping bags. Not the best nights sleep for anyone, but much less crying.
Make a list of all the things you need for baby all day at home. Then take the things that are must have. We generally had an entire tub and bag just for the baby stuff, not including the pack and play and stroller.
There's not a lot of ease in camping with baby, but my love of the outdoors and camping got us through.

Your post got me to thinking as we will be camping the first time this summer with our wee one. Here's a post on BPN that specifically addresses your question(s):
http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/going/camping.html#6

You've been given a ton of great advice. The only other thing I have to offer is to consider your baby's normal sleep times. We went last year and I was miserable because my then 19 month old was a super early riser, and I just didn't even consider what in the heck I thought I was going to do when she woke up at 5:00 in the morning, it was freezing cold, my husband was off fishing, and my 4 year old was still happily sleeping. It was just a lack of forethought. I was also very self conscious of the hour or more she spent screaming from about 10:00-11:30 the night before from being over tired.

Definitely go for it, though, just think it through, as you obviously are!!!

J.

Hi E.,
I just went camping with my 8 month old for the first time. We have a large-ish tent and I just had her sleep next to me on her own sleeping pad. I used our Ergo carrier on hikes, and kept her well sun-screened during the day and watched out for mosquitos at night (we were in the high sierras.) It was a blast and she greatly enjoyed being outside all the time. We also took a waterproof outdoor play mat and a "ladybug" sunscreen from Ikea.
The only challenge was her normal bedtime is 7-7:30 but because we could not make a dark environment for her she was up till 9 each night, up with the sun at 5 or 5:30.
Congrats on getting your son into the great outdoors! He's going to have a great time.
A.

We too, used the pack n play for our kids until they were too big. Camping is so fun! Just a suggestion... if he does manage to get dirty (which he probably will-although he probably is not crawling), we emptied one of our tubs that we used to pack food and such in, put water in it, warmed some water with the stove to make it bath - able, and gave the baby a shallow bath right in the campsite. It made bedtime routine for the days of camping a real breeze as bath really wound down (after the initial excitement of bathing in the outdoors). Make sure you have your camera ready as I have some wonderful pics of all 3 in the "tub"! :)

Hello. We started camping with our daughter when she was 6 months old. What works for us is a fairly large tent with enough room to put our sleeping bags and a playpen. We have Fiona sleep in the playpen and it works really well. I normally pad it a bit and put a sleeping bag folded up in it, but she loves it! There is even a window right by where we setup the playpen and when she gets up she likes to look out the window, though she is older now (2 yrs old) and I doubt Dunan would have the reach.

Fiona has always done really good on camping. At six months we did use the playpen outside of the tent as well, as there were times when we didn't want her rolling in the ground. Another thing I would suggest is definitely a carrier for him (a sling, etc.) if you don't already have one. Strollers are a pain and aren't really functional for camping, but you will find that a sling will definitely help.

We normally just brought toys that could be used outside or that would work really well in her playpen.

I can't think of any other tips I can give. Have fun and know that it can be done!

H.

We started camping when my son was only 3 months old. It was a challenge. LOL! We brought a pack and play for him to sleep in, worked great, not too big. You and he will be fine, have fun!

We used a pack n play. Something similar would work. We put them in it for sleeping, or when we needed them to be contained, like when we were cooking for example. I had a pack I wore for walking. Small sacks for the dirty diapers to keep smell away from camp. Take extra wash cloths or baby wipes for cleaning. I had a back pack packed with just baby stuff, so it is easy to find. My kids all love to camp and we had so much fun and still do. You'll find a way to make it work. Have fun!

We took our daughter camping when she was 4 months old. For sleeping, I kind of made a little bed for her that was surrounded by our bags. Of course, she wasn't rolling yet, so that was pretty easy. I had people suggest buying one of the sheepskin-lined dog beds for babies to sleep in. Seems like a great idea!

We also brought her travel swing and she sat in that when we were around the campfire. Other people had suggested leaving her in the stroller at the campsite.

Have fun! Now that our daughter is walking, we haven't really considered it--not until she's better at following directions!

We had a two room tent and during the day let him crawl around the tent and play. He slept with us at night in a bed made of two sleeping bags zipped together. I think bringing the stroller,backpack and or carrier is a good idea for around the campfire and trails. We brought a high chair, which was a waste of space when the stroller could service more purposes.
We also had a blanket to play on outside, although with crawling, he had to be watched carefully for what goes in the mouth.

Hi E..

You will have so much fun! An idea for Duncan's sleeping area could be as simple as laying a couple blankets/and or a sleeping bag down on the tent floor next to you guys and have him sleep right there next to you, or even just in between you guys.

My husband and 8 month old have done this with a blow-up mattress as well.

Babies love nature, and I'm sure just being outside among the trees and Ocean will keep him plenty happy. Enjoy your time!