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Camping with a Baby

Camping with a Baby

By Louise Tanguay

I’ve camped all my life - from 6 months old, apparently. We’ve also kept up a strong family history of camping, often going away for 2-3 weeks with extended family. We like to camp in remote locations, with little in the way of facilities…the best locations are usually DOC camps or those in the middle of nowhere.

We’ve had some amazing holidays and some rather hairy camping experiences. We’ve had flash floods, been out in the thick of it with the highest rainfall ever recorded and more. Great!

So I thought it was timely to share a few pearls of wisdom for those of you embarking on your first camping trip, or your first camping trip with kids…cause it's just a little bit different from camping without kids!  

Being away from the comforts of home might seem a bit daunting at first, but it’s such a great opportunity to spend some time in nature and away from the stresses of everyday life. We reckon you should just give it a go! Here are some tips to make camping with your baby easier.

Family hiking picture taken at a beach

Where to go camping with a baby - Choose your spot wisely

We love to spend time in DOC camps, usually in the middle of nowhere as they tend to have stunning surroundings and can be less crowded than campgrounds in bigger spots. But if you’re a first-time camper, it might be a good idea to stay closer to home or other amenities. Here are a few things to think about when choosing your camping spot.

 

Travel Times

When choosing your campground be aware of driving times from home and also think about when you’ll be travelling. Boxing Day and New Year’s Day can be ridden with delays as everyone heads away at the same time, so think about the dates you're travelling on and where you’re going to / through to avoid being stuck in traffic.

Leave early if you can. It’s hard to pack up the car and get out the door early with little ones in tow, but try to get away as early as you can. That gives you plenty of time for stops along the way and you won’t feel pressured to keep driving to get to your destination quickly.

If you’re travelling more than about 5 hours, consider breaking the journey and staying in a cabin or motel for a night on the way. Driving long distances takes a long time with kids, so it may be best to keep it shorter, especially if you’re only away for a few days. Don’t forget to allow time to set up your tent before it gets dark (especially if it's new)!

 

Campground Location

Think about how close you want to be to amenities - do you want quick, convenient access to supermarkets and cafes or are you happy to be away from it all? Being in a small town means you can nip out to a supermarket if there’s anything you need, whether it’s more food, sunscreen or something from a pharmacy. A short walk/car ride can make all the difference - especially if there’s a cafe with great coffee nearby!

Think about access to water. If you’re near the beach or rivers, make sure there’ll be enough space between the tent and the water and ensure you can watch your children easily, especially the little ones. You also don’t want to be too close to a river because of the risk of flooding. Even if the forecast is good, rivers can rise in a very scary quick time, as we found out when a metre of water went through our tent in a flash flood.

Similarly, a campground with lots of shade would be ideal. It can get hot in tents and sitting under a tree with the breeze is an easy way to keep babies and kids cool.  

When you arrive take a look around to watch out for any immediate hazards, particularly if your baby is mobile and loves to climb.

 

Camp Amenities

If you’re new to camping or it’s your first time with little ones, consider choosing a campground with lots of amenities. Think BBQ’s, kitchens (with equipment), a decent toilet block, playgrounds and more. These can take the pressure off packing as you don’t need to take the proverbial kitchen sink. Younger kids are also likely to be happier with warm showers and a proper toilet vs a ‘scary’ long drop. You can leave the full wilderness experience for when the kids are older.

Amenities such as playgrounds, jumping cushions and pools are an easy way to keep the kids entertained without having to go too far, and you’ll often find other families too, so the older ones can make friends easily - taking the pressure off mum and dad for entertainment!

How to sleep in a tent with a baby

When it comes to sleep, babies can be hard work at the best of times, let alone when they’re in a hot, light-filled tent, away from their usual comforts. So, how can you try and get your baby to sleep well when you’re away?

Go with the flow. 

It can be tough to try and maintain your cool when you’re in the thick of it, trying to get a baby to sleep. It can be stressful & tiresome, especially if you’re tired yourself, but try to be flexible. If it’s too hot for an early bedtime, keep your baby up longer and aim for an extra or longer nap during the day. For younger babies, naps in the buggy or a front pack are a great solution during the day. Likewise, if you have slightly older kids, who can hear others playing outside, why not just let them play? You’ll likely only get stressed out trying to get them to sleep when it’s light and noisy. If you’re lucky, you might get a sleep-in in the morning…..

Buy the biggest tent you can afford and make sure it’s waterproof.

Sounds basic right?! But some tents just don’t cut it and there’s nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night, wet. Make sure it can stand up to a decent wind as well; just because it's summer doesn’t mean the weather will be good. Remember, it’s cyclone season in the tropics and they do make their way to NZ!

Ideally have separate rooms in your tent.

Having your own space means you can keep your things clean and dry. I’ve also found that my kids (and I) sleep better when we have our own spaces. Even if the walls are canvas!

 

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Keep the sleep environment as similar to home as possible.

Use the same sleeping bag, the same comforter (for baby's 7 Months +) and if possible, the same sheets so your baby has the comfort and security of home. Familiar smells and comfort can help your baby drift off sooner.

Use a portacot with a blackout shade cover.

It’s a good idea to try out the portacot at home for a few nights before you go away, so baby can get used to sleeping in it (and so you know how to put it up). To help keep distractions at bay and to darken the sleep space, you can use an Air-permeable Travel Cot Blackout Cover over the cot whilst bubs is sleeping. This also works well if you want to place the portacot under a tree during the day, so there’s a bit of a breeze and you can keep the baby cooler, but still block distractions. The shade cover can also help keep pesky mozzies at bay.  

If you have a newborn, a Sleep Tight Baby Bed is also an excellent option if you don’t have a travel cot. It’s smaller than a portacot, which is handy if you have a smaller tent and is safe for unsupervised, overnight sleep.

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Use White Noise.

Campgrounds can be noisy places, so use a portable White Noise machine to block out the sounds of kids playing, adults socialising and early morning birdsong - as lovely as it sounds, no one wants to be up with the larks!

Use a rechargeable fan.

Tents can be hot and sweaty during the day and early evening. A small rechargeable fan may help the airflow enough to your help baby sleep during the day.

Shop the Crane Rechargeable Bedside Fan + Lamp

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Nightlights.

It can get very dark in the middle of nowhere and toddlers & kids who are used to a nightlight will squeal very loudly in the middle of the night when they wake up and it's VERY dark. There are some great solar-powered options, or you can choose one with batteries. Also, get some solar-powered outside ones to show where your tent ropes are or you will trip over them when you get up to the loo.

 

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Naps on the go - take a buggy/baby carrier. 

If bubs isn’t sleeping well during the day, take your baby out for a walk in the buggy or nap in the front pack. A buggy is great, as you can park under a tree and sit and read a book yourself - yay! Remember to keep bubs covered from the sun with a buggy shade cover - this also doubles as blackout, reducing distractions so bubs can get to sleep faster and stay asleep longer.

Equally, a baby carrier is a good option if you want to have a mooch around the shops or a walk in the bush. If you're going to be going for some serious hikes, the Trail Magik Carrier is a great solution as it simply clips to your back pack. For shorter walks or around town, the Boba X is comfy and if you have a toddler over about 2, the Beco Toddler Cool is a great option - especially when they love to walk, but inevitably fade quickly and want to be carried.

Shop shade & blackout for summer travel >

Conveniences. 

If you’re pregnant, pack an extra container to pee in during the night. Actually, even if you are not pregnant, getting up in the rain and dark to walk to a long drop is not fun. One of the low points of camping….be prepared!

 

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How to dress your baby at night when camping

Tents can be notoriously hot during the day and early evening and freezing cold in the morning. This can be a bit of a conundrum for us parents as we want to prevent early waking from the cold, but not end up with a hot sweaty baby who won’t settle to sleep in the evening. The key to this is breathable layers, such as merino.

 

Use merino.  

Merino is highly breathable and great for keeping a baby warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot. It has moisture-wicking properties and can absorb up to 30% of its weight in water - great for nappy leaks and sweaty bubbas. Merino also resists soiling and odours, much better than other fabrics, so requires less washing - perfect for camping. And if it does need a wash it dries very quickly.

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Layers.

The key to dressing bubs is layering. Take several variations of layers so you can adjust to the weather wherever you are. Singlets, long and short sleeve bodysuits, zip suits and socks can all be layered up depending on the temperature. Take a room thermometer with you if you’re worried about layering and use the guides that come with your sleeping bag. After a couple of nights, you’ll naturally work out what helps keep bubs comfortable.

Don’t forget warm clothing for yourself too! We love our Woolbabe Relax! Lounge Pants and Lamington Socks for keeping cosy as well as the range of Icebreaker merino for adults.

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Bedding

Take lots of bedding. Basically, work out what you think you need, then add more for bedwetting, leaky tents, and then add more blankets cause it will be colder at night than you expect. If you’re using a baby bed that sits on the floor, use wool blankets underneath to prevent the cold from getting up through the mattress. In fact, bring one for everyone, because camp beds and airbeds are freezing to sleep on!

Be prepared. Even if the forecast looks great, take wet weather gear - rain jackets & gumboots and gear for the cold weather, beanies, wool socks and more. You never know when the weather might change and it’s better to be prepared than caught out with a little one.

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How to keep baby comfortable while camping

Spending time outdoors is great for everyone, but it’s also important to keep delicate skin protected, especially in Australasia where the sun is particularly strong.

 

Seek Shade.  

Where possible play in the shade of trees or use a beach tent/umbrella for shade. Taking a small inflatable paddling pool or baby bath can be great fun for bubs and it’s easy to place them in a shady spot to keep cool. It’s recommended to keep little babies completely out of the sun until they are at least six months old.

Limit Sun Exposure. 

The Australasian sun is notoriously strong, so if you are taking your baby out in the sun, go early in the morning or late in the afternoon, not midday when the sun is at its strongest. Cover up with hats, sunglasses, rash shirts and sunscreen when your little ones are playing in the sun. Bed head, Ro.Sham.Bo

Shop Sun Safety for babies and toddler

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Repel the insects.

It’s not recommended to use bug repellent on extremely young, babies, so for little ones, you’ll need to look at other preventative measures, such as covering up with clothing or using a citronella candle near your campsite. If you’re taking a buggy and/or are using a travel cot, you can use an insect/mosquito net to keep bugs at bay and if your baby is over 6 months you could use a natural repellent such as Tui Bug Balm.

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Feeding your baby when camping

Keep it simple!


Cook things like spag bol at home and freeze them in an ice cream container. They stay frozen for days and you just heat them up. If you have a young baby, you could pre-prepare some frozen purees/meals/smoothies to defrost and/or heat or you could stick to ready-made pouches and jars from the supermarket. It’s your holiday too, so you want to make it easy on yourself as well.

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Take non-breakable, easily identifiable serveware.

We love the Re-Play range of bowls, plates, cutlery, cups & more. It’s made from recycled materials and comes in an array of bright colours, perfect for the outdoors - it’s durable and bright, so won’t get lost!

Depending on how remote you’re going, you could take lots of tinned food - kids can survive many days on baked beans and tinned spaghetti! If you have access to a barbecue, you can’t beat sausages, bread and sauce for a quick, easy meal. Chop up some cucumber and tomatoes and you’ve got some veg too. Remember, spending lots of time outdoors can make kids (and adults) hungry, so take plenty of food!

If you’re camping remotely, freeze your milk! A mixture of 1, 2 & 3 L bottles is good and it acts as an ice block to keep your chilly bin cold. And on that note, avoid opening your chilly bin. Every time you open it, it warms up a bit. Take a couple of chilly bins (eski’s) – one for things you are using regularly like margarine or cheese, and the other one which we only open very occasionally…like to sneak out the cold sav at 5pm. Yes, wine o'clock definitely still applies when you are camping, sometimes even a bit earlier than at home.

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Other useful items when camping with kids

There are lots of ways to make camping easier with kids. Some of it does mean you need to pack more (eek) but it may just save your sanity. In addition to the points above, here’s what I like to take:

 

  • Clothes Pegs
  • Brush and pan to sweep out the tent
  • Matches
  • Waterproof picnic rugs - great for dewey grass in the mornings. The Little Unicorn Outdoor Blankets are my fave!
  • Waterproof overpants if you have crawlers
  • Highchair
  • Lots of buckets - the big flexitubs are perfect for waterplay, washing and really anything you can think of!
  • A headtorch with spare batteries - great for hands-free. Black Diamond is my favourite brand of lights for camping
  • Art box with stickers, paper, pens
  • Balls & cricket bats
  • Games that can be played inside - hopefully there’s no rain, but you never know….
  • Some treats for you - wine, chocolate, a good book - something to look forward to at the end of the day
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Camping with a baby - tips from our community

We reached out to our community of followers on our socials and here's what they had to share about their experiences of camping with babies & young children:

  1. Have been taking our children since the oldest was only 2 months old. I found camping with a baby easier than with a toddler as you can feed them to sleep. My tips are: still put the kids to bed early if you want them to have enough sleep as they will wake up with the birds and sun (I feel like the sleep grinch making my kids go to bed while others are still running around enjoying the evening daylight but I’d rather have happy kids than tired kids). Don’t stress too much about other people hearing your crying children in the night. If it’s not their child most people will just ignore it and continue sleeping. Have fun, get messy and enjoy the time in the outdoors (clothes and bodies can be washed). Also camping with extended family or friends makes for a great holiday as there are more adults to be on children duty (especially to give you a break when they’re young and need constant entertainment). Oh and a big tarp/shelter is a must in case of endless rainy days

  2. I take a white noise machine for my son to help block out the surrounding noises so he can sleep.

  3. We have taken our kids camping every year since our youngest was 6 months old - she is now 8.5. We try go when the campgrounds that aren't so busy. Either before Christmas or late Jan before they started school. This year and next we went between Auckland anniversary and Waitangi as the kids school went back quite late. I think the biggest thing is just to be relaxed and know that regular nap times and bed times need to be flexible. We also take them for a walk along the beach after dinner before bed to wind them down and wear them out just that little bit more....

  4. If you can do the zip from bottom to top when doing it up so you don’t have any escapees and it is easier to check on them as the zip is at it height and not down on the ground.

  5. We used to go camping as kids all the time and my mum literally took a kitchen sink, during winter she had a tent that had a pot belly inside lol. We are taking our 2 year old and will be 7-week old camping after Xmas.....but mums going too so the setup will be just like home lol.

  6. We had a practice the week before. we set the tent up in our backyard and pretended we were camping. We even cooked on the BBQ and ate outside the tent and did teeth outside. It was useful not only to prepare my son for the night noises but also to check we had warm enough bedding. And to check the baby's cot fitted. A head torch is invaluable! We also take a stovetop espresso maker which is critical after a rough night. my baby was only three months so I was still feeding frequently. Oh and early morning quiet games. Kids not in a blackout portacot are up when it's light and it's very light in a tent.
  7. All our kids have/will be tent camping before even old enough to start solids! Tips: Plan in advance, write lists so you don't forget anything, don't stress, give yourself loads of time to get there and home again and enough time in between, camp with others so you have extra hands (we camp with my parents and they have a caravan which is great for shelter from the weather and somewhere a little cooler than the tent for naps). To get naps from babies in such hot weather we find lying them on my parents' bed in the caravan in just a nappy with a cool slightly damp cloth on their tummy works wonders&nbsp. Take Pamol, teethers, antihistamines (hayfever for our oldest) etc just in case. Colouring books, board games (things to keep them busy but quiet). Sunscreen, insect repellant. BIKES! Life jackets for playing in the water. Something easy like jandals/gumboots for toilet-trained kids to throw on in the night for dashes to the loo, rather than fumbling with shoes/sandals. Lots of blankets for the portacot for the night, or we more recently started using Ergopouch arm warmers so the arms are warm too. Most of all: have fun! Make memories, and take a few photos to enjoy reminiscing over later&nbsp
  8. My eldest was a crap sleeper but every time we went camping she slept awesomely! Taken her camping since about 4months old. Buy a cheap fan for when they daysleep and go to bed at night and turn to face on them!
  9. Definitely white noise machine, and porta cot blackout. Means they can nap anywhere e.g. under a tree in the breeze. Love camping with kids!
  10. We took our two-year-old camping last year - one thing we found to be helpful was buying some battery operated fairy lights to put up inside the tent. With no ambient light, it was very dark for her without any light at all

 

From everyone here at The Sleep Store, we wish you a wonderful camping adventure with your little ones and look forward to hearing your stories and seeing your photos. And our fingers and toes are crossed for good weather for you and us! Louise xx