Whether it’s a family camping trip with kids, either car camping, tent camping, festival or glamping, getting it right when camping with a baby is vital to ensure confidence for future camping trips and enjoy the great outdoors with your baby. Thus, we are sharing our Top Tips for Camping with a Baby, along with our camping with a baby packing list that can be used as a printable or digital packing list to help you plan and prepare your trip.

Top Tips for Camping with a Baby And Packing List

1. How Old Should A Baby Be To Go Camping?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best age to take a baby camping will vary depending on the individual baby’s development and temperament. However, most experts agree that it is generally safe to take babies camping as young as 3-6 months old.

Here are some things to consider when deciding when to take your baby camping:

• Your baby’s development. Some babies are more mobile and curious than others, and may be ready for camping at a younger age. If your baby is still crawling or not yet walking, you may want to wait until they are a little older before taking them camping.
• Your baby’s temperament. Some babies are more adaptable and easygoing than others, and may be more likely to enjoy camping. If your baby is easily overwhelmed or has a hard time sleeping in new places this may influence your decision.
• The type of camping you plan to do. If you plan on doing a lot of hiking or other strenuous activities, you may want to wait until your baby is a little older before taking them camping. However, if you plan on doing more relaxed camping, such as car camping or staying at a campground, you can probably take your baby camping at a younger age.

2. Stay Close To Home For The First Trip

Choose the right campground  For your first outing, pick a that’s not too far from home and offers some basic amenities, like a showers and a bathroom. And, if you can, find a shady campsite that’s not too close to others.Its also useful to look for a site with picnic tables, especially if travelling with toddlers. Having a base to to and eat is always useful. Alternatively get a foldable picnic table and take your own. This way there is no drama if you have to nip home, of feel baby is not quite ready. 

3. What Is The Best Thing For A Baby To Sleep In In A Tent?

Pack a travel cot/Moses basket/sleeping pad or Sleepyhead. As you know if your baby feels comfortable and safe, they will sleep better and hopefully take a few naps too! If they sleep in a sleep sack take it with you. 

The best camping bed for tiny tots?

Baby camping bed – We have a couple of Travel Cot reviews here both of which would be great for camping with a baby – Baby Hub Travel Cot and Travel Cot.

4. How To Keep Babies Warm When Camping

Camping with a baby in cold weather can be trickier. Keep them warm with layers, a sleeping bag, extra blankets, even the barmiest summer evening in the uk can be cold in the middle of the night. But also ensure babies are kept cool in hotter weather.

5. Having Feeding Organised Is Key

Breast fed babies need nothing extra, but for if you are bottle feeding you baby why not consider using ready made formula and take Milton cold water sterilising tablets for bottles. Have a bottle prepared for the middle of the night if needs be, or for breastfeeding make sure there is easy access to you, somewhere that offers warmth. Also take a fleece throw just in case. 

Weaning? – pouches, ready made food or home made pots can all be warmed easily on a camp stove.

6. Pack Favourite Teddies And Comforters

Pack their favourite comforter, and a couple more favourite teddies so the cot feels like home. The more home comforts baby has there more relaxed they will be.

7. Tips To Combat Crying When Camping

Consider parking the car in an accessible spot if a quick drive round the block is necessary to calm a crying child.

Toilet blocks usually offer a warmer space and a door to stop the crying travelling if your baby can’t be settled in the middle of the night. So make sure the campsite has great hygiene ratings. Remember if you choose you site well then most people will have been in your shoes and won’t be worried about a crying baby. They don’t cry as loud as you think they do!

8. Packing Tips For Camping With A Baby

Pack twice as many outfits as you think you will need, particularly if crawling as morning grass is wet whatever the weather. If you intend to dine in restaurants consider taking a portable high chair to make meal time easier. 

Pack extra nappies and baby wipes. Wipes are useful for everything and everyone and take a foldable changing mat, these are ALWAYS useful. 

Katy at Otis & Us recommends packing a separate small bag with a few toys/books in and pjs, comforters and bottle just incase you arrive late. Thus saves hunting for everything in the dark !

9. Take A Makeshift Bath Tub

Using a Flexi-Bucket as a bath is a top tip from Claire at Tin Box Traveller. Who says its easy to fill and you can also use it to pack things in in the car too. It will also double up as your washing up bowl.

10. Relax And Enjoy The Trip

Relax – babies feel your stress. If you’re relaxed they will be too. Enjoy it – have fun – after all that’s what it’s all about!

Be prepared for changes in routine. It’s important to be prepared for changes in routine when camping with a baby. For example, your baby may need to eat more often or sleep in different places. Be flexible and go with the flow.

Take breaks. Don’t try to do too much when camping with a baby. Take breaks throughout the day to rest and relax.

Have fun! Camping with a baby can be a lot of fun. Be sure to take some time to enjoy the outdoors and create lasting memories with your family.

Start small. If you’re new to camping with a baby, start with a short trip and gradually increase the length of your trips as your baby gets older and more comfortable with camping.

10. Take A Pack And Play

Bring a portable crib, pack n play or playpen. This will give your baby a safe place to sleep and play.

Bring plenty of snacks and drinks. It’s important to keep your baby hydrated and fed, especially on hot days.

Be prepared for the unexpected. Things don’t always go according to plan when you’re camping, so be prepared for anything. This includes things like bad weather, lost items, and cranky babies.

11. Take Insect Repelent

Bug bites are awful and being prepared with nets over sleep pods and using a gentle insect repellent such as Avon Skin So Soft will protect baby from bites. 

Get Our Ultimate Camping With A Baby Packing List

So here is our ultimate packing list for Camping with a baby, or you can download the printable lists by scrolling down and clicking on the download image below, which will give you our printable guide. You can use this as a printed checklist or upload the PDF to Goodnotes and use it as a digital copy.

Camping With A Baby Shopping List At A Glance

Clothing

• Several changes of clothes for baby for each day
• Bibs
• A sun hat
• Baby Grow
• A sweater or jacket for cooler weather
• A swimsuit for swimming
• Clothes
• Shoes
• Swimming Stuff
• Sunhats Sunglasses
• Arm bands
• Swimming costumes and goggles
• Swim nappies
• Kids towelling robes/cover-ups
• Light clothes (T-shirts, shorts, skirts, dresses, etc)
• Jumpers/cardigans and jeans/joggers (for cool evenings)
• Underwear
• Nightwear
• Waterproof coats

Nappies And Changing

• A nappy bag
• Nappies to cover each day plus extra
• A changing pad
• Nappy rash cream
• A small bin with a lid
• Wet wipes, take extra they come in handy for everything

Feeding

• Bottles if your baby is bottle-fed
• Muslin squares
• Sterilising tablets or bags
• A breast pump if you are breastfeeding
• Formula or breast milk
• Snacks and drinks for baby
• Bowl and spoon in weaning
• Infracol for wind

Sleeping

• Portable crib or playpen
• A sleeping bag or blanket for baby
• A noise machine or white noise app to help baby sleep

Medicine Essentials

• Shop bought First Aid Kit: plasters, antiseptic wipes, a few bandages of different sizes,, triangular bandage, safety pins, saline solution, etc.
• Calpol 2 months + Piriton 1 yr + Infected-eye drops (we’ve had problems on 2 previous holidays)
• Paracetamol and ibuprofen for adults
• Loratadine (antihistamine) tablets for adults
• Insect repellant spray and insect bite crea
• Aqueous calamine cream (good for mild sunburn and minor skin rashes)
• After sun
• Sanitising hand gel Flexible ice pack (for bumps and bruises as well as keeping your picnic cool)
• Sunscreen, we love refillable roll on sunscreen bottles.

Other

• Rain cover
• A stroller or carrier
• Drinks bottles and sippy cups
• Zip lock food bags and plastic clips Cling film and tin foil
• Washing powder
• Three tea towels
• Spare batteries/battery pack
• Laundry bag
• Travel adaptors Books and games e.g. jigsaws, deck of cards and travel board games.
• Speaker and iPod
• Bath mat or inflatable tub
• Antibacterial Surface Wipes
• Matches/lighter
• Potty/toddler toilet seat
• Bin bags
• Small Phone chargers
• Back pack/beach bag
• Small over the should
• Battery fan
• A toy or two for baby to play with
• A camera to capture all the memories!

Get Our FREE Printable Packing For Camping With A Baby List

Click here or the link below to get the download from our free printable shop. We have popped in everything we can think of into our digital and printable camping with a baby packing guide, if you think it needs adding let us know.

For more posts on Camping with a Baby why not check out:

Camping with a Baby from Travel Mad Mum

How to Survive and Enjoy Camping with Young Children from Travel Loving Family