Some of you like the idea of camping, but your kids are still very young and in diapers. Or you may even have a newborn. Don't rule out a fun camping weekend just yet!
Camping with babies and toddlers does take some extra planning and flexibility, but it can be done. Here are some tips and suggestions.
Ditch the stroller. "Are you insane?" I hear you cry. Yes, but that's not the point. Look, a stroller is great for sidewalks, roadsides, and the mall. It is a royal pain in the patootie if you're trying to go for a walk in the woods. The wheels get caught on tree roots and lurch over rocks. Both you and your child will be Very Angry. Leave it home.
"But I can't carry them the whole time." you say. "My arms will fall off!" And you'd be right, if I expected you to hold them in your arms. But what if I told you about a miraculous thing called baby wearing? There are big-name brands out there willing to sell you a baby-wearing rig for big-name bucks. But for a weekend camping trip, there's no need to spend lots of money for a new carrier that you or your kid may or may not like. Check around for a local baby wearing group. Some of them have lending libraries of different carriers that you can basically rent for a limited period of time.
Or, if you're in a rush (like I usually am) and need something right now, you can make your own. The Internet is a great resource for tutorials on making and tying a wrap carrier. A cotton-knit, no-sew, stretchy wrap carrier can be made in 5 minutes. Spend another 15 minutes online watching how-to videos for wearing your baby or toddler, and you're all set to try it yourself!
"What about bottles?" That's a great question; I'm glad you asked! Your preferred powdered formula brand probably has a pre-mixed variety you can use for the weekend. Another tip is to pre-fill baby bottles with safe water (mixing instructions state that the powder be mixed with boiled or bottled water), & stash them in the cooler. You then add the powder and shake to combine just before feeding. Some babies like the cool drink in the summer months; if yours still prefers to have their bottle warm, you can heat the bottle in a pan with a couple inches of water over the fire or camp stove. Obviously, you will shake it and test it on your arm to ensure a safe temperature before plugging it into your baby's mouth, because you're responsible like that.
Diapers are pretty much a given with tinies. I've camped with kids in disposable diapers, and I've camped with kids in cloth diapers. I've camped and run out of disposable diapers and had to MacGyver a cloth diaper out of a dishcloth, then fashion a cover out of a plastic grocery bag! Just take a bag for dirties and make sure you pack more diapers than you'll need, and I promise, you'll be fine. My rule of thumb is to take a dozen more per kid than you think you'll need. And remember to pack wipes and diaper rash cream!
Take a play yard (formerly called play pens when I was but a wee lass). It will do double-duty as a safe place for baby as you make or break camp while also acting as a nice, comfy bed. And sleep is a huge deal for parents of small children. You'd like to get some, amirite? Generally, there's enough going on that camping kids are worn out and sleep better.
One last thing: make sure toddlers get their own flashlight or light stick. They will annoy you with it, true, but they will be occupied and more importantly, feel empowered once it gets dark. It's generally around bedtime that toddlers stop thinking of camping as a fun adventure and realize they're outside at night. The light will be part talisman against scary sounds, part light-saber to defend against imagined scenarios. It's also handy for making silly faces or shadow puppets to distract any littles who become frightened.
See, you can camp with your baby! Is camping with a baby more work? Sure, but life in general is more work with kids. You can make this happen with a little extra planning.
Have fun!
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