Essential Baby Camping Gear

Created in partnership with Morrison Outdoors. Bringing your baby camping and enjoying the great outdoors together is a dream for a lot of parents. There is just something special about introducing your children to an activity you enjoyed before they were born or that you enjoyed as a child. And while camping with young children is not always easy, planning ahead always helps the experience run a bit smoother. Favorite Baby Camping Foods Being prepared when it comes to food is one of the easiest ways to help your camping experience turn out as you’ve dreamed of. Happy and well-fed babies, mean happy parents, right? These favorite baby camping foods and tips are perfect for newbie campers and seasoned damping pros. Note: If your baby takes a bottle or eats formula, make sure to bring clean drinking water to prep and cleaning. Fruit/veggie squeeze pouches Whether you make your own or buy them from the store, these pouches are an incredibly convenient food source to have on hand while camping. Not only are they easy to store and require no prep at the campsite, but they are also easy for babies to eat anywhere. Sharing whatever you’re eating Babies love trying the food mom and dad are enjoying, so make camping life easier by planning to feed them a bit of whatever you are planning to eat yourselves. Are you grilling corn over the fire, cooking up some eggs, or making a foil pocket meal? Depending on the age of your baby, you can mash up a bit of the food your baby has already had or just feed them small pieces of everything. Pro tip: Plan ahead to ensure you have one item per meal your baby will eat (or has already tried) is an easy way to make this option a success. This baby camping food is geared more toward the slightly older babies, since introducing new foods is not ideal while camping. Fresh fruits and veggies Most parents start feeding their babies fruits and veggies first, so most babies are accustomed to eating mashed or pureed fruits and veggies at home. Keeping mealtimes similar to at home can help ensure babies feel comfortable while they experience the sensations of camping. Easy to mash foods, such as bananas, avocados, berries, or cooked peas make prepping meals easy while camping. But many of these easily mashable foods are also a bit harder to store, so having a space to store them without accidentally squashing them is something you consider before you head out on your trip. Finger foods Babies love to feed themselves and if your baby is already accustomed to eating crackers, cheese sticks/pieces, bananas, and other finger foods, then bringing them along is the perfect option for camping too. Many of these can be prepped at home or are easy to prep right at the campsite, so they help make camping easier for everyone. Camping foods for older kids While you are enjoying your camping experience with baby, some of these other food ideas may be helpful for both you and older children if you have them. Not only are these camping food ideas easy, but they've been tested by other camping families and passed the child-friendly test. Cooking by the Fire: Fun and Kid-Friendly Camping Recipes Easy Camping Meals for Kids   What are your favorite foods to bring along for baby while camping? OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES: How to Dress Baby for Cold-Weather Camping How to Choose a Baby-Friendly Campsite Essential Baby Camping Gear Tips for Sleeping in a Tent with Baby Photos by Deanna Curry.   ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.

Created in partnership with Morrison Outdoors. One of the biggest stress-inducing aspects of parenting a baby is getting them to sleep soundly so you can sleep soundly. This is also one of the main reasons that most parents hesitate to take their baby camping. If they don’t sleep that well at home, how can they sleep in a tent in the wilderness? While it’s true that you may be up a few extra times in the night, there are ways to make sleeping in a tent easier for both you and your baby. In fact, we found that sleeping in a tent with a baby wasn’t that different from sleeping at home. Here are some tips to help you all get some sleep and stay comfortable while camping as a family. Wear Your Baby Out This is especially true for older babies. There is so much to see and do while camping and keeping your baby active by exploring the campsite, hiking, swimming, etc. can help wear them out. Even young babies can delight in their new surroundings, with tummy time in a portable crib or on a blanket taking in the new sights, sounds, and smells. Stick with Bedtime Routine, But be Flexible If you have a set routine at home, keeping the main elements of the routine in place can help get your baby to sleep in the tent. For example, you can get your baby into pajamas/warm layers, feed them, read a book, and sing a few songs before settling them into their sleeping area. However, you may need to be flexible with the time they go to bed due to daylight streaming through the tent. You can cut down on the light by leaving the rainfly on the tent and draping a blanket over the windows. Also, I found that my little guy woke up needing comfort more often on camping trips, so I allowed him to nurse a bit more than usual. Maximize Space If possible, use a larger tent than you would normally need for your family. This allows you to spread out and fit a little extra gear to maximize comfort (such as a portable crib). It also allows you to move around the tent and grab baby for nighttime feedings without jostling everyone else in the tent. If a large tent isn’t possible, try placing baby in the middle of two adults in a small bassinet or makeshift “nest” of rolled-up blankets to maximize space. Just be sure your baby is safe with no extra bedding that could cause a hazard. A Portable Crib/ Pack-and-Play is Your Best Friend This little piece of equipment was a lifesaver for us! It provided a safe space for our baby to sleep in and kept him warmer since it was raised off the ground. It is also useful during camp set-up and break-down along with meal prep to keep baby contained and safely out of the way. If your little one is accustomed to using a Pack-and-Play at home, having one at your campsite can provide a sense of normalcy in their new surroundings. Dress Baby Warm Enough, But Not Too Warm It’s tempting to layer kids up to the point where there is no way they can get cold. However, a hot baby is usually a miserable, fussy baby. When my older son was a baby, we dressed him in wool base layers followed by a fleece sleeper and a sleep sack on top. This worked well when he was an infant, but as he got older, he wasn’t a fan of having so many layers on. We now use a Morrison Outdoors sleeping bag for my younger son. With two temperature ratings to choose from, it can take the guesswork (and stress) out of keeping your baby warm and comfortable at night. My toddler likes them because his arms are not confined so he can still move around throughout the night. Check out this article for more information on these sleeping bags for kids from 6 months to 4 years old. Bring a Few Comfort Items for Baby Keeping the sleeping environment in the tent relatively close to the home environment can help your baby accept their unfamiliar surroundings. This could include a favorite stuffed animal or blanket, a few pacifiers, a favorite book, or even some soothing music. Both of our kiddos have a really hard time falling asleep in the quiet. The sound of nature (crickets, wind, water, etc.) usually does the trick, but on particularly quiet nights, we sometimes had to resort to using a white noise app on our phone to help them get to sleep. It did the trick and made for a more restful night. Don’t be afraid to use what works at home, just be wary of bringing too much (tents only have so much room!). Do you have any tips or tricks that make sleeping in a tent with a baby easier? Let us know in the comments below!   OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES: How to Dress Baby for Cold-Weather Camping How to Choose a Baby-Friendly Campsite Essential Baby Camping Gear Favorite Baby Camping Foods   Photos by Deanna Curry     ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.