Baby (or toddler) On Board! How to camp with a little one

 We brought William on his first camping trip when he was only 3 months old! 

Not only did we learn quickly that we needed a bigger camper, but we also learned that camping with a baby is going to be a whole new experience! Camping with a baby and a toddler is challenging, but manageable. The below suggestions and tips are what work for our family. Anyone who is a parent knows that every child is different. I hope that the below thoughts give a jumping off point for what could work for you and your family! 

Before I talk about the differences between babies and toddlers, there is one thing in my mind that remains the same- SLEEP! I am fully aware that everyone has different styles and opinions on sleep, but I am sure we all can agree on one thing, everyone enjoys the camping trip when everyone sleeps well! 

Our personal camper has bunks, one big space for kitchen, dinette, and couch, and then a separate master bedroom. Our rental has a separate bunkhouse. For me, it is all about the separate sleeping space. The bunkhouse is WAY easier because we can put the Pack N Play in there and close the curtain when we put him to bed. In our own camper, we have to put him in the middle of the main room (so he can't reach anything along the sides), rig up a monitor to attach to the cabinet, and then either sneak into our room or outside until he falls asleep. When we go outside, it gives us a little time to hang just us before we play the dangerous game of sneaking past him to go to bed. We typically leave the AC on Fan mode so it acts like white noise while he is sleeping. We also have an old iPhone where we have a white noise app that we play while he sleeps. Did I mention that I don't play when it comes to sleep? The monitor may sound a little nuts, but it gives me piece of mind, so we bring it along.  

Camping with a baby

My "must have" items for camping with a baby include:

• Pack 'N Play
• High chair that attaches to a table
• Stock of medication (Tylenol, Benadryll, Montrin, syringe)
• Monitor
• Drying rack (for bottles)
• Baby carrier (We have the mesh Lillebaby)
• Portable bath tub or blow up bath tub. Most campers have a shower. You can also use the sink if it's big enough
• Warm PJ's (it's typically colder in a camper than your home)

I feel like babies are MUCH easier than toddlers. We brought our stroller and baby carrier and just took him everywhere- the beach (add sun tent, water diapers, sunscreen, portable fan to your list), on nature walks and hikes (add bug spray), playground with swings, local breweries, etc. You name it, he has visited while we were camping! We typically plan our days around his nap schedule and the weather. 

Camping with a toddler

This one I am still in the process of learning and living! My boy took his sweet ole time learning to walk. He maybe walked for an entire day, because after that day, all he knew how to do is run! He is a bundle of energy! We bring a few different items now than when he was a baby.

• All the snacks 
• Portable DVD player/Kindle (rainy days stuck in 100 square feet are tough)
• Books and toys your toddler typically doesn't play with
• Microwave safe plate, utensils, and cups
• Booster seat instead of high chair
• Pack N' Play, monitor, medication, warm PJ's
• Sidewalk chalk, kite, water toys/tupperware

Before I go camping, I look up my proximity to the playgrounds and any type of hiking trails. I try to come up with a morning activity and an afternoon activity. Of course weather and time of year always come into play. If it's something popular, we typically go in the morning. William is an early riser which is a blessing and a curse! For example, the pool at Ft. Wilderness hits max capacity fast (and its heated!) so we try to get over there earlier in the morning before they start turning guests away. If it's the dog days of summer in Florida, we try to go for hikes or to the beach earlier in the morning and look for indoor activities in the afternoon (watching movies, inside crafts). We also bring our bikes if for some exercise and a good way to see a campground (add helmet). Sometimes our favorite activity is just running around the camping loops to look at the different camping setups. Both of our campers also have an extendable awning to provide extra shade next to the camper. This is where we can  setup some outdoor crafts or even an outdoor meal at the picnic table. That blow up bath tub you brought can also get use as a mini pool!

No matter what age, camping with kids takes some planning! If you are thinking about bringing your little one, but you are still hesitant, please shoot me an email and ask anything. I can always tell you what has worked for us, or give some suggestions based on our experiences. Our rental camper is perfect for families with kids (did I mention an entire bunkhouse with 4 bunks?) Feel free to email me at flipflopdreamsllc@gmail.com or check out our RVShare link with pictures by clicking here.

Thanks and Happy Glamping!