Camping with a baby

[TheJiminyConjecture]

I'm after your top tips for camping with a baby please.

We've camped a reasonable amount as a family but never with a baby. DD2 will be 9 months at Easter.

How do you manage meal times? Do you bring a highchair? We usually just sit in camping chairs around the BBQ, which I've just realised she won't be able to do!

Thanks for any/all tips

Anyone?

Yes at that age we took a high chair - we had the IKEA one so it didn't take up much space.

Could they not sit in their buggy for food?

There is an absolutely fantastic camping forum on Facebook called 'Tent Talk' I guarantee if you join the group and post the same question you'll get plenty of answers.
I have only been camping since my youngest was 2 (now 4 so we only have two seasons behind us) so can't offer any advice myself - but recommend you join Tent Talk immediately !!

Easier to do it now than when they can walk/escape. I took DS camping when he was about 18 months old and it was a nightmare because every time I took my eyes off him he disappeared.

But, practically, DC can eat in their stroller, or if you have a high chair that's easy to take, by all means.

Remember it will be a lot colder in a tent so take lots and lots of warm clothes and bedding. We went in the Australian summer and it was freezing overnight.

If they are formula-fed, think about how you will make up bottles.

After all that, people go camping with babies and toddlers all the time. It must be do-able!

Easter is v early this year - it is likely to be cold at night, so think about maybe a travel cot to get DD off the floor and use as a playpen during the day. It is way too early for me to camp and personally i would be doing holiday house, but i have a rule that I won't camp if the night time temp is below 10C which, for Scotland, is normally May!

We took dd camping from when she was 6 months. We took a bumbo with a tray for her meals, then when she grew out of that sat her on the floor on a mat.

Those bubble travel costs are great, if you put blankets over the top it is nice and dark inside and dd slept brilliantly in hers.

Lots of layers for bed - vest, baby grow, fleece baby grow, sleeping bag and blankets.

Put baby to bed then sit outside your tent with a campfire and

Enjoy!

Travel cots, not costs

Thank you

We have the Ikea highchair but I'm not sure if it will fit. I'm an over packer!

I did think of the buggy but she gets so messy!

I joined tent talk after recommendation from here so will ask over there too. I just got the rest of our camping tips from here it was the first place I thought of!

More replies whilst I was typing. Thank you.

I'm planning on putting her in a travel cot with all the layers under/over etc. We use it for cabin type hols and she generally sleeps well in it so I'm hoping if we get the layers right she'll sleep.

We're down south and will have EHU so will buy a heater to take the chill off so hopefully it won't be too bad. If all else fails we're not far from home so can bail!

I used my pushchair when dd was young enough to need it. It's higher than most though and was partly bought because it can be used up close to a table. I had a blanket that I could chuck over the seat unit to keep it clean but it also sponge cleaned very easily. You can also get booster seats for example the polar gear 5 point harness one which can fit on a suitable chair. We camped quite early in the year last year and put dd in tights, leggings, t-shirt, long sleeved top and then a sleep suit over the top, she slept in a sleeping bag on a blow up mattress which was on top of a thermal backed rug. she was fine I was the one who was cold.

The most useful thing was a large tarp. We used to sit the babies in the middle of it with toys and food. Also all-in-one waterproofs

Thanks Jacks sounds about right that the DC are cosy whilst we freeze!

Got the puddle suit Really, will get a cheap tarp too. Thanks for the suggestion