Tips for camping with 6 month old

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DH and I have always been keen campers. We have taken DS1 who is 4 camping since he was 18 months old and he loves it. DH has just persuaded me to book a weeks camping in Devon in August when DS2 will be 6 months. He's generally a good sleeper and only waking once in the night for a feed.

Any tips for seasoned campers who have camped with a baby? He is bottle fed so we have bought an electric hook up so we can use steriliser (despite DH saying he could sterilise the over the open fire !) Planning on taking a baby carrying rucksack rather than a buggy due to space? Do I need to take a bumbo or something similar for him to sit up in as I guess he will have started weaning?? And what do I dress him in at night to keep him warm? The more I think about it the worse the idea seems.....!!

We camped with dc3 at 8 weeks, 4 months and 7 months (then 16 months which was an absolute nightmare and has put me off going again!)

The first two were easy as she still fit in the pram carrycot to sleep and was only on milk. I put the carrycot on a padded mat thing to insulate from underneath, it had the sheepskin liner inside and then she wore vest, babygrow, fleece babygrow and grobag with a couple of blankets to add/take away (it was very cold at night when we went). The next time we took the travel cot but that was a bit of a pain in a tent, was too bulky and dug in to the floor. When we take dc4 I’ll have a sim next to ours instead.

We have one of those booster high chairs that straps to a normal chair, easy to take camping and use on the floor for mealtimes, a bumbo would probably work too.

We take some of those interlocking foam tiles to make the floor of the tent a bit warmer/softer for crawling or sitting babies. A picnic blanket works too though tbh.

We went camping with our 10 month old last weekend...I reckon 6 months would be an easier age as probably not quite mobile? I could’t turn my back for a second with DD but it was good fun and she loved it. We took the buggy and it was also what we fed her in but bumbo would be fine too. We had a picnic blanket for her to play on. The weather was hot last weekend but the nights were cold. She wore and long sleeved vest, normal baby grow and a knitted baby grow over the top. We then put her in a grow bag and then in a padded sleeping bag in her travel cot. We have one of those tent style travel cots and it was perfect...not bulky and she was toastie! Take a warm hat for night time. Plan some nice easy baby camping meals you can easily make before you go. Eggs, bananas, avocados, porridge, weetabix, sliced bread are essentials for us as pretty instant food. Clothes wise, take lots of layers and temperature can change so much during day and night. A decent washing up bowl makes a great baby bath too!

Done good tips here so thank you! Not feeling quite so daunted now especially as you guys have done it in (hopefully) cooler months!

Unfortunately DS is s monster baby (over 99th centile) so will be too big for the bassinet so will have to use a travel cot. Will look into the smaller ones though as per recommendation.

I did when our 4th was just a few weeks old, (think we started when she was about 8 weeks 😂) We used pre made up milk in the disposable bottles, costs a small fortune but was so easy for camping. honestly she was no bother at all. I guess your baby will be too big for those bottles now but still premodern up milk. Lots of layers for the night. Otherwise it didn't really feel like any different to being home.

We have the Little Life Arc 2 travel cot and would highly recommend. It packs down into a rucksack.

@mummyhaschangedhername 8 weeks!!! You're brave! DS is a pretty chilled out baby so hoping it's relatively stress free!

@CoffeeChocolateWine i think I'm going to order one of this little arc cots: they look fab.

I reckon you could sterilise bottles over an open fire, no problem. It’s only a case of a pan of boiling water!

Pre-made cartons is a good idea though.

I would take a folding play pen I think. He is unlikely to start mobilising but if you are busy cooking or something you need to protect him from any dog that might run up.

Think about naps in the day, too: inside the tent may well be far too hot. There were days last July when you could not possibly have left a child sleeping in our tent. I would take a tarp so that you can create a shaded area that catches any breeze.

I put my baby in a zip up sleeping bag with usual pyjamas on and then used a buggy foot muff as a sleeping bag in their travel cot with blankets, and that worked well

You can get airbeds with a raised edge for kids to prevent them rolling off onto the cold floor. Like this www.amazon.co.uk/Kampa-Junior-Airlock-Bumper-Bed/dp/B07CRQBFYT?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 . They are a bit big though.

I have always worried about those raised side witness for babies and whether there is a suffocation risk if they roll to the side.

Haha, I know. I actually can't believe it now! She was a c section too 🙈 we just decided to try camping randomly, loved it, went out and bought a ridiculously priced tent and camped most of the summer. She wasn't a bother at all. I think it's because she was my 4th, she just sort of have to roll with it and fit in 😂