Camping With Babies & Toddlers
Camping with a baby or toddler can often be a daunting and overwhelming task. Being unprepared with respect to supplies and activities can leave your young children irritable and upset, making the trip a potentially draining and difficult one. According to Faithfully Free, keeping the duration of your camping trip shorter rather than longer will help decrease the chances of your children getting bored or losing interest in the trip.
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Supplies
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Before heading out with your baby or toddler, it is important that you have adequately packed for your camping trip. Washing your baby may prove difficult while on your camping trip. Choosing a campground that has some wash facilities will provide you with a clean source of running water. If you have a small baby who does not yet walk or crawl, bringing a small rubber tub on the trip will give you a sturdy and mobile bin in which to wash your child.
Child-safe bug repellant is another essential item for keeping your kids free of bites and stings. While sunscreen will create a layer of protection for your children, bringing strong clothes, such as khaki and denim, that cover the extremities of your child will also help prevent the sun from doing damage to their soft and young skin. In addition, you will need a family sized tent, snack food and a camping and first-aid kit in case of an injury. Packing a play-pen for your baby can also help keep him in a secure and enclosed environment while camping.
Activities
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Keeping your baby and toddler entertained for the duration of your camping trip will help prevent boredom and irritability and will tire out your kids, making it easier for them to sleep in a foreign environment.
In addition to basic hikes and picnics, you can work on specific arts and crafts, such as bird seed pine cones, with your kids. Spread peanut butter on a pine cone and stick bird seed into the peanut butter. Have your toddlers place the pine cones out in nature and wait for birds to come nibble at the pine cones. If your children are too young, simply have them watch you craft the pine cones.
Other activities you can perform while camping include building a fort out of tree branches, playing hide-and-go-seek in the campground or bringing out crayons for your toddlers to let them color or draw what they see with regards to the landscape around them.
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Duration and Camp Site
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The duration of your trip and the specific camp site you choose is crucial when camping with babies or toddlers. If this is your first trip with your baby or toddler, taking her on a weekend camping trip will allow you to see her ability to adjust to a new environment and climate. If you find your child waking up early and crying through the night, limiting the trip to two to three days will allow you to maintain patience and keep the trip a positive experience for the child. In addition, keeping your trip short also will make it easier for you to keep the trip filled with activities and stimulation for your kids. In terms of an appropriate camp site, it is important to select sites that are not directly next to rivers and lakes. This will help reduce chances of an accident or a child crawling away and getting into the river, according to Cascadia Kids, a travel information website. In addition, selecting a site with minimal traffic will help keep your kids safe and free to explore the campground.
Caution
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Taking your children on a camping trip can potentially be dangerous if the proper precautions are not adhered to. Always bring warm clothing and blankets to the campground. While your camping days may be warm and sunny, campgrounds in the mountains often get extremely cold at night. Keeping your child consistently warm will help prevent any illnesses or ailments while camping. While wandering the campground, it is important that you know the wildlife that lives in the region. Poisonous snakes or animals that may cause a simple inflammation of the skin on an adult can do extreme harm to toddlers and babies. Baby-proofing your camp site with gates and enclosures can help minimize chances of injury.
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References
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