Camping with 5 Month Old???

I love camping!! I have 4 children whom all started their camping lives at 5-7 months of age. Everything you usually use for a day at the park or family BBQ will be fine. Sunblock, hats, onesies little swimmers(just in case you wanna carry him in the water with you) sun shades, umbrella or something that keeps baby out of the direct sun. You'll be fine and baby will too.

I camped with babies. Most important thing is you will not have the fun you used to til they are about 9-10. With infants/toddlers, you will need to lay down with them at nap & bed time. There are too many different smells, sights, noises to expect them to self comfort. As long as you realize that, you will be ok. and other campers dont have to hear screamin baby. Have fun!

I went camping with my 3 month old over Memorial Weekend and I brought the pack and play which I set up in the tent. It worked perfectly for naps and bedtime. It helped that I brought a blanket/sheet from home that smelled like her. I also would recommend plenty of old blankets/tarps so you have a place to lay him down near everyone else to play. It got exhausting holding her when we went. Other than that, enjoy!!!!!

R.,
I went camping with my son who then was 6 months old. He is now 18 mths old and we had so much fun. We brought our son's saucer, his travel swing, stoller, and a front pack. I know it seems like alot to pack, but believe me they were life savers. We had a motorhome for bathing so that was convenient, but bring a large bucket for bathing in if showers are not available. It works great. Just heat alot of water on the stove, fill it with the hot water until it is as full as you want, then add some cooler water to the bath. It works great. They say no sunscreen or mosquitoe repellent until 6 months, but I would use a little of each when you need it. I would much rather a minor skin irritation than a sunburn or west nile virus. Use a hat that has a rim on it so to cover the babies ears. They burn easily too. I would bring pack and play with plenty of warm and cool clothes. Bring LOTS of diaper wipes and extra bottles if you use those. Don't forget swim diapers if you will be going into the water.
Relax, and have fun. It will be an adventure.
Trish

We went camping with our daughter when she was 5 months old. She had just begun crawling so that was the most difficult part because she wanted to crawl not be held. I would make sure to bring a play pen so you can put him down when you need to. Also, bring lots of baby wipes. If you are bottle feeding make sure to bring your bottle cleaner. Nights get really cold so bring warm pj's and jackets. I also brought a super large blanket so I could lay with her on the ground and she would have room to crawl without crawling in the dirt. Hope this helps! Have a great time!

S.

We went camping when our son was about the same age. We brought the jogging stroller, a backpack, and a big blanket that he could play on while hanging around the site. We thought he would sleep in the pack n play but it ended up being too cold at night so he slept with us on an airmattress. I brought clothes in case it was hot or cold. We just went again and out son is 11 months. We lathered him suncreen and forced him to wear his hat! His crawling brought us a whole new set of camping challenges! Good Luck!

Lots of sunscreen (check with your doctor on which brand) and the pack n play. I love camping! The pack n play is great because they usually have mesh sides so you can see inside and it provides some much needed breeze that is hard to come by in a tent (ok, I know we're probably the only family left that tent camps!) Have a wonderful trip.

Two things, if he goes in the cold water make sure you change him immediately into really warm clothes after you dry him and they you can always put him back into cooler clothes later. Also, at night and early morning put a little knit cap on his head that covers his ears just for the first night. My friends daughter got awful ear infections from camping. Have a great time-enjoy!!!

If your son is crawling, and not happy playing in a pack n play very long, consider bringing a blow-up kiddie pool. Without water, it makes a great "corral" for active little ones! We brought a large one (from Target) for playtime and our daughter's pack n play for napping and tent sleeping when we went camping a few weeks ago, and the pool was a life saver! Have a great time!

R.,

I have camped multiple time with my boys when they were infants. One of the best things we bought was a chair that attatched to the picnic table (or any table). I've seen these chairs at Target, Babies R Us and Walmart. It actually comes in handy when you travel and visit family/friends too. You also have to have a play pen....no doubt.

Hi R.,

I remember camping with my little ones when they were that age. Now I have a 3 month old and we have not been camping yet. Anyway, I would go prepared with a pack and play (so the baby can be inside), long sleeve outfits to protect from the bugs, sunscreen, a hat to keep the sun out of the face, plenty of toys to entertain, lots of clothing, diapers, bouncer, and anything you know your baby will enjoy to keep him happy.

Have fun,
C.

Hi R.!

Well, it will definitely be dirty :o)

Try to think of ways you don't have to "hold" your little one. This can get old while camping, and there are not too many places to put him down without getting TOTALLY filthy.

I loved hanging a swing, and having a highchair seat that attached onto the end of a table. Later, I purchased a Booster seat (it had a tray too) that attached to a picnic bench or any other chair for that matter. This way he can sit up and play without getting too dirty.

Another idea we liked, was to add a large tarp to our "entry". This way we could sweep the dirt off regularly and our boys had a little space to crawl around.

Pack lots of wipeys and rinsable toys, not plush. Also, extra crib sheets would be nice. Dirty feet make dirtier beds!

Hope those ideas help.

Have fun!

:o) N.

A portabale crib/playpen, if it can fit.

Extra clothes for layering or changing more frequently.

We went camping with my 2 1/2 year old and 3 month old and had a great time, it was for 7 days. People are telling you to take a pak-n-play, we took a bouncy seat by graco and she loved it. She was able to sit up, slightly reclined, and see everyone and was still off the ground. Take extra clothes and if you are not breastfeeding, something to make washing and drying the bottles easy. We also bought a net (babies r us) that you can put over strollers and play-pens to keep her covered at night when she was laying down in her play-pen while we were visiting outside so the mosquitos couldn't get her. Other than that have fun. It is easy, just tiring holding the baby all the time. Thank God my family was around to take turns.

Hi R.,

I am an avid camper and have taken my children from very small as well. All of the suggestions the other moms have said are right on the money. Play pen, seat that atatches to the table, warm sleepers, extra clothes, wipes, wipes and more wipes. My suggestion though is on how to keep from annoying the camp neighbours. I just went camping this past weekend and in the camp site next to me there was a little one. Now let me tell you I love children and have six of my own. Furthermore I do not annoy easily. However, when the child is left to cry and cry and cry when others are trying to sleep. So what I wanted to say was, during the camp quiet time make sure you at least try to soothe baby so that others can enjoy their trip also. I really do hope you have fun and so does baby. Good luck and God bless.

Wipes, wipes and more wipes. We went camping when my baby (now 6!) was 7 months old. We went to a place that was basically dirt. We put the pack and plan on top of one of the picnic tables that was there and put a blanket over the top to keep out any critters. Luckily it was a family reunion type camping trip so my mother in law helped out a lot. It was a lot of fun, but I think I went through 2 packages of wipes over the weekend. Mostly to give him wipe downs when he got too dirty. Hope this advice helps and have fun!

I've camped out twice with my 5 month old (born Feb. 29) and it's been great! Are you "car camping" or backpacking? I recommend you get a pop up shade. I use this every time we're outdoors. It's tiny and easy to manage. I got it from One Step Ahead. It packs up in a small circle with straps to wear it as a back pack and literally pops into it's tent shape as soon as you open it up. No poles, no straps. It's genius. I suggest you practice closing it at home before your trip cuz that's part's a bit tricky. If you get the pop up shade from One Step Ahead, they have a video demo of how to fold it back up, which is essential to watch because it is very specific.
-Bring a baby gym mat and a light sheet to cover it with for shade if you don't get the pop-up.
-Bring a Bumbo Seat or something like it.
-Get some Rit brand wash-in sunscreen and do a load with all the clothes and hats he will wear on trip so you don't have to put sunscreen on him. You'll find it in a drug store in the Dye section. Not the sunscreen section.
-extra tarps and ground coverings to keep him and his toys from getting too dirty.
That's all I can think of for now. Have fun!!

first off be happy you are doing it BEFORE he starts crawling. camping with a crawler is not so fun. if he is still pretty staionary when you put him down then all you really must have is a blanket and maybe an umbrella and some of his fav toys. and of course stoller and baby carrier. since he is still a little guy you need only what you would normally use on a daily basis, especially if he is still just breastfed. your family will probably be with him all the time so maybe you won't even need his toys! have fun!

R.,
I just got back from a camping trip in North Tahoe with my 9 month old. I had it a little easy however because my mom had a trailer. A couple things that made my experiance VERY easy with him, is to get one of those "baby gate" things. Its in the shape of a circle and they can be used for both babys and pets. We had one of those and put a tarp under it along with a blanket on top, so that way your baby can play. Also if you are wanting to go on hikes, a "snuglie" baby backpack sort of thing will be easier then carrying or a stroller. One other thing is a porta crib for sleeping and possible playing.
I hope this helps... let me know if you have anyother questions, have FUN and good luck!!! :o)

lots more clothes than you think you will need. Especially if you want hem to sit on the ground at all. If you are feeding solids, bring a clamp on high chair for the picnick table, the phil and ted Me Too chair is the best! Bring motrin in case you get a fever or teething in the wild. Extra wipes can be used to clean off hands and double as a wash cloth for faces. There is a travel pod thing that works great as a nap place. I forget who makes it but it gets put right on the ground or in your tent and has mesh sides/cover to protect from bugs and sun where as a pack n play doesn't do this. It is fun to share all the different sights and sounds with your baby. And if they are not crawling yet it will be much more fun for you. Once they start crawling and are not walking yet, not so fun. Everything in the mouth and constantly filthy.

Enjoy!

Bring a play pen. You will use it alot. He won't be able to hang out on the ground.

Pack and play with a bug net and your sense of adventure.

Have fun!!

We went camping and even to india with our kiddos starting at 1mos (india was at 6mos with the calmer child), and I think you are going to have a blast. I've never been big on packing toys as my kids find the random things we pick up along the way more interesting - like sticks, rocks, dirt, etc. The one exception is shovels and buckets and trucks as those things get most use on camping trips moving the dirt, rocks and sticks. Bubbles are clean fun toys and great for cleaning the kids up before meals when you aren't very close to water.

The only things I consider critical are a bumpo or baby seat, a good travel cot and a warm sleeper. The seat is important because you need someplace you trust to sit your kiddo. My favorite is actually the phil and teds that attaches to the picnic table because you'll get tired of your kiddo eating dirt after a while, and want to set him someplace out of reach of the dirt. But a bumpo would be cool too. Warm sleeper because with a 5mos old, I'm not too big on blankets and if you are in a tent, nights can be chilly. My kids both liked to have a reminder of home, and my daughter is in love with her crib, so we always pack her sleeping cot (by phil and teds). There are other portable travel beds, and even a portacrib might work depending on where you are camping. The key was to get something that you could feel comfortable setting your baby down in for a few hours while you are earshot from him. I swear I don't get kickbacks from phil and teds, I just had some specific requirements for my india trip with the little one and they happened to make a few products that met my needs of being durable, portable, small and light.

You guys are going to have a great time, and as long as you bring a safe place to sit the kid out of the dirt and a familiar sleeping situation, you are set.

We have lvoed many camping trips with our kids now 7, 5, 2 1/2 and 10 months. Our only thing that is a must when we have babies along is a round plastic basin to bathe them in. The Bumbo Seat is also great while they aren't mobile but we're big baby holders and often go camping with extended family so a place to put the baby isn't a big deal. We sleep the baby with us. Once they start crawling prepare to get DIRTY! Hav efun relax and don't plan too much for each day. Also if you are going someplace hot take several washcloths or hand towells. We use wet washcloths as air conditioning for the babies and toddlers as if there is swimming they often think the water is too cold.

Where did you and your family go camping?

R.,
Hi. We loved camping with our kids.We took our then 5 month old daughter camping, and it was a fun time as always. I did cheat a little because my parents had a house about 20min's from our camp site, so we had access to a bathtub etc for baby. But she did stay with us at the campsite for most of the time. The one and only PROBLEM we had is she had trouble trying to go to sleep in the pitch black dark. I never expected an infant to be afraid of the dark....We tried everything! I finally took her into the car & rocked her with a nite lite on, this helped calm her because the car was familar & it cut down on the crying screams that everyone in the campsite heard....One thing about being in the wilderness, sound carries.If this had not worked I probably would have had to use Plan B which was to drive her down the mountain to my parents house. I know not everyone has a Plan B(a parent or family members house) like I did but, it may be a good idea to have one. A friend of mine & her family went tent camping and they rented a local motel room for one day. They were able to have a shower/tub for the kids, have access to a phone/computer etc. this was also the nite they went out for a nice local dinner. They still stayed at the camp ground that nite but it gave everyone the chance to clean up, the kids a couple hours of tv time, dad checked e-mail. Just an an idea...Hope you have a wonderful time!!!

bring your pack n play, baby wipes,sling or Bjorn and just realize it will be a little different with a little one to take care of but still fun!