Tips for camping with a baby
Every
summer, families enjoy fun and relaxing camping activities. However, if you
have a baby, camping may seem impossible for a while. After all, toddlers need
a lot of equipment and attention.
It's
true that camping with a baby takes more effort than camping with adults and
older children, but it can still happen.
Plan your trip carefully
Adults
may go camping for long periods of time, in bad weather or on the spur of the
moment. However, if you want to go camping with a baby, you need to plan
everything around their needs.
If the
weather forecast is particularly hot, cold, or humid, you may want to postpone
your trip. A temperature between 4.5 and 26.5 C is considered a comfortable
temperature for your baby to play outside. Higher or lower are uncomfortable or
even dangerous conditions for your baby.
Choose a safe campsite
Once
you have chosen the best time to camp, you need to choose a safe place to camp.
What many adults consider normal can be dangerous for your baby. Even small
things like shallow streams or gravel can be dangerous for your baby. If your baby
can crawl, it's important to think about what's within reach.
Look
for safe, flat, grassy campsites. This avoids the risk of the baby drowning,
falling or cutting themselves on rocks and gravel. While not as scenic as your
regular campsites, it is still safer for your baby.
Give yourself space
The
cry of a baby is one of the most audible sounds in the world. The human brain
is ready to notice the crying of babies and hardly ignores them. In a quiet
campsite, a crying baby can and will attract the attention of everyone within
earshot.
If
you're going camping, it's important to be polite to other campers. When your baby
is with you, look for campsites away from other campers. This will help you
deal with difficult baby behavior without disturbing the neighbors' sleep at
night.
Protect your baby
Walking
outdoors sounds like fun, but it's not without risk. When your baby goes
camping with you, you must take steps to protect them. If you are annoyed by
the sun and insects, consider how much worse it is for your baby.
To
prevent your little one from getting sunstroke or sunburn, choose
age-appropriate sun protection. Sunscreen is not recommended for children under
six months of age, but other products may help. These include brimmed hats,
long sleeves, and portable screens. In the heat of summer, it is also worth
avoiding sun exposure during the hottest part of the day.
Insect
bites are another serious problem for young children. Experts say no insect
repellant is safe for babies under two months of age and that products
containing DEET should not be used on young children. Instead, they recommend
dressing your baby in long sleeves, socks and closed shoes, and using mosquito
nets whenever possible.
You
can also apply mosquito spray on your tent and other lotions on your baby's
clothes to protect them from ticks.
Bring help
It
takes an entire village to raise a baby, and camping is no exception. Having
trusted adults nearby makes it easier to supervise and care for your baby while
camping. Bringing extra family or friends on a hike can also make it easier to
carry extra gear such as baby food, bottles, diapers, playpens, extra clothes
and toys.
Have a diaper plan
If
there is one thing that babies always need, it's diapers. Whether you're
planning on a one night stay or a longer hike, you'll need a plan for how to
handle dirty diapers while you're away.
If you
choose a campsite with amenities such as public toilets, this will be easier.
You just need to bring enough layers with you to last the whole trip. However,
it never hurts to bring spare layers with you. You should also pack your usual
diaper changing gear, such as diaper rash ointment and wipes.
If you're going to a more secluded area, you'll need to find a way to compost diapers or bring used diapers from the park. A washable, waterproof, and odor-resistant diaper bag is a worthwhile investment if you're going on a hike off the beaten path. Otherwise, compostable diapers can be buried like other waste.
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