Camping with baby

Summer is camping season and for some campers, it's not an adventure you give up when you have baby. While some of us shutter at the idea of camping with a baby due to issues with bugs, weather and sleep, others have no problem sleeping under the stars with their little angels. Here are some tips to help you enjoy a smooth camping trip with a baby.

Pick a good location

If you're camping for the first time with your baby, try finding a campground that's close to home. That way, if things don't go well or the weather gets rough, you are only a short drive home and can probably leave anytime. As well, choose a campsite that is baby friendly so that you are not on a steep bank, it's relatively flat, and there are no water or other hazards close by that baby can crawl into.

Keeping safe and snug

Bringing a sleep sack like one by Sleep Huggers is a great way to keep baby warm and snug. As it gets cooler at night when camping, have baby wear a long-sleeved sweater or jacket inside the Sleep Hugger, as well as a hat and socks. If your baby regularly sleeps in a sleep sack, then this will provide some comfort while sleeping in a new environment. As well, darker coloured sleep sacks won't show the dirt. Sleep Huggers are available in quilted, which are very similar to adult sleeping bags. (Special offer: Save $10 off a Sleep Huggers sleep sack! Use Coupon code: camping0710. Offer expires July 31, 2010.)

Win it!

To help make camping easy, Sleep Huggers is giving away a sleep sack! To enter, simply visit www.sleephuggers.com and e-mail prize@babyvibe.ca what sleep sack you would like to win (please include size or tog rating). Contest closes midnight Friday, July 9, 2010. Winner will randomly be selected.

How about a bassinet or playpen

A portable bassinet or playpen works great. Babies can sleep in their own safe place close to mom and dad. And a playpen is also a great idea for a safe play space outside. Don't forget baby's favourite toys and books.

Monitoring baby

If you use a baby monitor at home, bring it along and remember to bring extra batteries. Speaking of batteries, bring extra for your camera. There will definitely be some fantastic photo opps during your camping trip.

A mat to play on

While hanging around outside, a large table cloth, tarp, or even a blanket is a great way to let baby play while camping. We like the SpillProof blanket by Milk Factory. Made in Canada, the blanket has fleece on one side and on the other side, PVC-free nylon that's water and wind proof.

Make it disposable please

We are huge advocates of cloth diapers but if you are novice to cloth diapering and/or are camping for a while, you may want to bring disposable diapers, which can make camping a lot easier. To keep things eco-friendly, we like the Broody Chick biodegradable diapers. The cool part is the company is based in BC and offers disposable diapers that are fully compostable and biodegradable. If you do stick with cloth diapers, they can be boiled with soap over a campfire and then hung to dry; however, if the weather is wet, drying diapers may not happen.

Bring baby wipes

For an easy solution to clean dirty hands and faces, bring along some non-toxic, eco-friendly baby wipes. We like the Seventh Generation baby wipes as they are free of fragrances, dyes, chlorine, and are alcohol free.

Buzz off insects

Don't forget about bug protection. Insects are worse at or near dusk. Cover up baby's skin as much as possible with long sleeves and pants (we are big fans of BabyLegs). Keep in mind that most insect repellents are not safe for infants. Infants and children can use the Baby BUZZ Patch and for children over age two, we like the Buzz Away insect repellant towelettes. Both are natural and DEET-free.

Sunny days

When the weather gets hot and the sun is strong, it's best to find a shady spot for the baby and avoid peak sun times, which is typically between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Make sure your baby is wearing a wide-brim hat and UV-protected clothing like a sunsuit. The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends babies under six months should not wear sunscreen. Great natural, safe, non-toxic sunscreens for babies over six months, including thinkbaby, Soleo and Badger.

Wear your baby

Remember to bring a baby backpack or carrier so that you can wear your baby while hiking, cleaning the campsite, or just keeping babe safe and warm.

Camping is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle and it's fantastic to connect with nature. If you venture off for a camping trip with your young camper, we hope you have a wonderful, safe time!