Are you a parent of a newborn and love to camp? Do you want to take your baby on his first camping trip?
Most parents and experienced campers who have gone tent camping or car camping with babies know that it can be a challenge. And what about when the weather turns bad?
Babies need a lot of attention and bringing yours on a camping trip in bad weather requires some consideration and preparation.
Here are some tips for camping with a baby in cold weather to help make your trip a success.
Can babies camp in the cold?
You can take your toddler camping in winter if you take the proper precautions.
Infants are more sensitive to cool temperatures than older children and adults because their skin is thinner. They spend most of their time crawling on the ground which is often damp and cold and because they have less body fat to help insulate themselves.
Read on so you will have the knowledge of what to pack for camping with a baby in cold temperatures.
At what age should you take a baby camping?
It is best if you take your baby tent camping when he sleeps most of the day and night.
If you want to take your baby camping before he turns five months, you should first check with the pediatrician if this is ok for him.
Here are some things that you should consider when choosing a time:
- How much cold it gets at the campsite (if it’s too cold, don’t take him outdoors)
- How many hours of sunlight is there in the day (the more hours of sunlight you have, the better to take him camping when it is not too cold).
If you’re going camping during your baby’s first three months, you should consider NOT taking him.
How do you tent camp with a baby?
If you are an avid camper then you have probably thought of camping with a baby.
Babies require your full attention and you should be prepared to do a little bit more to ensure that they are comfortable outdoors.
You can’t leave them unattended as this means that wherever you go you take them with you. This could limit your movement and exploration activities but it will give you the chance to camp together.
The chilly weather presents another challenge that you will have to consider. However, with some creativity, you will provide your family with an enjoyable first trip outdoors.
Camping in cold weather with a baby
Consider the baby’s necessities and useful tips for taking care of your infant to have an enjoyable tent camping trip when it gets chilly outside.
Baby camping clothes
How should you dress your baby for winter camping? To make sure that your newborn doesn’t get cold, the first thing that you need to do is to have enough baby clothes to keep him warm.
The temperatures at night can get really low so make sure that your child is properly clothed.
If you two will go on short hikes, dress the child weather properly and put him in a backpack carrier that will ease the trail exploration.
What type of clothes should he wear? Make sure that he has several layers on to stay cozy and warm. The ideal fabrics include fleece and wool as they retain heat better than other fabrics.
Pack baby clothes that can be worn one piece after another for easy diaper changes and more layers if needed.
Clothes for 3-6 months old babies
For babies, 3-6 months, bring sleeveless bodysuits or tops with full or three-quarter length fleece pants and headbands to keep ears warm. Avoid hats in the first six weeks of life because they can cause a baby to overheat.
Clothes for 6-12 months old babies
For toddlers, 6-12 months, dress them in long-sleeved bodysuits or shirts, full-length pants, and headbands under a bunting for extra warmth.
Add sweaters with long sleeves that can be rolled up when it is hot. Outdoor pants are also a great idea to keep his legs warm while crawling.
Clothes for 12-18 months old babies
For youngsters, 12-18 months, choose long-sleeved shirts under overalls with pants over the bib.
Allow sleeves to be rolled up when it is hot. Bring a hat to protect the head from the sun. Consider packing outdoor pants.
A baby should have wool socks or another type of thick socks all the time as well as a hat for extra warmth because he will lose the most body heat through these body parts.
He can’t tell you when he feels cold so you must think for him.
However, there are signs to look after such as clammy and pale skin, and shivering. All these signs point to hypothermia and you should add a base layer or two to keep him warm and healthy.
Baby camping sleep
On what or where will you put your infant to sleep? Consider carefully beforehand, because small children (unlike adults) can not always control their body temperature.
A sleeping bag
A sleeping bag with a hood is an excellent solution. You can buy it at any store that sells camping equipment or go to one of your friends who often go on outdoor excursions and ask to borrow one. You may also want to buy a thin liner to keep him comfortable.
A baby sleep sack
You can also opt for a baby sleep sack (or a wearable blanket) that can be used as a replacement for cumbersome blankets.
Most wearable blankets are made of fleece to keep the baby warm but it is not good if it covers too much of the upper body and legs as this can make him feel uncomfortable when wearing multiple layers of clothing.
Take a baby sleeping pad
It is always clever to insulate your baby from the frozen ground so get a baby pad for sleeping to preserve his comfort.
The best way to measure the temperature that a child is exposed to is to place a thermometer on the ground next to where you place your baby.
If the temperature falls below 64 degrees Fahrenheit it is advisable to keep your infant from sleeping on the ground, as these temperatures can cause hypothermia.
In order for a baby sleeping pad not to be bulky, it is possible to cut the closed-cell foam pad to size.
It should be at least 35 x 60 cm – you can use your baby sleeping mat as a bassinet or change mat if you have enough material.
Baby food
Food gives energy and warmth so consider a good plan to keep your youngster fed throughout the entire trip.
You should feed a baby more often than usual to make sure they are warm enough since they burn calories more quickly.
Breastfeeding is always the best option but if your kid eats other food as well then all kinds of vegetable & fruit mash, juices, and other soft food is appropriate to feed your little one while camping.
You can carry a high-energy food such as cereal, fruit strips, or mashed bananas that will give him extra kilojoules – you could even mix this up into a porridge before going camping.
Warm the foods that you can and feed the infant to keep his body temperature stable.
Bottle feeding is also okay in freezing conditions. You can pack a couple of extra bottles and a small bottle warmer in case you start to run low on formula. Just be sure the seal is tight when you’re traveling with it.
In cold temperatures avoid feeding your baby outside, out of convenience rather than safety reasons.
How cold is too cold to camp with a baby?
Infants are sensitive and lose body heat faster than adults so you need to take care of them to stay warm and comfortable all the time.
Michelle Terry, M.D., a pediatrician says that babies can lose body temperature fast if they are not wearing enough clothes when the temperatures are under 50 degrees, or 60 degrees in wet, windy weather.
This is why you have to put several layers of clothing (wool or fleece) on to keep him warm.
How to protect a baby in cold weather?
Here are some additional tips for camping to keep him comfortable. If you will use a stroller, make sure that you cover him with a warm piece of cloth or plastic cover.
Prevent dry skin by putting some baby moisturizing cream on his face and hands to protect his skin from dry and itchy skin.
Don’t forget on his lips as they don’t have any fats to protect the exposed skin on them so get a natural lip-balm that will help your youngster to stay away from the flaky skin.
How do you keep your baby warm in a tent?
How to make the inside of the tent warmer for a baby?
Huddle around a portable electric stove or battery-operated space heater. If you use the latter, put it on top of something sturdy to protect the floor of your tent from possible melting.
The safest option for infant heating is radiant heat beneath the baby’s sleep pad (a closed-cell foam pad like those used for camping) or under the baby’s bassinet.
This heat source will keep the infant warm at night without heating up the tent itself, creating a potential fire hazard.
A simple way to insulate your baby from below is to cover the ground with a type of blanket or quilt which can be easily folded away in the morning.
How do you keep your baby warm at night while camping?
As I have mentioned, the best way for keeping the baby warm at night is to use the radiant heat and to take along enough warm clothing for him to go to sleep in (sleep bag, footie pajamas, hat, mittens, shirt).
If the temperature drops below freezing during the night you can put your baby’s sleep bag inside of yours, which should keep it nice and warm. An old-school hot water bottle also works well to keep him cozy.
CONCLUSION
Camping with a baby in cold weather can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it’s important to take some extra precautions to ensure your child’s safety.
Make sure you pack plenty of warm clothes and extra blankets for your little one, as well as hats, mittens, and boots.
If you’re tent camping in an area that is prone to severe weather conditions, always have a plan B ready in case of emergency.
Most importantly, never leave your child unattended near the campfire or any other open flames.
With these tips for camping, you can rest assured that your family trip will be a safe and enjoyable camping experience for everyone. The safety of your child should be your first priority so take my tips into action.
Take a positive attitude and feel confident that you will have a successful first camping trip as a family.
