A camping trip for some people, is a must have item on their list of things to do. Most prefer to camp or tent in warmer weather and some may not mind a cooler temperature or a bit of rain.
However, let's get down to business, a parent or parent's camping trip with a newborn is definitely going to be a new and exciting experience.
What tends to make your experience memorable and enjoyable is the flexibility to shift at ease between 2 key areas.
They are, confidence and perseverance.
The confidence to subject your baby to a new environment, the confidence to travel with your baby to the camping ground or designated area, the confidence in your individual camping abilities and the perseverance factor, patience, to accept that not all things are in your control.
Make it happen
- plan ahead by making sure your camping gear is operational
- within reason, any tent size is all it takes (i.e a 1 man tent might just not cut it for a family of 3 etc)
- the size and make up of the tent will determine how you make the tent comfortable and inviting for your baby to sleep in. For example, if you have a 3 man tent you might consider a double mattress for parents and baby. Or if you have a bigger tent, with additional areas for multiple people to sleep, you might consider a travel portacot, bassinet or moses basket (age dependent or baby preference) for baby to sleep in
Day time camping activities call for a little ingenuity, because it is highly likely your newborn may only feed and sleep during the day. If you like the water and don't mind a bit of fishing, tie in these activities as part of your camping trip. Your baby will learn to adapt.
In other words, 'do your best to make baby an extension of your camping trip, rather than allow baby to govern how you spend your time.' Organise your camping trip now and make it happen, you may be quietly surprised!
Cheers & happy adventures,
Maria
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on behalf of Lisa Kelly (Jan, 2010) & in her own words...
ReplyDeleteHey you, love this page, camping is easy peazy with kids. Cheyenne 10 weeks old 1996 cyclone Drina hits coromandel would you believe. evacuated from camping ground then get stuck in a road flood. Have to get pulled out by the coromandel fire brigade, locals were awesome, Cheyenne slept the whole time!!Big sister Rhiannon 14 months loved the adventure, if you want to go camping when they are little its the best time, go for it!!
Hi Maria,
ReplyDeleteGreat practical ideas here. I especially like the line,'do your best to make baby an extension of your camping trip, rather than allow baby to govern how you spend your time.' That makes huge sense!
Hi Marcus,
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm a big fan of that line too :) I would replay that line in my head over & over again when my daughter was a newborn & we were camping. It certainly helped me relax & enjoy every moment of the adventure.