Tent Camping with 6.5 Month Old

Lots of great ideas! I have taken all my kids camping starting before they could walk. They best thing I learned was to get one of the portable high chairs. They are able the size of a large lunch box and cost less than 20 bucks. I attached it straight to the picnic table and they played happily while I cooked etc. You can use the plastic links to attach toys so you don't have to worry about the dirt factor. Have fun!

there is a lot of danger out there nd she is to small to take care of her self. I would not do it yet.

T., Take a Pack-n-Play portable crib and her toys. Since you breastfeed the packing should be light. And buy a tent tall enough to put the crib in w/o a problem. Probably at least a 5 man.

Hi T.!
I don't think it is a bad idea to go camping. I have a 4.5 month old now and we are planning on camping this July. This is our first baby too and I have heard from many of my friends with kids that we should continue to travel while the baby is under a year old. Especially if you are breastfeeding it should be pretty easy. I would suggest just keeping to your current sleep schedule and you should be fine. Have fun!!!
Question for you...I live in north county sd and I am looking for a moms group for first time mommies with newborn babies, do you have any suggestions? I am a new mom who grew up in sd but just moved back to the area. I have been living in San Francisco for the past 10 years. I too have a very hands on daddy...isn't it great! J.

We took my son tent camping for the first time at 6 months. It was a blast!

I would take a 6 or 8 man tent and a pack n play. Bring warm layers of clothes for baby to sleep in at night. We did footed PJ's, then another layer on non footed PJ's, and then a sleep sack. Then we padded the PNP with 3 or 4 thick layers of blanket and then put two warm blankets over my son at night after he was totally asleep.

If your little one isn't crawling yet, life will be easy. If he is crawling, bring a few very large blankets to set down on the grass or sand.

I would also take one of those backpack or sling style carriers if you plan to do some walking.

Of course if you are going to the beach, bring all your beach stuff to keep baby out of the sun.

Bring lots of quarters for the pay shower.

Bring your jog stroller. You can use that as a clean place to feed baby at the campsite or diaper changes at the beach.

As for dangers that the person before me mentioned, there isn't much that is any more dangerous than stuff in your house. If baby gets a few mouthfuls of sand or grass, no big deal.

Obviously you won't put your baby in harms way of a wild animal or snake or something like that. Just use your common sense.

And most importantly....HAVE FUN!

We are hoping to take my DD for her first camping trip at the end of summer and are looking forward to our first camping trip with a very active 3.5 yo son and my 1 year old DD. Both are mobile, so DH and I will certainly be tired from chasing the both of them around. But it will be fun!

S.

First of all you are not crazy! We took our 3 month old tent camping and it was a blast. It's all about bringing layers. Really not a lot of extra gear for the baby besides the normal camping gear. We just brought a thermarest for her and placed her on that in between my husband and I at night. We put her in lots of layers at night, topped off with a sleep sack and hat. Just make sure you have some way of keeping the baby shaded during the day. Otherwise, have fun!

Bring a play pen with plenty of NEW toys! Don't even bother bringing the old toys, she's been there done that. The new stuff will keep her busy for hours. One toy at a time, you don't want to overwhelm her. This helped us when we went camping, BIG TIME!

Hi T.,

I did this with my 6 month old daughter pretty same situation. You need a tent that sleeps at least 4. Get a blow up mattress for you and daddy, and have a pack and play for her to sleep in. When you guys all go to bed she will sleep in the play pen right next to you guys. Take lots of warm jammies and blankets. She will probably wake up cold so just bring her to bed with you and nurse her back to sleep and cuddle to get her warmed up, then if you need to move her back to her crib. During the days just bring the pen out of the tent and set it up by the beach or campsite and have at least two umbrellas. There is a gap in the corners of our playpen where the frame and fabric meet and you can fit 2 ombrellas in the gap one on each side to shade her during the day. For naps she will probably sleep in the pen outside like I said because the tent will be WAY too hot, you wont even be able to stand 2 minutes in it. Buy a couple of battery operated fans from Wal-Mart and set them up on a box next to the pen so the breeze circulates into the netting. I took prepackaged baby food and kept it in the cooler and made her rice cereal in the morning and at night. She slept like a dream and even napped right on schedule. You will be fine e-mail me if you need any other advice....Have Fun!!!

If you can find a portable, travel size swing (if she likes swings!) and I would for sure bring a pack-n-play. We have camped with both our girls since they were very young and have had a great time. My girls also both loved being in the bike trailer. Morro Bay is such a great area....we have gone there for Thanksgiving for the last two years!!! It does get cool in the night but nothing a pair of thermal jammies with a onesies and socks underneath didn't take care of. I hope you have a wonderful trip....it gets so much easier once you don't have to take all the "gear". Good Luck. B

Hi T.,

Morro Bay is awesome, you'll love it! Do you live on the Central Coast? I grew up there and May will be beautiful, but the beach will be chilly and probably breezy at times, I would suggest sweaters and beanies for night time.
We take our daughter, now 9.5 months, camping all the time. If you have a pack n play TAKE IT, it'll be a life saver. If you haven't bought a tent, get one with enough room for your air mattress (if you're bringing one) and her pack n play. If she'll sleep in it, then it's great to have a tent that'll allow you to put one it there with room to spare. A pack n play is also great for outside play time at the campsite, most sites are dirty and you probably won't want her on the ground.
I always bring her back pack carrier. My husband will carry her all day in the pack. (hope you know what I mean by pack) They are great, my daughter will sleep in one all day, and it leaves your hands free for other things. I would bring a hat for her and sunscreen if you're planning on packing her places.
Huggies and Johnson&Johnson both make wash clothes with soap already on them, you just get them wet, those are a get thing to have at the campsite. You can use a bottle of water to get it wet and clean her off, if there isn't bathrooms handy. (they are also great for big people!)
Oh- and footie jammies. Those are great for colder nights, if they kick off blankets they stay a little warmer.
One last thing, if you have a bouncie/entertainment saucer, and have the room, bring it. I don't know if your daughter is old enough yet, mine started sitting early, but once she is big enough for one if you're still camping, bring it! They are great and she can eat from it too!

I think that covers the "must haves" that I can think of. At least, those are the things I wouldn't want to be with out.
Enjoy the trip!

Sure there are dangers when camping, but there are equally as many in your house (maybe more). DON'T LET THIS STOP YOU FROM GOING! You just need to be prepared. I have a four year old that we have car camped with since she was 4 months old and backpacked with her at 5 months. It went so well, we felt completely comfortable doing it all again with our daughter (now 4 years old) and her brother (4 months old). Car camping is the easiest. In the worst case, you just hop in your car and you're back home - no big deal. If you are camping pretty far from home, maybe you want to try a "practice" night in your backyard. We don't have a backyard, so we went camping at Mt Laguna, which is less than an hour from our house.

Here are the things that I found to be helpful. Number one, be flexible. Things happen. Relax. You're there to have fun, not get stressed about every little speck of dirt or bump that happens.

Second, my husband and I have done a lot of camping. While this is not necessary, it helps to be comfortable with cooking, cleaning, etc in camp versus home. If you haven't done too much camping, talk to friends that have about their experiences.

Third, bring a pack and play. This was my absolute favorite thing for camping. The baby is contained and not racing off into the water. I used this until our daughter was almost 2 years old.

As for sleeping arrangements, my husband and I have sleeping bags that zip together (if you ask at REI or another outdoor store, several brands - ours is Marmot - make bags with a zipper on either side). This allowed us to put the baby between us. The baby slept with a fleece sleeper and a beanie hat. Both my children did just fine and sometimes were even too hot with this set-up. Be sure to have a Thermarest for each adult, too, as this insulates you from the ground. Some friends of ours tried this, too, but they had difficulty sleeping because they were worried they would role over onto the baby. They adapted by bringing the car seat into the tent and doing a little heavier fleece and a blanket.

As for a tent, I seem to be in the minority here, but I don't think you need a tent as big as a house. We fit our family of 4 into a three person tent just fine. Get some nice camp chairs. You're camping to be outside, not inside the tent.

Good camp chairs with arms work great for breastfeeding.

Bring more wipes than you think you could possible use. They're great for a quick bath for baby and for Mom. Also, make sure to have Purell or some other alcohol hand sanitizer.

We found a onezie fleece coat very helpful, too. We also had a raincoat onezie from LandsEnd. I went looking for another one for my four month old and they don't make them any more, but try looking around for one. In addition to keeping baby dry in the rain, it acts as a wind guard. But best of all if the baby is out crawling, it keeps them a little cleaner than a jacket and pants.

Also, remember, the more stuff you bring, the more you have to fit in your car and then clean when you get home.

Put together a first aid kit with Tylonol and Benedryl. Also, make sure you have sunscreen. Tlk to the doctor, but mine said it was okay for once our daughter was 6 months old.

Lastly, have fun!

I hope this helpful. All of us have really loved our camping experiences. I also went lightweightbackpacker.com when I was preparing for our first trip. Some of the information won't help, but it's worth a little investigation.

We tent camped across the USA (for 30 days... for fun!) with a 12 month breastfed baby and a 3 year old. My youngest daughter slept in the sleeping bag with me. It worked out fine. Even in pouring down rain, muggy southern evenings, and dry hot desert mornings! We had a blast. We brought one of those booster seats that works as a high chair and it tied easily to the picnic tables and fed her there. I wouldn't worry about the going to sleep thing. We all ended up going to bed at the same time and my entire family slept just fine. There were times when I was worried about the crying and what the other campers were thinking, but if it was late I just gave her the breast and that settled her quickly. All of your normal routines will be out the window and you will have to retrain when you get back. Hope you have a blast!

We have an air mattress in our tent & put our son in the middle of us, it works for us.

Also, if you can, I would suggest looking at the bike trailer that can be converted into a stroller. We don't have the stroller attachment, but still use the trailer for little biking trips when camping. You can load everything inside & take of on your bike, soooo useful. If you have the stroller attachment you could use it with walks too & don't have to worry about bringing a stroller.

I have gone camping with all of my kids even when they were very young. I actually found camping worked out better before they started crawling and they stayed cleaner. One thing I would look for in a tent is one you can stand up in. Also one with two rooms is nice or a screened in area to relax in that is separate from the sleeping area. Then you can put out the toys and read books and just relax without getting dirty.
We also brought along a playyard and that was fun. They enjoy it outside and you can talk to them while your cooking and don't have to worry about the fire or sharp objects. Have fun and bring lots of clothing. They get dirty.

No, you're not crazy for taking your 6.5 month old camping! I have been camping with my goddaughters at younger ages than than your daughter. I plan on taking my son camping this summer and he'll be about your child's age. There are a lot of great family tents out there. We've bought tents at sporting goods stores and at Target. Just watch the sales, they'll be starting soon. You can get some great deals. As far as your kiddo goes. You can use a pack-n-play and put some insect netting over the top. This is great as a sleeper and for playing outside. We've also used those collapsable sun domes (babies'r us for about $30) and put toys inside for a sun-free safe place to play. Another good thing is to bring along an insexpensive, inflatable play pool. A refreshing thing for baby during the hot day. Be sure to bring a hat (ones with flaps on the neck are great) and sunscreen. Depending on the weather, you may only need to dress your daughter in diapers and a little panty or onesie. At night you'll need warmer clothes. You may want to consider having her sleep with you. By the way, the inflatable beds are the best way to go for adults! My husband and I have used a queensize one for years and it's so much better (and warmer) than sleeping on the ground. You can get double-size sleeping bags, which makes it feel like you're sleeping in a regular bed. Very comfy. Have a great trip!

Hi T.~

I live right down the street from the camp ground in MB that you will be staying at...May is a beautiful time here, esp. weather wise. It still gets bit chilly at night since we are on the coast so if you have those zip up onesies and etra jackets and layers like you'd bring for yourself you'll be fine. We took our 7mo. and newborn on a roadtrip for a mo. up to Canada (camping, staying w/ friends & hotels) mainly camping and they did great. We fig. we should do it before they walked (best time!) If you have a big mat or tarp you can put down on the dirt for a play area that's ideal too. Also, as far as feeding goes, do you have one of those portable high chairs that attaches to a picnic table? those are always great to be able to feed your child in.

Hope this helps and enjoy your stay while your in MB.

it Go for girlfriend!! Buy yourself an airmattress, an airpump w/ ac adapter for your car (save$$ on batteries!)
and a hammock. Make sure you have shade, plenty of sunscreen, and warm clothes for evening. We make our mattress with flannel sheets from home & open the sleeping bags up on the bed like a blanket.
Dont forget the smores!
I camp with my son and he loves it and I'm a single mom!
We'll be camping on Memorial day too! Enjoy
Target and walmart have great camping sections
I love the target brand gear, it lasts for years

Go and have fun, lots of people are taking babies camping and travelling...we've done it with all 3 of our children. Make sure you have one of those baby backpacks and make sure you remember to cover their heads and faces from the sun. Everything else I'm sure you'll remember being a nurse and all.

Our family did it when my baby girl was tiny too. We bundled her up and borrowed a GIGANTIC tent from a friend that could fit a couple of pack n plays in it. She slept in one and did pretty good. When it got cold, she did want to nurse more it seemed because normally she can sleep through without any problem. It's possible though. Be sure to pack enough layers for everyone though! Our family was not prepared for the cold as well as we should have been. Good job being adventurous! Best wishes!

Great suggestions from everyone. I would suggest using a beanie at night to keep her head warm. You may also want to look at one the portable travel bed things. I haven't used one myself, but plan on getting one soon. http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-###-###-####-###...

I camped (in a pop-up trailer) with my daughter at Morrow Bay when she was just over a year. I did want to say that the campsites are VERY close together (at least at the campground we were at) so noise at night was an issue until nearly midnight. Luckily my daughter was a sound sleeper, but it did bother my husband & I.

My daughter's first camping trip was at roughly the same age you are talking about. We had the BEST time. It looks as though you've had some great advice on what to pack already. I would just add that this was a fun time for her to experience new things. She had her run at a cut of watermelon for the first time and lots of messy things like that. I can still picture her little red nose from how cold it was up at Green Valley Lake in the Spring but those memories are priceless. Don't worry about her getting sandy/dirty. Morro Bay is such a pretty area - have a terrific time!

How fun! I grew up camping at Morro Bay, it's such a wonderful place. Get a tent big enough to fit your pack n play and put a snuggly blanket under the sheet, so that will give her some warmth and then a fleece sleep slack and jammies, I think this will be okay. Probably a cap for nighttime too. My baby always slept better in colder environments with snuggly cloths on.

Good luck and have a great time!

Tent camping is one of our favorite past times (and we have 4 kids). We took our daughter at the age of 4 months and all went well. I too was breastfeeding and the hardest part was just keeping clean (wind, dust, sweat – it was in the high 90s). My recommendation is LOTS OF WIPES and wash cloths. You mentioned the weather will be around 45 degrees so I would definitely pack lots of warm clothes (PJs with the feet are best). As far as Tent recommendation: Pop-up tents are best. Easy to set up, easy to take down. We use one that sleeps 6 because we usually share the tent with our girls (3 & 4). There’s plenty of room to sleep and room for them to play (if the weather outside is too cold)
You should have a great time! Make it an annual trip – most kids love it.
Good luck and have a wonderful time

I have taken two of my kids tent camping at very young ages. My daughter was only 6 weeks old the first time and my son was three months his first time. Camping with infants is easy, especially when they are nursing. Even cereal or baby food is easy to tote along. I suggest you get a small travel bed and use it for her sleeping a few times at home before you actually make the trip. This way, it will not be so strange to her. My daughter was so small, I made a baby bed from a long, low cut cardboard box and a pad that worked wonderfully. Also baby blanket sleepers kept them warm at night. If your little one sleeps through the night that solves the problem of changing diapers in the cold night air. Take plenty of clothing changes for a variety of weather. A baby beanie keeps their head warm at night. Not too warm and not too cold is the key to baby comfort when you are camping with infants. A baby front or back pack carrier is great if you want to hike or not be limited to your campsite. Take a few favorite toys if she is sitting up and playing. We took a large piece of outdoor carpet for a play area and if they were crawling and got in the dirt, just clean up later. A little dirt won't hurt, although some kids hate dirt. Take some sort of shade, either a canopy or big umbrella,also baby sunscreen lotion.
Relax, enjoy, I know your baby will love the fresh air and scenery. My kids grew up loving camping. My daughter is now married and has a 3yr old daughter that they started tent camping with at 9 months of age. This summer they will have another baby and are already planning a camping trip with an 2 or 3 month old infant.

We took our 2 yr old and his 6 month old brother camping a few years back and it was GREAT! It may sound like it might be stressful leaving your home environment and taking care of a baby outdoors and all, but it's fine. I would get some nice air mattresses, like maybe a large one for you and your husband and then maybe a single for the baby. That way you can put her's near yours and she will be able to sleep peacefully and not have to feel your every roll or movement. We actually all each have our own air mattresses now for that reason. I don't know if you have one of those neat travel swings but those work great when camping! They are portable and you can sit them outside with you and they can even take a little snooze there too. A pack and play would be ideal to take as well for her to hang out in and play while you are all hanging around. I don't think you would need much else. You could pack up tons of gear, but it's camping and you don't want to bog yourself down with too much stuff. Oh, and don't worry about the cold, tents get hot real quick! I would deff take some warm jammies and extra blankets, but she should be fine! Oh, and speaking of tents, I would check out Costco. They have great products and awesome deals. They also sell sleeping bags and chairs and coolers, so that would be the first place I would check out. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how much fun you will all have! Good Luck!

I did it!!! Take a huge piece of tarp - I mean large - that you can spread her toys out on. Then you don't have to consistently hold her or leave her in a car seat. When I went I used a baby bathtub for her bed - but she was 21 yesterday - so I suspect they have a lot more now out there. A large piece of tarp lets her play and move without feeling like she's "in bed". You don't want her to confuse those two.

Good luck - I took mine the first time when shew as 6 weeks old

I used to live in San Luis Obispo so I am very familiar with Morro Bay. Remember to bring warm clothing as more often than not, it's always foggy and wet in the mornings. It usually burns off but be prepared. For this reason, you will want plenty of wipes (for the dirt/dust) and sunscreen!! As your daughter is only 5 months and not crawling...bring a portable crib that she can see through so she feels "part of." You are not crazy to take her but if you could get a sitter who you trust...I believe you would have a better time. I realize it's hard to leave your baby behind, but she won't know any different and it will be a great time for you to relax and enjoy yourself.

Take her, dress her in warm jammies and rig a cover that keeps her area heat trapped for her. Dont use a heater unless they can make it 100% safe. Have a great time, babies are so portable, we took our twins lots of places and went camping in the winter in Minnesota.

How fun! Morow bay is beautiful. My husband and I try and take our kids camping once a year. We started when our son was about 6 months old. My recomendation is get a tent big enough to put her playpen in and let her sleep in that. I would go to Camping world and look around for indoor heaters. They have them. They are not cheep but will come in handy. Other than that I would say have fun and don't worry to much.

A Little about me. I am a stay at home military wife of 2 beautiful children.

45 degrees sounds pretty cold to me. I personally wouldn't take my 5 month old on a camping trip with that kind of weather, but of course there are plenty of jumpers and such that can keep her warm. Also, I know you're a pediatric nurse so you know way more on the subject than I do, but my doctor said it's not until babies are about 6-7 months old before their immune system is built up really good (probably because that's when they've had all the necessary shots for a while). But if you plan to take her, I would invest in knitted beanies and those snow suit looking jumpers.

Hi T.!
I don't have any advice on tent camping, but I did just move from San Diego up to Shell Beach (about 15 min. from Morrow Bay) I have a 5 month old as well :) I can say that it does get much colder here in the evenings and mornings. However, during the day it can get very warm. I think we are up in the 80's this weekend. It is such a beautiful area and I would definitely recommend heading up here. Hope this helps!!!!

In my husband's family, we are very serious about camping and outdoor recreation. All of us women have taken our babies camping for the "mandatory" camp outs (Easter, family reunion in July, and Presidents Day) no matter how young. Most of them do just fine, but a few have had a little trouble with wind. I have always brought warmer clothes than you'd think necessary and whatever activity my baby prefers, ex: bouncer, exersaucer, swing, etc. Also, bring good music to calm her down if you have to get out of the weather. Good luck!

Camping with a breast fed baby is a breeze! And certainly not dangerous, especially at Morro Bay. Nice choice! I am a mom of four boys, and we never let a baby keep us from camping. I recommend an air mattress. If you have a double sleeping bag, just keep her between you in it. Or zip two bags together. She will be plenty warm enough in a heavy weight sleeper. If you do not want her sleeping with you, bring a small foldable bed for her. Try to change her diaper quickly at night so she does not get chilled. Bring plenty of wipes!

When my 10 yr old son was 7 months old, we took him on a camping trip in Mexico(Baja), on the beach. We stayed in a large tent and brought his playpen "pack n' play" with us for him to sleep in. Bring many changes of clothes, both warm and cold, and also bring one of those snuggly sleep sacks for infants. It will keep her very warm. It's like a blanket and jammies all in one. Her arms go in it like a short on top and the bottom is like a sack and it zips up in front. It's like a thick baby night gown with a zipper front. If it will be sunny, bring baby sunscreen. Basically, bring everything you would use for yourself plus your everyday baby stuff and you will be fine. We did it again after my daughter was born. The kids love it!

T.,
Sounds like a lovely trip! I camped quite a bit w/ my liitle people even younger than yours. If you have a pack-n-play bring it.... it will save you quite a bit. You can have her outside enjoying the fresh air while still safe and you can be getting other things done (like meals) knowing that she's not having her first taste of a mouthfull of dirt. :)If you plan to hike... look into getting a good baby backpack or front pack... it's help you to keep a better center of balance and not to mention save you some very weary arms. Sleeping arrangements are the only thing I see as a point for concern... you don't want her getting cold. I always put my kiddos in 2 large sized sleeping bags zipped together to make 1 very large bag so they could sleep between mom and dad. It made me feel better knowing for a fact the baby was warm enough because I was. Might not be what all would do but it worked for me. Good luck and I hope your trip is nothing but wonderful!
P.S. just make sure your tent is one that is easy enough to put up and break down. Sounds like you don't need a giant one but make sure when you look at the sizes to factor in using a pack n play inside the tent at some point. You don't need the biggest most expensive tent to have a blast... check out some stores like walmart, target and then compare at other places like big 5 or camping world. Sometimes you can get a great deal that comes w/ extras like chairs and such. A good batt power lantern is a must in my opinion too.

Just went camping with our 4 month old. It was great! We brought our new "family" tent -- the REI Hobitat 6, which was great because it's tall enough for everyone to stand up in, has lots of pockets, enough floor space for us + baby + dog. The baby slept in his travel bed (one of those co-sleeper beds that goes between mom & dad), but the tent is plenty big enough for a Pack & Play. He seemed warm enough in his fleece outfit and beanie, but I brought him into my sleeping bag around 2 a.m. because I was cold. ;) Have a great trip!

I took my kids camping. Get some footsie jamies for at night and a small warm sleeping bag. Also if she is crawling I bought a huge 12 feet by 12 feet roll of clear plastic like you would put down on the floor when you are painting. I sat it up in the campsite and put my small baby on it she could sit or crawl on it and see all the leaves and sticks and stuff, but none made it in the mouth. I also took a portable playpen so I could move it easyily into the shade as the shade moved during the day. You can purchase a bug netting to go over the top. In the daytime I had naptime outside the tent just in the playpen so the baby wouldn't get to hot in the daytime in the tent. Also if your husband puts up a really good hammack(make sure it is tied tight.)you can lay in there and lighly swing together. My 4 kids all love camping.Also include a son hat as babies burn easily.Have fun!! D.

My husbands parents go camping every year so we took are daughter camping at 7 weeks (Aug 2007). Well I thought she got sunburt but come to found out baby haven't develope swear glands. So her face looked blister. At less you don't have to worry about that. There is a tent at Target that has 2 bedroom and a screen tent in front (I think it's $120). Take sunscreen, hat, port-crib (Blankets and warm hat). I took a cheap yoga mat and cover it with a blanket and lied her on that. The 1st night she had a hard time sleeping but was OK after that. Were we go camping is rocky so I took my carrier. If you daughter likes to be on the go like mine (crawling at 6.5 months) I had to buy a booster sit chair to feed her solids ( babies r us $20-$30. If she is more relax and you have a boopy take that and sit her up in it. Breast feeding I just covere myself with a balnket or feed her in the tent. Good Luck!

Hi T.,

I hope this turns out to be something your family looks forward to each year. We have been camping since I was pregnant with #1, each of our four children began camping around 4-7 months old. While there are some challenging aspects of camping with babies, the pros definitely outweigh the cons.

First, you are definitely going to need a way to keep your baby warm. And since she is used to sleeping by herself, a porta crib is a must. It is also wonderful, as has been said, to have it to give your baby a safe, clean place to play. Don't forget some favorite toys and a netting that you can buy to go over the crib. We have always brought a stroller and with my last child, a sling. Neither of these is necessary, but we were glad to have them.

I would second the suggestion to buy a very easy to set up tent. Are you camping with just your family, or are others going to be there? If it is the latter, then this will be easier as someone can help set up the tent or hold your baby.

If it is going to be just you, you will want to have easy to prepare meals, unless you or your husband are skilled outdoor chefs. This just isn't the time to break out the dutch oven for the first time. :-)

I don't know how much you have camped, so if what I am saying is too elementary, I apologize.

For you and your husband, you may want an air mattress. We love our Colemans. Also, for the tent. You will probably want one that sleeps 5 people. This will give you extra room for the crib and your gear. Also, should your daughter want to nurse in the night, if you usually sit up, you may want to bring a folding chair for the tent. We did this one year. With my last child, I just nursed him in my sleeping bag. But that doesn't work for everyone. It helps that your daughter is a great sleeper and seems to be very adaptable. You'll just want to be prepared in case she changes personality for a night and doesn't respond the way she usually does. We have had our share of embarassing moments wondering how many people were cursing our campsite.

Those are some thoughts I have. If you have any specific questions feel free to email me.
Warmly,
L.

Hi T.,

By all means go and take her. You can find warm clothes, hats, including those blanket sleepers, for her. Have a backpack to carry her in. Take plenty of clothes. But remember, Morro Bay is not in the outback.

V.

i took my son camping for the first time when he was 10 days old (easter last year). easter is the kick-off weekend of summer camping in our family, and its kind of a family renioun. my grandparents live at a local lake (as do i, just on the other side) and i just made him a little bed next to ours in the tent. i was breastfeeding also and it worked just fine. we averaged every other weekend camping out there, and by the end of the summer he was 5 months old. we just put his playpen in the tent and that was his bed. the first night may be hard for you because its not home for your baby, but either have her sleep next to you in your make-shift bed or set up the playpen if the tent is big enough. the biggest advantage is that she's RIGHT there, and you can comfort or feed in the middle of the night easily. have fun, and don't forget the bugspray and sunscreen. they love to chomp baby skin :) i live in heritage ranch, at nacimiento lake, which is about an hour from morro bay. my sister in law lives there and the mosquitos run rampant in early summer.

Camping is our favorite adventure. We camped for the first time when our daughter was 3 months old. We went up to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. The best invention is called "The PeaPod". It is a tented bed with an inflatable matress that slips underneath in a special pocket. You can put her in there when you are sitting around the fire for her to play and not worry about bugs. She can nap in there near your location or sleep in it at night. You didn't worry about the bugs or her getting away. Just zip it up and presto!

As for the cold, consider that you wear layers. Stay away from bulky blankets due to SIDS. Put a long sleeved onesie on with socks, mittens and a hat as the first layer. A long sleeved sleeper with feet will be the next. You can even put on another larger sleeper (the size bigger than she is wearing now). If you feel she needs another layer, bring a non-bulky blanket to wrap around her. Our daughter looked like an eskimo, but she was nice and toasty on the near-freezing nights (it was 36 degrees on a few nights!!)

You also need some sort of backpack for hiking or just walking around. Some have metal frames and others don't. See which sits best on your back, easiest to use, and is best liked by your little one.

I don't know how far Morro Bay is from you, but since your breastfeeding, you need to take into consideration feeding her on the way. If you need to breast feed, that means 30-45 minute delays every meal time. I had a breast pump, so we used a power inverter to plug the pump to the car cigarette lighter. It probably looked funny... but I fed her my milk in a bottle and pumped the next feeding at the same time. That way the next feeding was prepped and she was still getting breast milk. It came in handy on the 8+ hour drive up the Yosemite.

Our doctor said to find bug spray with Deet (but in lower amount) for our 6 month old. This is important when walking around and hiking. Of course sunscreen and a hat are always a must. BUT... always put sunscreen on BEFORE the bug spray. Sunscreen, wait about 20 minutes, then put on the bug spray. NEVER put it on their hands. It is not good for our little ones if the bug spray is trapped between their skin and the lotion. Also, it doesn't do the work because the bugs don't smell it. That's part of what keeps them away. Then, when outdoor activity is done, wash off the bug spray with wipes or soap and water.

Start them early and above all HAVE FUN!

Hi T., Buy a tent tall enough you can stand up in, and something that wont take you the hole trip to assemble. Last year we went camping with friends, they each had 5mo. old babies, and they did great (I don't think your crazy). They also brought a playpin so the baby could nap in the tent without worry, and also used it outside to keep them containd when needed. The other big hit with the babies was a wagon, it had big wheels that would go good in the dirt. When eather of the babies would get tire, someone would take them for a wagon ride and put them right to sleep. A stroller would probaly be just as good, if it goes good in the dirt. The only other thing I can think of from taking my oun kids is plenty of extra clothes. Hope you have a great trip!!
Dana
www.southernlivingathome.com/danacarey

I know your daughter sleeps in her own bed, but with nights getting that cold, you may want to consider getting 2 sleeping bags that zip together for your husband and yourself and put her in there also. This will give her additional warmth that she wouldn't get just sleeping by herself.

We love our two or three room tent that we bought a few years ago. We have a "play" room, a "sleep" room and a gear room where we keep all our clothes, food etc. It works great and you don't have toys all over the place.

Don't forget the bug spray-check Babies-R-us for a baby friendly bug spray and sunscreen!

Take everything you will need food wise for your little one (bowls, spoons, etc.) Dry ice works great if you have some pumped milk that you want to take along in a cooler. Also any other foods you have started by the time your trip comes along.

A pack-n-play or something similar (sun shade etc.) might come in handy so you are not constantly changing clothes because she is crawling around or sitting in the dirt (or toys get in the dirt-keeps them clean). Picnic blankets work good too, but they can be walked on and get dirty. A stroller if you use one for long walks, or a baby carrier for hikes.

Hope you have a fun trip! Sounds like you and your family are in for an adventure, and it sounds like alot of fun!!!! (And remember that these are things that I personally would take with me, it doesn't mean that you have to take them with you, if you choose not to that is totally fine!)!!!!

Good luck and enjoy!

We took our 9 month old camping and the only thing that was hard about it was that there was a lot of mud(WA in Sept), so we didn't let her just crawl around in it. She couldn't walk yet, but loved to crawl around so it was hard for her to be held all the time. She REALLY enjoyed being in the tent. We even emptied out the trunk of our car and she playe din there a bit too.:) 6.5 is still small enough where I think you are going to have a really fun time.:)

Hi! We were camping at Morro Bay (assume you will be at the State Park?)in January and the weather was nice, so unless it is foggy the nightime temps will probably be okay. I have not camped with a child that young but I have known many people who have. As long as you are still breastfeeding, the nightime routine shouldn't be hard, esp. if she actually sleeps all night. Changing diapers in the tent...hmmm. Since you say you have not gotten one yet, I'd like to suggest one with a vestibule, or just go for the four person tent and try to keep an area clear for diaper changing at night. Although, getting up to go to the bathroom makes for fabulous star-gazing.;}Oh...and whatevertent you get, make sure you practice setting it up before you go. And seal the seams...I still haven't done that on our tent (a Wenger from Costco). I have had two tent poles split in the first few weeks of use; one from carelessness (the side bay windows...a very tight squeeze to insert the poles into their pockets) and a main pole that split because someone was trying to help and bent it too hard. They just don't make poles the way they used to.I had a $40 tent for 20 years and the poles never gave me trouble but the zippers finally expired. Anyway, I know you want info on the bay part of the trip, but hopefully I have answered a couple of questions about the camping part;}. Good Luck, K.
Are you planning on going up to Piedras Blancas to see the Elephant Seals?

Hi T.,
Camping is fine with little ones. All three of my boys have been camping in our area in a tent. The nights were well below 32 degrees. Make sure to bring a portable crib if she is not going to be in bed with you(also to play in during the day). Use sleepers with feet, beanie hats, and mittens if she will keep them on. Also a warm sleeping bag and her favorite blankies. I also like to bring another blanket to cover the porta crib first to eliminate light and second to help keep heat in. My sons were very warm but they wouldn't keep gloves on so their hands were cold in the morning but it didn't hurt them. As for noise we keep a small radio or portable fan on for the noise. Oh and the the wipes recommendation shouldn't be taken lightly. You will use those all the time. But most of all have fun with your little one, being a family!

We did it with our 6 mos old, but it was much warmer. I would say put her on a zero degree bag to at least try and keep her cozy, she will be really cold...Maybe plan on staying in a tent but know of a few hotels in the area just in case! Maybe you could rent/borrow a travel trailer? This would have a heater to keep her warm, and be a lot less stress all around with a place to cook, clean, potty, change diapers, breastfeed. Might be worth looking into! Do the tent camping at some point, but maybe wait til its warmer!

I'm going to add one small item to the list of essentials. I found a headlamp was extremely convenient for late night diaper changes or just for walking around at night when your hands are full with the baby. I found the flashlight was hard to keep out of my little ones hands without a meltdown, but she was fine with the one attached to my head.

Sounds like fun! We have 4 and got the inflatable mattress. Sometimes we won't use it because it's too bubbly (moves too much) and we'll just pile a few sleeping bags & blankets on the floor of the tent. It'll get cold but the blankets will keep you warm. There are some pretty neat tents out there, some that don't require assembly, they just pop up. They're not as big (not a 3 room tent), but they're soooo easy to deal with.

I hate to say this, but over pack with a baby. Because, you won't want to have to drive off the campsite to find baby supplies. I use lots of the big freezer size ziplocs when packing things (good for lotions & soaps that might burst during the road trip).

We also pack infant tylenol just in case a fever breaks while we're traveling.

Enjoy!

Hi,

I went camping with my son when he was 7 months old. IT was so easy!!! We took his pack-n-play and he was just fine. We took an umbrella to put over his pack-n-play during the day and we also took his bouncy chair just so he could get a different view on life. We have a ten man tent.It is made my Coleman and it is a rectangular type shape. I am not sure where you live but we got ours at the Army Navy store at The Circle in Orange. It was about $120. Anther good place to look for tents is Big 5.It fits all of us no problem. It will fit 2 queen air mattresses and a full. So there is plenty of room for you little one to have crawling room if she is at that stage. Make sure you get bug spray that DOES NOT have Deet in it. The kind that I used was Off Family Care unscented. It's a spray so it is easy to use. The sunscreen I used for my little guy was Bananaboat Kids. Something you might want to get is a a camp sink. You can get it at Target. It is made by Coleman. It folds up very nicely. It is a double so you can wash in one and rinse in the other. Anther thing that is good is a snugglie. That way you can take her on hikes and stuff. If you want to get a stroller there is a stroller made by Jeep. It is a three wheeler and you can lock the front wheel and it has off road tires and it is good for trails. As for clothes just bring warm and cool clothes. The place that we went was about the same weather wise and I just put my son in a sleep and a blanket and he was ok. One other thing you might want to get is a tent fan. Again it is made by Coleman (they make wonderful stuff) and it is a fan that attaches with a very strong magnet. It has a soft light on it and during the day you can run the fan and it circulates the sir so your tent isn't so stuffy. It doesn't really cool you off, but just having the air circulate is the best thing. It will probably help you little one sleep if she takes a nap during the day. Sorry for the long response but I love to camp and I am always looking for new thing to get when I go. Don't worry you are not crazy for doing this. If you get kids used to the outdoors now they won't want o be stuck in the house when they are older!!! Have fun!!!

S.

Hi,
We took our daughter camping at 6 months old, but it was in July when the nights are warmer. We have a tent that is a dome and is 6 feet tall. We took a pack n' play, an exersaucer, 2 large tarps, 2 separate bags for diapers and clothes for her, and lots of bottled water. The tall tent allowed us to put the pack n’ play in the tent for night and naps and we could easily change her without being cramped. The tarps were for putting on the ground outside of the tent entrance and one for near the fire pit so we could put the exersaucer on it outside. The separate bags made it easier to not have to take out stuff just to get a diaper change done. And the bottled water made it easier than hiking to the restrooms to help clean her up. Also don’t forget EXTRA wipes since they are so handy to get the dirt off too. If you go hiking, don’t forget a back or front pack so you can have your hands free. One warning, a couple years ago we went camping in May and out of the blue it started raining and the temps dropped to just above freezing in the lower local mountains. So be sure to pack some really warm stuff just in case. Good luck with your trip!

Hello T.,

We have now taken our daughter on two camping trips, one when she was about 8 months and just last weekend at 12 months. Aside from the obvious - clothes, diapers, etc - I don't think there is much more you will really need at 6.5 months, especially since you are breastfeeding (so convenient when traveling!). We used her infant car seat when feeding her the baby food and even though I was making my own purees (?) at home, I just took jarred food for the trip so that it didn't need to be kept cold. You could express milk for the rice cereal, or just use a bit of water for those few days (not as tasty I'm sure, but easier). She slept just fine on a sleeping bag near my husband and I. We don't co-sleep at home and I was a little worried that she would get used to sleeping near us and have troubles going back to her crib but it was no problem for her at all. If it is really cold at night, layer some warm pajamas, partially cover her (up to her chest) with a blanket and then just make sure she has a hat on. The trip at 8 months was to the Grand Canyon in Nov. and it got below freezing at night, but she seemed to stay warm with the exception of her hands (she sucks her thumb, so we couldn't put mittens or covers on them). We brought a few toys and books, but nothing major since we knew we would be spending most of the time away from the campsite (hiking, etc.) Our daughter had just started crawling at the time, so we also took a large blanket that she could crawl around on, but at 6.5 months that probably won't be a concern yet. The only other thing would be a good stroller or backpack carrier for hiking/walking around. The trips have been easier than expected and our little one just loves all the time she gets to spend outside.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Hope you have a great time!

-M.

My husband and I took our daughter on a family (tent) camping trip when she was around 6 months. We brought an inflatable queen size mattress and she slept in a sleeping bag with me, while my husband slept beside us in another sleeping bag. We made sure to dress her warmly at night; but since she was also next to me, she also had my body heat. We brought along the Bjorn, which was very handy. When it was cold outside, I wrapped a blanket around her and tucked it into the sides of the Bjorn. I don't think we had started her on solids yet, so I just nursed her as usual. My family and I brought along a bunch a fold-out chairs to sit around the campfire. We had a great time.

Hi T.,
We used to go camping all the time and knew our son would LOVE it if he was used to it from a young age. He was born in December so we waited unitl the following summer. He was crawling by then which brought some challenges. So, to keep him contained yet content, we brought
*his pack-n-play,
*his stroller that reclined (changing diapers, eating, walks),
*a seperate air matteress for him so us moving around wouldn't wake him as easily,
*lots of blankets,
*lots of toys and snacks,
*water floating tubes with suncovers,
*sunblock,
*clothes that can and will get real dirty
*a large soft blanket for him to roll/crawl on, (floor time)
*and a camera, some of the cutest pictures of him are from that trip taking a nap in his floaty on the river.
Have fun and remember our babies don't stay one age for too long.