Camping and Traveling with Babies/ Kids

[Blkwgn_wyfee]

Thank you!

Carseat: You arent going to find a seat that is built for off roading, so unfortunately you are going to have to tone it down for a while. There are several "buckets" available. By "bucket" I mean a rear facing infant seat where you leave them strapped in and it attaches to the base. This allows you to move the baby around without waking them up (keep in mind that they need to sleep 18-20 hours per day when they are brand new). This can also attach to a stroller base. They are expensive, but its something that we didnt spring for with either kid that we wish we had, in retrospect.

Pack and play: Dont get one with bells and whistles. Get one or two basic ones, and keep it with you as part of your basic baby kit. In fact, if we had known then what we know now, we would never have bought a crib, just pack and plays. When camping, we use a sturdy comforter (that doubles for tummy time) and throw it over the whole pack and play so the baby can stay warm and still play in a safe, confined area (of course supplemented by a warm footy sleeper).

Rocker: For our second critter, we got a powered rocker. Wonderful for when they are tiny, because you can use an extra blanket to prop up the bottle, then turn the rocker on for a half hour interval after the baby finishes the bottle (my wife wasnt able to breast feed, not sure what your plans are). If you get clued into the noises that your baby makes, you can accomplish a "dream feed," where the baby never really wakes up.

Bouncer: When your critter is a little older (5 months or so), you can invest in a bouncer. They typically have little toys and stuff for the baby to chew on (keep in mind that from age 4 months to about 18 months, babies like to put EVERYTHING in their mouths). Hours of entertainment for the baby and you, and it helps them to strengthen up their legs, since they will be walking a few short months after that.

Baby wearing: babies like to be held, and its good for them. In addition to lots of skin to skin time when they are small, you may want to get them used to being carried. We chose the ergo baby carrier since its safe, versatile, and pretty much the modern version of the papoose, which has been used for thousands of years for many millions of babies. When they are older (over 6 months), you can graduate them to a backpack.

Pacifier: Wubbanub. Worth it. Best thing we ever bought for our first critter, since you can start them on the pacifier, then eventually poke a hole in it for them to chew on, then cut off the pacifier completely and they still have the little stuffed animal to snuggle. We had one at daycare and one at home for both kids, although my son seems to be more interested in his thumb than the pacifier most of the time.

Boppy: You will probably be spending a lot of time holding your baby when they are tiny, and this makes that activity much more comfortable for you than using a regular pillow. The cover is washable.

Books: The "What to Expect" books served us well for educational reading. My daughter loved "All My Friends Are Dead." Its a strange children's book, but you get chuckles along the way. I think I can recite most of the Dr. Seuss books by memory, along with Pout Pout Fish. The most important thing here is to read to them while keeping their attention. Its a great bonding activity and helps them with language development, cadence, vocabulary, etc.

Pics added. Please dont judge. We are in the middle of a flooring redo at present.
Rocker:

Papoose:

Bouncer (note wooden blocks down below because he is still so little):

Boppy:

This is Awesome info!

 

[Blkwgn_wyfee]

Wow, Thank You!

 

[Blkwgn_wyfee]

This is all wonderful information, we so appreciate it! As @blk_Wgn said, we are processing slowly, but every small piece of advice is being noted.
Thank you all so much!

 

[Scott]

Honestly my camping has been cut down due to kids.. I don't think my 3.5 year old can be away from her mom for a weekend.. And moms not feeling up to camping just yet.

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[WUZombies]

Honestly my camping has been cut down due to kids.. I don't think my 3.5 year old can be away from her mom for a weekend.. And moms not feeling up to camping just yet.

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My 4 year old LOVES it. She has her own pink cot and she rocks cute skirts (her choice) on hikes. Every kid is different and camping with kids (mines are 4 & 5) isn't always happy cuddles and s'mores, but the challenge is worth it. We stick to campsites near the bathroom facilities of the campground, have a Helio shower and carry an ample supply of boogie wipes.

 

[Scott]

My 4 year old LOVES it. She has her own pink cot and she rocks cute skirts (her choice) on hikes. Every kid is different and camping with kids (mines are 4 & 5) isn't always happy cuddles and s'mores, but the challenge is worth it. We stick to campsites near the bathroom facilities of the campground, have a Helio shower and carry an ample supply of boogie wipes.

View attachment 19894

Nice.. I am anxiously awaiting when the older kiddo will be comfy with camping alone with dad...

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[Dave]

This is SUCH a great thread - big thanks to @Blkwgn_wyfee for starting this valuable discussion!

 

[WUZombies]

Hi Guys!

We are getting ready to start looking at gear for babies and kids, and we were wondering if anyone has any advice on what to get or not to get for trips? We generally camp for a few days at a time, but have done extended trips in the past as well, and would like to continue to do so after the baby comes.

Does any one have a product that you found you could not live without? Or maybe something you felt you wasted money on?

Also, does any one know of a good car seat that is qualified for off-roading? Does something like that exist?

Any advice is very appreciated!
Thanks!

I missed the original post somehow...

I'm a certified safety seat technician, so I do seat inspections and installs for people, especially at large community outreach events. Some thoughts about safety seats:

Used seats are a no-no. It is impossible to know the history of the seat, if a seat has even been in a collision, even without the kid in it, it is trash. Cut the straps and throw it away.

Seats have a life limit, at a certain age they are no longer considered safe or legal to use. Is is due to the breakdown in materials.

Read the seat instructions AND your vehicle's manual. Once installed the seat shouldn't move more than an inch side to side or front to back AT the belt path.

Use the LATCH system or a seatbelt as per the instructions but not both.

LATCH systems have a weight limit.

Many vehicles do not have LATCH mounts in the center position, if your vehicle manual doesn't say it does, if it isn't marked, then you can't use latch I'm that position, even though the outboard seat's mounts are close, they are the wrong spacing and can fail due to the angle against the latch buckles during a collision.

Use the top anchor for forward facing seats, you can use the anchor with the seatbelt or LATCH.

He point is to make the seat as apart of the vehicle as possible, if the seat moves then the Delta-V your child experiences during a collision can be significantly higher.

Read the manuals, read them again. Installing a seat correctly and using it correctly isn't hard, but it is easy to make mistakes. A mistake can lead to serious injuries or death. I know this from first hand professional experience.

 

[BlkWgn]

I missed the original post somehow...

I'm a certified safety seat technician, so I do seat inspections and installs for people, especially at large community outreach events. Some thoughts about safety seats:

Used seats are a no-no. It is impossible to know the history of the seat, if a seat has even been in a collision, even without the kid in it, it is trash. Cut the straps and throw it away.

Seats have a life limit, at a certain age they are no longer considered safe or legal to use. Is is due to the breakdown in materials.

Read the seat instructions AND your vehicle's manual. Once installed the seat shouldn't move more than an inch side to side or front to back AT the belt path.

Use the LATCH system or a seatbelt as per the instructions but not both.

LATCH systems have a weight limit.

Many vehicles do not have LATCH mounts in the center position, if your vehicle manual doesn't say it does, if it isn't marked, then you can't use latch I'm that position, even though the outboard seat's mounts are close, they are the wrong spacing and can fail due to the angle against the latch buckles during a collision.

Use the top anchor for forward facing seats, you can use the anchor with the seatbelt or LATCH.

He point is to make the seat as apart of the vehicle as possible, if the seat moves then the Delta-V your child experiences during a collision can be significantly higher.

Read the manuals, read them again. Installing a seat correctly and using it correctly isn't hard, but it is easy to make mistakes. A mistake can lead to serious injuries or death. I know this from first hand professional experience.

What are your thoughts on the seat I posted earlier in this thread, and is there a particular seat you would recommend or say to stay away from

 

[WUZombies]

What are your thoughts on the seat I posted earlier in this thread, and is there a particular seat you would recommend or say to stay away from

I have to give you the line we are required to give: "every seat on the market is tested and passed the same federal standard."

Go to Baby's R Us and touch, feel and mess with the seats, you'll find serious differences in fit and finish. No seat will ever claim to be safe for "off-Road" use, as they meet the FMVSS regulations. As a side note, my wife and I love and use Britax seats for our kids and have since the beginning.

 

[TangoBlue]

Nice.. I am anxiously awaiting when the older kiddo will be comfy with camping alone with dad...

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I call BS my friend. You're not plowing new ground here Scott - we've all had to go through it. You admitted - YOU are anxious - just do it... cut the cord... there is no "sign" alerting you that "older kiddo is ready." Or, just let them cling to mom and you can bet those behaviors will become habituated and you'll struggle to get that little trail partner for the rest of their lives. I know. I had one that would rather have been with mom as a nipper but once she got outdoors with dad... it was fun. Now she's 26 and on her own, but she still likes to go out with dad. I can supply testimonials from forum members if you desire.

Once your little one gets out in nature with dad and you share your time and explore the simplest, tiny wonders that nature has to offer with them, that separation anxiety will melt away beau coup quick. That little stream to splash in, that fallen tree to climb on, that tide pool to observe the ocean's tiniest creatures, the littlest things nature has to offer is a wonderful world of excitement for the young curious mind.

 

[Mr. Leary]

I call BS my friend. You're not plowing new ground here Scott - we've all had to go through it. You admitted - YOU are anxious - just do it... cut the cord... there is no "sign" alerting you that "older kiddo is ready." Or, just let them cling to mom and you can bet those behaviors will become habituated and you'll struggle to get that little trail partner for the rest of their lives. I know. I had one that would rather have been with mom as a nipper but once she got outdoors with dad... it was fun. Now she's 26 and on her own, but she still likes to go out with dad. I can supply testimonials from forum members if you desire.

Once your little one gets out in nature with dad and you share your time and explore the simplest, tiny wonders that nature has to offer with them, that separation anxiety will melt away beau coup quick. That little stream to splash in, that fallen tree to climb on, that tide pool to observe the ocean's tiniest creatures, the littlest things nature has to offer is a wonderful world of excitement for the young curious mind.

This. My guess is that it would take about 24 hours for kiddo to figure out that she can have fun without Mom around. After that, you are golden. Bite the bullet. Get out there for a weekender.

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[WUZombies]

The first real camping trip we took the kids on was to Big Bend. They were awe struck by the mountains and were immediately wanting to "climb" one. We took them up Grapvine Hills, which is an easy hike with an awesome balance rock formation at the end of "the mountain climb." Getting something fun, easy and cool looking done first was all it took (that and keeping a super positive attitude, which is hard to do as a parent some times...as we all know)

 

[Herbie]

My tips for camping/traveling with kids:

1. Frequent breaks from every activity. They have shorter attention spans, and especially shorter tolerance for long, boring drives. Even five minutes of running around makes a difference. Don't fear the frequent potty breaks - embrace them as they give 'em a chance to reset their tolerance for the road.
2. They also have small livers - this means their "reserve energy capacity" is reduced. Frequent snacks aren't just to keep them sated, it literally keeps them going. Most kids (mine especially) have a direct mood-to-blood-sugar relationship. If they're getting crabby, it's 90% certain they need food. We have to actually watch out for a "calorie cliff", where eventually she'll get so depleted she's too tired/crabby to feed.
3. Have supplies necessary for a few "go-to" comfort food choices. There's already a lot of "new" when you're on a big trip, so keeping a few things familiar, like favorite foods, makes it more tolerable. Same goes for sticking to any other routines if possible. (We still do our normal brush/floss/bedtime-book, etc. routine out camping exactly the same as home.)
4. Whenever possible, arrange for other kids! We figured this out by accident with our first Desert Rendezvous years ago - having another kid there "normalizes" the experience, especially if that kid is slightly older or more experienced camper. It also relieves significant burden from Mom (or whoever normally keeps the kid entertained). This is maximally important for the only-child, but I've also seen the effect adding one "extra kid" can have even on a multi-child family.
5. When going single-parent, turn your disadvantage into an advantage - Normally I do the bulk of the "camp work" and the wife entertains the kid. When it's just me and kiddo, the only way to survive is to give the kiddo a set of jobs to help with. Making her into an active partner changes the dynamic and relieves the care burden.
6. Glow sticks. Lots of glow sticks. Keep track of your kids in the dark, especially important if there are any vehicles around. (I'm more nervous in campgrounds than out in the middle of nowhere). Plus they function as fun "night lights".

 

[Mr. Leary]

My tips for camping/traveling with kids:

1. Frequent breaks from every activity. They have shorter attention spans, and especially shorter tolerance for long, boring drives. Even five minutes of running around makes a difference. Don't fear the frequent potty breaks - embrace them as they give 'em a chance to reset their tolerance for the road.
2. They also have small livers - this means their "reserve energy capacity" is reduced. Frequent snacks aren't just to keep them sated, it literally keeps them going. Most kids (mine especially) have a direct mood-to-blood-sugar relationship. If they're getting crabby, it's 90% certain they need food. We have to actually watch out for a "calorie cliff", where eventually she'll get so depleted she's too tired/crabby to feed.
3. Have supplies necessary for a few "go-to" comfort food choices. There's already a lot of "new" when you're on a big trip, so keeping a few things familiar, like favorite foods, makes it more tolerable. Same goes for sticking to any other routines if possible. (We still do our normal brush/floss/bedtime-book, etc. routine out camping exactly the same as home.)
4. Whenever possible, arrange for other kids! We figured this out by accident with our first Desert Rendezvous years ago - having another kid there "normalizes" the experience, especially if that kid is slightly older or more experienced camper. It also relieves significant burden from Mom (or whoever normally keeps the kid entertained). This is maximally important for the only-child, but I've also seen the effect adding one "extra kid" can have even on a multi-child family.
5. When going single-parent, turn your disadvantage into an advantage - Normally I do the bulk of the "camp work" and the wife entertains the kid. When it's just me and kiddo, the only way to survive is to give the kiddo a set of jobs to help with. Making her into an active partner changes the dynamic and relieves the care burden.
6. Glow sticks. Lots of glow sticks. Keep track of your kids in the dark, especially important if there are any vehicles around. (I'm more nervous in campgrounds than out in the middle of nowhere). Plus they function as fun "night lights".

Great post!

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[Scott]

I call BS my friend. You're not plowing new ground here Scott - we've all had to go through it. You admitted - YOU are anxious - just do it... cut the cord... there is no "sign" alerting you that "older kiddo is ready." Or, just let them cling to mom and you can bet those behaviors will become habituated and you'll struggle to get that little trail partner for the rest of their lives. I know. I had one that would rather have been with mom as a nipper but once she got outdoors with dad... it was fun. Now she's 26 and on her own, but she still likes to go out with dad. I can supply testimonials from forum members if you desire.

Once your little one gets out in nature with dad and you share your time and explore the simplest, tiny wonders that nature has to offer with them, that separation anxiety will melt away beau coup quick. That little stream to splash in, that fallen tree to climb on, that tide pool to observe the ocean's tiniest creatures, the littlest things nature has to offer is a wonderful world of excitement for the young curious mind.

This. My guess is that it would take about 24 hours for kiddo to figure out that she can have fun without Mom around. After that, you are golden. Bite the bullet. Get out there for a weekender.

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You guys both could not be more correct. I am going to make it a point to get the kid out alone even if it's only an overnighter. I just need to do it. You're all correct here. I've been taking the oldest to all of the AAV meet and greets and she enjoys them.. I can only imagine she would love camping too.

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[RoamingTimber]

Camping and going on adventures changes when you have kids, but not necessarily for the worse. Like has been said, the amount of stuff you take increases, a lot, and I worry if my kids are going to be too cold so I usually bundle the crap out of them. My son is 3, he loves to dig in the dirt with sticks. He will do so for hours perfectly happy. Last trip we took over thanksgiving I started a fire, he dug for China, I read a book, drank a beer and watched him go. Despite the best attempt and wipe downs and wash ups, by the end of the 4 day trip his bath water was very brown. But that's just part of the fun. We bring movies on an iPad for long stretches in the car and extra treats. We want our kids to associate camping and adventures with special treats and other fun things. My wife and I also baby wear and that has been great! Not only does it keep your kid warm and help put with bonding and their sleeping, but you can still get stuff done while holding them. I have waxed skis and wiring off road lights while wearing a kid! It's also a great way to take infants on hikes.

 

[WUZombies]

My tips for camping/traveling with kids:

1. Glow sticks. Lots of glow sticks. Keep track of your kids in the dark, especially important if there are any vehicles around. (I'm more nervous in campgrounds than out in the middle of nowhere). Plus they function as fun "night lights".

We go through a metric-ass-ton of glow sticks! My wife stocks up on them right after Halloween when they're on sale super cheap. Kid favorites are the ones that link together to make bracelet or necklaces.

 

[Scott]

Camping and going on adventures changes when you have kids, but not necessarily for the worse. Like has been said, the amount of stuff you take increases, a lot, and I worry if my kids are going to be too cold so I usually bundle the crap out of them. My son is 3, he loves to dig in the dirt with sticks. He will do so for hours perfectly happy. Last trip we took over thanksgiving I started a fire, he dug for China, I read a book, drank a beer and watched him go. Despite the best attempt and wipe downs and wash ups, by the end of the 4 day trip his bath water was very brown. But that's just part of the fun. We bring movies on an iPad for long stretches in the car and extra treats. We want our kids to associate camping and adventures with special treats and other fun things. My wife and I also baby wear and that has been great! Not only does it keep your kid warm and help put with bonding and their sleeping, but you can still get stuff done while holding them. I have waxed skis and wiring off road lights while wearing a kid! It's also a great way to take infants on hikes.

We live for babywearing. My wife loves it so much she taught herself how to weave and makes and sells custom handwoven babywearing wraps... My 3 year old daughter also loves to dig in the dirt.. I have told my wife I'm gonna have to get the 3 year old out camping very soon... So.. To that end anyone got a good spot for camping this time of year that's fairly close to the inland empire??

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[Lipek]

We live for babywearing. My wife loves it so much she taught herself how to weave and makes and sells custom handwoven babywearing wraps... My 3 year old daughter also loves to dig in the dirt.. I have told my wife I'm gonna have to get the 3 year old out camping very soon... So.. To that end anyone got a good spot for camping this time of year that's fairly close to the inland empire??

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Joshua tree