We camped with our son when he was 7 months old (our other two kiddos were 4 and 2 years old). I mean hell, he was almost sleeping thorugh the night and adding a few extra warm clothes to the camping list didn't seem like such a big deal.
I read through every packing list I could find and read every blog post out there. Everyone encouraged me! They all said this would give us an amazing bond within nature. They all said it wasn't such a big deal; that I could easily make it happen.
They were all wrong. It was a nightmare for us. He didn't sleep through the night once. In fact, he screamed through all of them. Because of his eating and nap schedule I was never even able to leave the campsite.
Would I do this again? Nope. But I have to say, my packing list was impeccable.
Here's a few insider notes about this list:
Baby seat - The Prince Lionheart baby seat was one of the best things I could have brought. It has a multipurpose function for play and eating. Changing activities up for Wyatt was critical. It gave me a little extra time with the other two kids during meals.
Thermos - At 7 months, I was supplementing Wyatt with formula bottles. Having a thermos filled with hot water was key. Not having access to a microwave meant that I needed a quick draw solution for producing bottles at any given time. To get the perfect temperature, I mixed the hot water from the thermos with room-temp water from a water bottle.
Warm clothes - My mom always told me that for however many layers of clothing I was wearing, add one extra for the baby. This is sound advice. You really can't bring too many warm options for your infant.
Mosquito net tent - This was a last-minute purchase from REI for us. Thank the Lord Baby Jesus that I had an option for day time naps other than the tent. When the heat was high and the bugs were buzzing around, the mosquito tent allowed for airflow without worry of getting bit.
Mattress - We brought a blow-up mattress. Do not bring a blow-up mattress. It can and will deflate in the middle of the night. It is impossible to be side-lying and feed your infant in the middle of the night when your bed is squisy mush all around you. I ended up sitting up next to the mattress each night on the hard ground just so I could get Wyatt latched. We did a ton of research on sleeping pads after this trip and loved the Klymit sleeping pads. Game changer.
If you're planning a camping trip with an infant, I wish you the absolute best. If you pack the items in this ultimate camping list, you'll be equipped with the items you need for your best chances of survival. Believe me though, I'll be in the wings praying that your child cooperates with the after 10 pm quiet hours and that you get to leave the campsite for a hike.
The only thing I've left off the list is your car. Make sure you have access to the keys at 2 am for a quick exit. I would also have my wallet and the address of the closest hotel. You are not a quitter if you head out after night one (or in the middle of the first night for that matter) to embrace the conforts of central air and heat and a mattress that doesn't deflate.
