Gilad wanted to go out camping with the baby almost from the moment she was born. He had spent my pregnancy researching trekking experiences with babies, from ultralight minimalist die-hards to car-camping families doing day hikes. He knew it could work. He just had to get the gear and convince a first time mother that it was a good idea. Ha.
We worked our way up to it. Some day hikes here, a trekking weekend where we stayed at an inn overnight – all designed to show me how great it could be, despite my significant skepticism.
Finally, we set a date, we were ready for our first camping trip with a baby. It was in mid September, so the little one was 8 months old at that point. Gilad had done all the research, and we had the gear list ready. In truth, the only trekking-related piece of equipment for the baby was her carrier, which we had already (the ErgoBaby performance carrier – so highly recommended! We used the newborn insert from the day she was born, and continued without it as soon as she was big enough). Other extra bits and pieces included an additional sleeping mat, and of course nappies and bottles and muslins and clothes and a hat and a down suit… Basically my whole backpack was filled with baby stuff. Gilad 
carried our regular kit, which is all we would have needed for just the two of us.
The route was part of the South Downs Way, with a camping place booked ahead of time since spontaneity went out the window as soon as the baby arrived in our lives. We planned relatively low mileage, so we could enjoy and deal with any unforeseen events that may crop up.
The train dropped us off at Southeas, which was on the South Downs Way path, at mid-morning. The little lady had slept on the train and so was ready and raring to go, as were we. The flexibility needed to trek with a baby made itself evident immediately since she was hungry. We made our way along the path until we got to a meadow where cows were grazing, and we stopped next to it for a break despite only having been walking for about 7 minutes.
The day followed in the same vein. When she was awake, the little lady rejected the beloved ErgoBaby, preferring her father’s shoulders from which she could pull his ears, bang his head like a drum and generally direct the various goings-on on the trail. We hadn’t expected this, and it was much slower going than we had anticipated. But we had a blast nonetheless.
Our campsite was at Housedean Farm near Plumpton. Gilad got the tent set up and the little one had a grand old time playing around in there before it was time for her to go to bed. Pyjamas, feed and into the tent she went.
On route to our first camping trip with a baby
Now this is where the story takes a dark turn but first, some context: our baby was in the midst of teething and her first real cold ever, and I had gotten it into my head that she needed to be sleeping in one of those baby sleep bags since she moves a lot in her sleep and kicks the blanket off. We later realized that she HATED them. But at the time of the camping trip, we didn’t know that. So with those disclaimers…
It was one of the longest and most miserable nights of my life, and I’m pretty sure that isn’t an exaggeration. I won’t go into detail but there was crying, screaming, tantrum-ing and a quick discussion about whether there was any way we could get back to London immediately (there wasn’t). We all finally managed to get a few hours of sleep, and awoke in the morning exhausted and humbled. I took the troublemaker over to the other campers so she could apologise for her behaviour, which they thankfully understood since they all had children. After a fantastic breakfast, we were off.
The rest of the walk passed uneventfully – we sang Baa Baa Black Sheep to the sheep we saw, cheered on runners doing an ultra run along the Downs, and made our way to the train station. We had survived, and learned some valuable lessons: don’t take a sick baby camping, light gear is still useful after a baby if only because their stuff is so plentiful, and camping with a baby is doable – if you throw all your pre-baby hiking expectations out of the window.
If you are planning a similar camping trip with a baby, let us know in the comments, and maybe we can help you get organized. In the mean time, you can download our gear list here – Family Camping Trip Gear List – UK – Sep 2014.
Thanks for sharing your story. We have a 6 month old. We’ve car camped with him, but no trekking yet. We plan to start in a couple months once the snow is in up high.
We have close friends who brought us along for back-up on their first two trips with their 8 month old. They both went really well. I’d also recommend only camping in fairly remote places unless you have a car to escape to. Cars are soundproof so you don’t keep the whole campground awake! 🙂
Our first trip with them was canoe camping. We were only a one hour paddle from the cars, and you can get a lot of gear in a canoe. It still felt very remote and was a great intro.
The second was winter camping in the snow of British Columbia’s Coast Mountains. It was easier than it sounds! Again, only an hour or two from the cars, and there was a warming hut that you couldn’t sleep in, but was an easy place to change diapers, eat, and generally hang out. Really only the sleeping was done in the snow.
We started sailing with our guy when he was only a few weeks old. When he was 2.5 months, we went on a 9 day sailing trip. Sailing is a great way to get outdoors and bring the safe, warm indoors with you. It feels wilderness-y but is very safe and adaptable.
Is walking when the snow is high easier? I never lived long enough in a very cold place to see snow levels as better or worst (always just been an obstacle to me).
We actually had a break from hiking as a family for a while due to the inability to carry our daughter – how are you planning on doing so? We’ve used the Ergobaby performance until this camping trip, and than our daughter decided she had enough. Just yesterday we order a Deuter Kid Comfort 3 and will take for a test run on the weekend and will let you know if that is really the way forward.
I must admit, all those water based trips sounds exciting, but i never managed to get into them as water source were always scarce around me (and i never owned a car, so hauling gear is hard), do you have your own canoeing gear? What is needed for that?
Great questions, Gilad.
It’s fall here now and the snow is pretty wet and shallow. It’s a lot more fun to go with a few feet of snow and just ski or snowshoe in to do the camping. Also, winter camping with a baby is just cooler (pun intended).
We’ve been doing day hikes with a similar carrier to yours (a Beco Soleil) which has worked but been very, very sweaty. Now that he’s sturdy enough, we’re using a Little Life backpack carrier. We’ve only been on one day hike so far with it, but it did a great job of keeping his weight close to our backs and was very comfortable.
Canoeing gear tends to be pretty cheap. We bought a used canoe for $500, including paddles. Then you just need life jackets. Baby can sit in a hammock up front in front of the bow paddler and then it’s easy for the stern paddler to keep the boat moving if baby is fussing and the bow paddler needs to stop. You can also haul a huge amount of gear in a canoe.
We actually prefer sea kayaks to canoes, but it just isn’t as practical until they’re toddlers and can sit in a center hatch or front seat on a double.