Here are my baby camping gear essentials that make our trips go more smoothly and keep our baby comfortable.
I have taken my babies camping from very young ages. We took my oldest on his first camping trip when he was 8 months old after my husband had just gotten back from his deployment overseas.
With my second, I took her much younger, at only 4 weeks old. A bunch of my friends were camping in Death Valley National Park, and I decided to go and take baby girl, while my husband stayed home with our 2 year old. I packed up my car with a few essentials and we headed out. We slept in my car and had a great trip.
Since those first camping trips, my kids have been on dozens more. We love camping because there are very little restrictions for our kids, the fresh air is good for everyone, and we don’t have to deal with the normal, everyday distractions.
As we have taken these many camping trips, I have found a few pieces of baby camping gear that are really helpful to bring and make camping with a baby just a little bit easier. I have personally used all of these baby camping gear items and can tell you, they are worth it in my opinion.
If you are camping with a toddler, here are My Essentials for Camping with a Toddler.
Baby Camping Gear Essentials
Baby Bouncer
Baby Bouncer: When we are out camping with a baby I love to have a safe space to put them. A baby bouncer is the perfect place for them to watch what’s going on around them and keep them up off the ground. Sometimes I will just lay out a blanket and put them on that, but it’s more likely a bug will get on them and I do worry about them getting stepped on (especially by our toddler running around).
Since camping gear can take up a lot of space in the car, it’s really nice to have a baby bouncer that lays flat so it will fit easier in the trunk.
Baby Carrier
Baby Carrier: A baby carrier is definitely a must have if your baby likes to be held but you need your hands. I wear my baby when I set up our tent or fix a meal. And it’s great for baby to take a nap in since it can be hard to get them to sleep in a bright tent.
Portable Playpen
Portable Playpen: When you’re out camping with your baby and you can’t hold them or they want to be a little more mobile, a play pen is a great piece of baby camping gear to bring along. I had a friend bring one of these on our camping trips and it was so nice to put our mobile babies in their where they could play with their toys and they wouldn’t wander off while we wear setting up or packing up our campsite.
Travel Seat with Tray
Travel Seat with Tray: I love bringing our travel high chair when we go camping with a baby so they can have their own space to sit and enjoy their food. It’s nice to have them sit on our laps or spoon feed them everything. With the little tray, we can just give them their food and they can eat it as they please. I especially like that the chair has a buckle so they aren’t trying to squirm out of the chair and they are safely secure.
Merino Wool Base Layers
Merino Wool Base Layers: Merino wool is one of the most incredible clothing materials out there with some amazing qualities. If you’ve ever wondered if the price was worth it, here is a list of reasons why it will benefit your kids in the outdoors.
- It is temperature regulating
- It is moisture wicking
- It layers well
- It’s odor resistant
- It provides UPF protection
- It is soft
I love to bring merino wool base layers camping with a baby because they make great pajamas as well as just comfortable clothes for the kids to lounge in. They don’t smell even if the kids wear them for multiple days and I love that they protect their skin from the sun. (I wouldn’t put them on the kids if it was over about 75°F as that would be too hot.
If you want to read more about the benefits of merino wool and why I love it, you can check out this post I did about my favorite layers for my kids.
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Synthetic REI Base layers
Synthetic REI Base layers: While merino wool has some incredible benefits, it can be pricey and we don’t always have that in the budget for babies that are going to grow out of it in a few months anyway. I love synthetic base layers for my kids as well. They dry quickly and help keep the kids warm. These REI base layer options are great quality and an even better price. (Link for the bottoms)
Fleece Bunting
Fleece Bunting: A fleece bunting is an inexpensive piece of clothing that has many uses and great for camping with a baby. It’s great because it adds good warmth on those chillier days, especially since there is no draft around their waist like there can be when just wearing a jacket and pants. Most buntings also have fold over hands and feet so you don’t need to worry about packing mittens or even socks. If it’s going to be pretty cold, it doubles up on the mittens and socks for extra warmth!
I also love a fleece bunting because your baby can crawl around in the dirt and it brushes off easily, or if it’s really dirty, it’s keeping their clothes underneath clean. They are easy to wash, durable, and great for these shoulder seasons like spring and fall. Such a great piece of baby camping gear.
Down Bunting
Down Bunting: Down buntings are great if you live in or are visiting a cold area. They are very warm, and keep your baby nice and insulated from the outside elements. You can layer as much or as little underneath depending on the temperature.
Some people also use down buntings as a sleeping bag for their babies. I have not done this and I will say it technically is not safe sleep as the hood can interfere with their breathing.
REI Toddler Jacket
REI Toddler Jacket: If it’s not quite cold enough for a full down bunting, a down jacket is a great idea to add some warmth. I love the REI down toddler jackets and kid jackets because they are very fairly priced, and are made with ethically sourced down.
Jackets are also much easier to take off if your little one starts to get too warm.
Baby Sleeping Bag
Baby Sleeping Bag: If you are going camping with a baby, you are probably looking for a sleeping bag for them. A sleeping bag for babies that is rated for safe sleep is hard to come by. These Morrison Outdoors sleeping bags are rated for safe sleep for babies starting at 6 months old. They have sleeves, a zipper that goes up from the bottom for easy diaper changes in the middle of the night, and a soft collar so it doesn’t irritate their neck.
Their sizes range from 6 months old up to 6 years old. Notably, the Little Mo baby sleeping bag for ages 6 mo-2 years and the Big Mo toddler sleeping bag for ages 2 years – 4 years old have been specifically designed for babies and toddlers. The Mighty Mo is meant for kids 4-6 years old.
All of the baby and toddler sleeping bag have 2 different temperature rating options: 20°F and 40°F. The 20° bag is insulated with 650 fill duck down and the 40° bag is filled with a synthetic insulation. The 20° bag is lighter weight and packs down smaller which makes it great for backpacking with and obviously great for those colder nights.
You can read my full review of the Morrison Outdoors Sleeping Bags here. Their sleeping bags are definitely a baby camping gear essential in my opinion.
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Baby Shoes
Baby Shoes: If you have a baby that is just starting to walk, or you just don’t want them crawling around barefoot at your campsite, these baby shoes are great. They are super flexible so they won’t impede your baby’s foot development and they are super easy to get on and off.
Sound Machine
Sound Machine: At home, my kids sleep with a quiet sound machine to help muffle noises and I like to travel with a small, portable sound machine when we go camping. It helps recreate their sleep set up at home and I find that my kids sleep better with one.
You can also use it to clip on your baby carrier if you are having your baby nap in the carrier during the day to muffle the noises around you.
Thanks for all the great tips, Hailey! I’m not a mother yet but hope to be soon and love seeing all your content. I can’t wait to take my kids camping and hiking with me in the future!