5 things that suddenly change when you start camping with your baby

3 November, 2017

Camping is amazing, we already knew that! And when a new member of the family starts joining your holidays, it’s still fun to camp with the whole family. But you’ll need to make a few adjustments to make sure camping with your baby is a good experience. We’ve put together a list of the five key points to help you be a bit more prepared:

1. Your travel planning

You’ll notice that things are different than they used to be, even in the planning stages. Your first camping trip with your baby probably won’t be the best-planned trip you ever took. Where you once spent hours meticulously combing through travel guides and searching online, the majority of your time is now devoted to the baby. The days when you could leisurely prepare for your trip are long gone. But let’s say that you aren’t as well prepared for your trip as you once were, you’ll soon see that it’s not all that bad.

The regional tourism board, campsite owners, front-desk workers, your fellow campers and local residents can all give you a good idea of things to do and see. To be on the safe side, you can bring a travel guide along with you, just to give you some more insight into the recommendations, or you could map out your ‘approximate’ route beforehand and mark a few places you definitely don’t want to miss.

2. Your holiday destination

In the height of summer, the heat and the crowds at a campsite in Sicily may not be the best idea (for you or your baby), but there are plenty of destinations where you’ll get along just fine. So make sure you take a good look at your destination before you go. Where do you want to go and how much travel time is reasonable for you and the baby? Do you want to avoid extreme heat? Then consider a more northerly location. These spots don’t expect high temperatures in the summer, but are still comfortable enough for a wonderful holiday. Is your heart set on going south? Then look into travelling in the spring or autumn when temperatures are a bit cooler.

It’s also a good idea to consider what you want out of your holiday. Have you always gone on holiday for the beach or the pool? Or do you prefer a more active holiday lifestyle? There’s a good chance that you may have to tone things down a notch. Your little one probably has a much different schedule that makes hours at the beach and hikes through the mountains not such a good fit. There still may be good news for the active holidaymaker, because activities like hiking, cycling and sightseeing are easy to slow down a bit so baby can join in.

3. Your travel schedule

Depending on what you’re used to, you may need to adjust your travel schedule. Packing a lot into a short time isn’t really an option once your baby arrives. So look for a good campsite where you can spend at least two or three days. Your baby will thank you for not having to spend hours in their car seat each day. You’ll also want to make sure that the campsite is a good home base for day trips and more low-key activities like hiking or cycling.

During your trip, it’s mostly your baby who will determine travel and break times. Listen to them, so you aren’t stuck driving for miles with a screaming passenger in the back seat. Plan shorter activities and take regular breaks. Eating, drinking and nappy changes take up a lot of time.

4. Choosing your campsite

As we’ve already mentioned, the campsite you choose is tremendously important. Have you always preferred a sunny spot, or when it comes to campsites, is it the busier the better? Now it makes more sense to look for a relatively quiet campsite with more shade available. Sleeping in the heat (both day and night) can be trying, and will do nothing to improve your little one’s mood. And everyone can see that a well-rested baby means a more comfortable holiday.

The toilet facilities at the campsite shouldn’t be ignored, either. Before, it wasn’t the end of the world if they weren’t exactly what you’d expected, but with a small child, it’s something that requires more of your attention. Having to bathe your baby in a dirty baby bath or a disgusting shower room probably won’t make it onto most parents’ wishlists.

5. More time in the kitchen

Did you used to eat most of your holiday meals in that lovely little seaside restaurant or beach cafe? Prepare for some changes to the way you eat. Your little one’s more or less fixed bedtimes mean that, as their parent, you’re tied to the campsite. If you go camping with your baby, you can bet on using the kitchen at your campsite or in your camper much more often. But don’t worry! There are plenty of delicious recipes that are easy to make at the campsite. Not a campsite cooking expert yet? Then start putting together some good recipe ideas ahead of time and make sure you have everything you need before you go. And keep in mind that you may have to eat a bit later. Dinner is a lot more relaxed when the baby is sleeping peacefully.

Of course, everything we’ve covered so far won’t be the same for every child. One may love to sit in the stroller, while the other might hate it. The most important thing is that these changes shouldn’t be a reason for you to stop travelling. Listen to your baby, because when he or she is happy and relaxed, travelling will be, too. Work your trip around your baby and let your baby help set the tempo. Think carefully in advance and during your holiday about what you do and plan, and keep in mind whether or not those things will be the best for your child. If you do, you’ll likely have a wonderful, relaxing holiday, and you’ll find that camping with your baby is just as fun as it used to be (or even more so!).

Good to know: With a CampingCard ACSI, children under 6 camp for free in the low season at many CampingCard ACSI campsites.

Source: Blog Taklyontour.de

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