There’s more to baby safety while camping than just knowing what things to bring to camp. Here are additional tips on what you should do when camping with your baby.
Keep Flies Away
Summer camping months are always sure to bring fresh swarms of flies, mosquitoes and insects. Insect repellants however may not always be safe for babies to use. Simply clothe your baby in long sleeves, pants and closed shoes to keep the insects away.
Regulate the Temperature
Make sure that your baby doesn’t feel to warm or too cold. A battery operated fan might help regulate the temperature but you could also just layer your baby’s clothes. You can just conveniently strip off layers of clothing that is appropriate for the current temperature.
Sun Protection
Experts usually caution about using sunscreen for babies younger than 6 months. Instead of using potentially harmful sun lotion you can just let your baby wear a wide brimmed sun hat.
Co-Sleeping
Sometimes at home it would be safer to not sleep beside your baby especially if you have lots of pillows and blankets and a loose fitting blanket. In a campsite however, babies may be safer if they sleep beside their mothers in their tents. Just make sure that you remove all extra pillows and blankets, avoid stuffy sleeping bags and that you haven’t been drinking.
Check the Campfire
It would be nice to include your baby as you enjoy the campfire at night. Let her sit in her stroller beside you. Just make sure that she is not too near to get hit by sparks or covered with campfire smoke. If you are camping near your home, it would be a good idea to use your own outdoor fireplace so that you can properly regulate smoke and fire.
Keep Off Steep Trails
If you have to carry your baby in a carrier in front of you or on your back, then you should keep off steep trails or choose a level campsite. This is because your balance is a little different if you have to carry a heavy squirming load. You and your baby could tip over if you are on a steep path.
Sterile Bottles
If you are bottle feeding, be sure to have all bottles sterilized, closed and packed before you leave home. If you are not sure of your campsite’s water source then bring your own water. On the campsite, try not to leave milk cans and bottles open for a very long time.
Near Home
If you have a small or particularly sickly baby, it would be better if you picked a campsite near your home or one that is easily accessible. This would help you respond faster if any accidents or emergency situations happen.
Practice First
Some babies may become agitated in a new environment or may not enjoy camping at all. To help your baby gat used to camping before the actual activity, you can practice sleeping in a tent with your baby in your back yard for a few nights.
Pack Ahead
First make a list and then pack everything you need ahead of time. This will help ensure that you never forget your baby’s food, water and other necessities.