Camping can be a gratifying recreational experience, but it’s more enjoyable with the whole family present. However, it can be challenging to bring a baby camping without the proper accessories, tips, and tricks. You might wonder how to camp with your little adventurer in cold weather.
Camping in cold weather with a baby may seem tricky, but it’s as simple as keeping your little one warm, comfortable, and entertained. It’s also necessary to stay proactive and prevent hypothermia as much as possible. Additionally, you should research camping safety before taking your baby with you.
The rest of this article will explain everything you need to know about camping in cold weather with a baby, so both of you can enjoy some time out in the wild. Let’s get straight to business.
Tips for Camping With a Baby When It’s Cold
Bringing a baby camping can seem daunting on any occasion, but even more so when cold weather is factored in. However, it doesn’t have to be as tricky as it sounds.
Here are some tips for camping with a baby when it’s cold:
- Dress your baby in warm, layered clothing
- Check the weather before you go
- Invest in infant sleeping bags
- Baby wipes are your best friends
- Keep baby entertained with travel-friendly toys
- Bring pocket-sized picture books
- Feed your baby warmed food
- Fleece swaddles can keep baby warm and comfortable
- Bring a portable heated blanket
- Use insulated baby bottles
Let’s discuss each of these factors in greater detail.
Dress Your Baby in Warm, Layered Clothing
Clothing plays a crucial role in determining the success of your family’s cold-weather camping trip. This is because your baby must stay warm at all times for reasons involving both safety and comfort.
In order to keep your baby warm, it’s advisable to dress your little one in multiple layers. Here’s how I’d go about doing this:
- Simple long-sleeved button-up onesie
- Shirt and pants
- Warm weather-proof jacket
- Soft socks
- Warm or fuzzy baby shoes
Alternatively, you can invest in fleece onesies to keep the amount of clothing to a minimum. These can be layered over a plain white cotton onesie.
I recommend this Gerber Baby Long-Sleeve Mitten-Cuff Onesies Bodysuit (available on Amazon.com) because it’s affordable and comes in a pack of multiple pieces. These are great for layering as they’re thin enough to fit underneath warmer pieces. I suggest bringing enough of these to be prepared for any messy accidents.
However, you might need to invest in a snow jacket for your baby if this is something that the weather requires. Snow jackets are also easier to wipe clean if your baby comes across a bit of dirt on your trip.
I highly suggest checking out this The North Face Infant Reversible Perrito Insulated Jacket (available on Amazon.com). It’s water-repellent and an excellent way to help your little one regulate their body temperature, which is crucial for safety reasons. It’s also nice that the insulated jacket is available in a variety of colors.
Check the Weather Before You Go
Another tip for successful cold-weather camping with babies is to check the weather before you go.
While this may seem like an obvious tip, it’s extremely important. Unfortunately, many people often forget this step, despite it being one of the most vital steps of camping trip preparation.
Checking the weather is important because it gives you an idea of what conditions to expect for your trip. This is incredibly crucial when you’re bringing a baby along as their bodies are not as forgiving as ours when it comes to cold weather.
If you think it’ll be snowing on your camping trip, you must prepare accordingly. The same goes for rains and extreme temperatures like cold fronts.
By planning ahead, you can not only stay proactive against the risks that come with cold exposure but also prevent dealing with chest or other cold weather-related medical issues later.
Invest in Infant Sleeping Bags
Investing in infant sleeping bags is another important tip that can make your camping trip a lot more successful.
Infant sleeping bags are just what they sound like: small sleeping bags designed specifically with babies in mind.
Sleeping bags are essential for keeping your baby warm and comfortable throughout the night. When looking for a sleeping bag for a camping adventure, it’s always a good idea to make sure the bag has good insulation properties, as babies have difficulty regulating their body temperature.
I recommend this Morrison Outdoors Little Mo 40° Baby Sleeping Bag (available on Amazon.com) because it’s incredibly high quality and well-insulated, so you don’t have to worry about your little one freezing during the night. It also meets safety requirements, which is an absolutely essential attribute for child products.
Baby Wipes Are Your Best Friends
Cold weather can be uncomfortable, especially for infants. This is why it’s advisable to keep your baby as comfortable as possible. You can’t change the weather or the temperature, but you can try to make your baby comfortable in other ways. One way to do this is by making sure that your little one stays clean.
We all know how uncomfortable messes can be, and camping is undoubtedly messy. This is why most moms can never leave baby wipes behind when camping.
I couldn’t recommend these HONEST The Company Baby Wipes (available on Amazon.com) enough. Honest is one of my favorite brands for child care products (and makeup), and I trust them so much because their products are free of harmful chemicals and synthetic fragrances. These will be your best friends when it comes to camping with infants.
Keep Baby Entertained With Travel-Friendly Toys
As I mentioned in the previous section, you can’t control the weather. Fortunately, entertainment is a great way to keep your child distracted from the discomfort of cold weather while camping.
One great way to keep your child entertained while camping is to pack travel-friendly toys.
Now, when I say travel-friendly, I mean the following:
- The toy is portable, i.e., one small piece and not an entire set of toys. This makes it easier to travel with.
- The toy is dispensable. It’s probably not the best idea to bring your baby’s favorite toy camping, as toys are always prone to getting lost– especially in the woods. It’s better to play it safe by keeping your child’s absolute favorites at home.
- The toy is durable and not made of fabric. This will ensure that the toy will last as it’s put to the test against dirt, grime, and potential drops.
Bring Pocket-Sized Picture Books
Toys aren’t the only way to distract your baby from the cold. Another great idea is to bring pocket-sized picture books on your camping trip.
Books are a great way to keep your little ones entertained. However, it can be challenging to travel with picture books, as they’re bulky and often take up a lot of space– especially while camping.
Fortunately, pocket-sized picture books exist. I recommend bringing the waterproof variety to avoid subjecting the poor book to too much damage while camping.
I highly recommend this Baby Einstein – Splish! Splash! Bath! Waterproof Bath Book (available on Amazon.com). Baby Einstein is an excellent brand for infant development, and I also love how durable this book is. It’s also small enough to bring camping, which is definitely a plus.
Feed Your Baby Warmed Food
If your baby is eating solids, it’s a good idea to feed them warmed food while camping in the cold.
This is a great tip because it will help your infant stay warmer and more comfortable in general. It can also help them fall asleep easier.
Rather than bringing multiple jars of baby food, I recommend keeping it all in one container and heating it up in single servings as you need it. While you can always do this over the fire, this isn’t as reliable as a portable gas stove.
I recommend this GasOne Portable Butane Gas Stove with 4 Pack Fuel and Carrying Case (available on Amazon.com) because it’s both affordable and reliable. You can use this to heat up your baby’s food in small camping cookware, which they typically sell at most retailers for outdoor supplies.
You should also consider bringing a thermos to keep the food warm after it’s been cooked, just in case your baby doesn’t finish everything all at once.
Bring a Portable Heated Blanket
Another easy way to keep your baby comfortable while camping in the cold is to bring a portable heated blanket along with you.
Heated blankets are a great way for everyone to stay warm, especially when you’re being exposed to the cold weather that often comes with camping. They’re also an excellent way to keep the tent cozy for everyone else sleeping inside.
Keeping warm is extremely important for cold weather camping, especially when doing it with babies. While it’s simple enough to be as proactive as possible, hypothermia is always a risk, and it’s wise to bring a reliable heat source with you in case worse comes to worst.
This is where heated blankets come into play. They’re wonderful for increasing comfort and also good resources for emergencies.
I recommend this My Heat Wave Gray Portable Heated Throw Blanket (available on Amazon.com) because it’s both travel-friendly and reliable. It’s exceptionally durable and designed for outdoor use, making it a great accessory for cold weather camping.
Use Insulated Baby Bottles
As discussed earlier, heating your baby’s food is a great way to keep them warm and soothed. However, if your baby isn’t quite ready to eat solids just yet, you can also do the same with milk.
Whether your baby is drinking formula or breastfeeding, it’s a good idea to warm up their milk before serving if you’re camping in cold weather. This is a quick way to raise their body temperature and get them to fall asleep easier.
I recommend bringing insulated baby bottles to keep the milk warm, especially if your child is picky about feeding, which can prolong the process and cause the milk to get cold.
Safety Tips for Cold Camping With Infants
We’ve talked about tips to make your life easier when it comes to cold weather camping with infants, but safety is absolutely vital to consider.
Here are some ways to keep your baby safe while camping in the cold:
- Ensure that your baby is always warm
- Watch out for signs of hypothermia
- Keep an eye on your child at all times
Let’s expand upon each of these tips.
Ensure That Your Baby Is Always Warm
This is especially important because babies are a lot smaller and have a harder time maintaining their body temperature, which means they can lose heat very quickly.
Because of this, your infant will be a lot more at risk of the adverse effects of cold exposure. One of these potential effects includes hypothermia.
By following the tips we discussed previously, it’ll be a lot easier to ensure that your baby stays warm while camping. However, it’s still important to be mindful of the risk of hypothermia.
Watch Out for Signs of Hypothermia
Since babies are weaker than adults and have a more challenging time regulating their own body temperature, they are more vulnerable to the cold. Make sure you constantly check for signs of infant hypothermia while camping in lower temperatures.
Here are some common symptoms of hypothermia in infants:
- Shivering
- Pale skin
- Blue lips
- Difficulty breathing
- Delicate heartbeat or pulse
- Unconsciousness
If you notice any of these signs in your child, you must seek medical attention immediately.
Keep an Eye on Your Child at All Times
While this may seem like a given for any situation, this is especially important to do while camping.
You should never leave your baby alone in a tent. Camping can put everyone at risk of hypothermia, animal attacks, and even exposure to dangerous individuals. Educating yourself about common camping risks before tagging your baby along is important.
However, this is especially true while camping in cold weather. Because infants are at a much higher risk of hypothermia, it’s crucial to constantly have an accurate gauge of their well-being to avoid the potential need for medical attention.
Final Thoughts
Camping alone can be daunting, but it’s even more so when family is involved – especially when infants and cold weather are added to the mix.
While it may seem challenging to go camping in the cold with babies, it doesn’t have to be. By keeping your baby warm, safe, and entertained, you can enjoy a memorable experience you’ll look back on for years to come.