Q: How does one camp with a baby?
A: Like most things, you just kind of do.
We took Casey camping in Morro Bay California. Having never done this before, we decided RV life would be better than “real camping”. It was a great call, albeit challenging for my 6’3″ husband who bonked his head one two many times. Getting there was also challenging for my 9 month old son. What I thought would be a 4 hour car ride ended up taking 7 hours, thanks to the stops necessary for diaper changes and melt-downs. My son ran out of patience and wouldn’t stop crying for the last hour. However, once there, he was happy as a clam! I loved watching him experience it all. At the end of the weekend we had learned a lot about how to camp with a baby. I would do it again in a heartbeat, with a few changes.
Where to Rent an RV
You can rent an RV on multiple sites. We used Outdoorsy which many Californians use. I rented an RV that I was already familiar with and rented before. It was a Sprinter van designed by Texino which is no longer in business. Driving it wasn’t that much different from driving a truck. We placed a seat in the back for Casey’s carseat. If I had a do-over, I would have requested two back seats so that one of us could sit with him and entertain him. It was difficult to have him separated from us, and I think the melt-downs could have been avoided if we were playing with him.
I would recommend booking add-ons that will make camping an EASIER experience for you as a parent. We chose to do early pick up time and early drop off time for an extra $100 so that we could travel according to baby’s needs. We also chose to pay for the clean-up fee and gas-up fee, so we didn’t have to worry about either upon return. It was well worth it!
What to Pack
As a minimalist, I believe we packed too much. Luckily, our RV had a lot of storage room. However, maneuvering around the bigger items was a pain. Casey was 9 months old. We were there for two days, and here is what I would recommend bringing. (Please take into consideration that every stage of infanthood has slightly different requirements.)
- Doona Liki Trike or Umbrella Stroller. Do not bring your big, fancy stroller. You will be hiking trails and such. It will get ruined. Also, the nice strollers are way to bulky even when folding up. You need as much floor space in the RV as possible.
- Bottles and Travel Bottle Cleaner. We got this travel bottle cleaner when we went to Japan so we could wash water bottles in hotel sinks. It comes with a soap dispenser. The RV had a sink with limited water. We used up the entire tank washing dishes and bottles. Which is to say, use sparingly and plan accordingly.
- Formula and Extra Water. You want to make sure your baby has access to clean water.
- Baby Clothes. He only used one outfit per day and one jammy per night. I packed two extra outfits because I knew accidents can happen but to be honest, when you are out in nature, you get dirty anyway. One tip I have is to bring fuzzy PJs, so you don’t have to use up all the power running heat all night. I also wouldn’t worry too much about layers. It would be a different story if we were camping in a tent.
- Diaper and Wipes.
- Travel Diaper Changing Mat.
- Pack and Play with Warm Blanket. Since we had the heat at 68 degrees all night, we didn’t need to put the warm blanket on him. Instead it provided a soft surface for him to lay on, making his pack and play feel more like a bed. This pack-and-play fit nicely within the RV.
- Comforting items for baby. We brought the stuffie he sleeps with every night. And too many toys for the car ride! We also brought books which I definitely won’t do again.
- A portable sound machine.
- Sun Screen. Casey uses this Korean product from Green Finger. The compact makes it very easy to apply.
If your baby is much younger, check out this road trip packing list for newborns.
How to Make Camping Easier
Camping can be a bit over-whelming, logistically speaking. The best advice I can give other than bringing less stuff, is have less expectations. Just plan to get outside. Do not stay cooped up in a camper. It is way too small. Only one adult should handle the tasks in the camper van. The other one should be outside with the baby, and enjoying the scenery. To be honest, we were both too stressed out trying to “work” in the van at the same time. If we simply relaxed and took turns spending quality time with our son, it would have gone more smoothly.
Another recommendation is to bring food that is easy to cook. I would not recommend leaving the campsite once the RV is docked. We tried that on the first night and Casey had none of it. He was already exhausted from the drive up. Foods I recommend bringing include soup and bread, pasta and pre-made sauce, cup of noodles which could be made with hot water, hot dogs, and smores.
Lastly, if I had a do-over, it would be to pick a campsite close to home. Or to pick a few campsites on the way up to our final destination. Honestly, the drive was the hardest part. Making Casey sit in a van for 7 hours just wasn’t kind. He’s just a boy who wants to be outdoors! We took plenty of breaks, stopping for lunch or simply letting him “drive”.
