Camping with a baby might sound a little wild, and, to be fair, sometimes (most of the time?) it is. But, from one mom to another, it’s also one of the most rewarding ways to spend time together as a family.
The fresh air, slower pace, and time away from screens and schedules? Pure magic (even with a little one in tow). That said, the idea of camping with a baby can definitely feel intimidating at first. There’s a lot of logistics to consider: packing, sleeping, feeding, diaper changes, and everything in between.
We started camping with our baby when she was just six weeks old. After a handful of trial runs, forgotten items, and middle-of-the-night learning curves, we’ve figured out which pieces of gear are actually worth packing, and which ones just take up space.
This list includes 12 of our ride-or-die favorites: the things that made camping with our baby feel less chaotic and more enjoyable. Whether you’re planning your first night under the stars or getting ready for your fifth trip of the season, these are the tried-and-true essentials that have helped us feel more confident, more relaxed, and more excited to keep saying yes to outdoor adventures with our littlest camper.
Let’s take the stress out of camping with a baby, so you can focus on making new core memories as a family.
Table of Contents
Camping with a Baby Gear Essentials
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Know Before You Go
How Soon Can You Take a Baby Camping?
How soon you can go camping with a baby comes down to what feels right for you and your little one. There is no right or wrong time to start, only when feels right to you.
Some families like us head out just a few weeks after bringing baby home, while others wait until those first few months pass and sleep starts to settle.
Either way, make sure to keep things simple — start with a short trip close to home, wait for nice weather, and opt to bring along gear that makes life easier for all of you instead of worrying about shaving weight and space.
Where Should the Baby Sleep When Camping?
Likewise, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer for where your baby should sleep when camping. The short answer? Wherever you and baby feel most comfortable.
Factors to consider: your baby’s age, the outside temperature, how you’ll be camping (tent, camper, car, etc.) and what sleep setup will help everyone get the most rest.
Some families prefer to use a travel bassinet (the Brica Travel Pod is our go-to), while others like to co-sleep with baby in a safe sleep sack designed for cooler temps (we love the Little Mo 20 for that). Honestly, we do both, depending on our baby’s mood.
The key is creating a safe, familiar-feeling space, that everyone is comfortable with. Even more key? Being open to pivoting when plan A doesn’t work. Regardless, don’t fret! Babies are more adaptable than we think, especially when you’re right there beside them.
How Do You Keep a Baby Warm When Camping?
Keeping your baby cozy at camp is all about layering. We follow the same rule for layering our baby as we do for ourselves: a base layer, mid layer, and outer layer.
When layering, make sure to keep the temperature in mind, as well as your own babies succestibility to warm/cold. Merino wool is a great material for base layers (and why we love the Baby Adventure Zippy) as it’s soft, breathable, and moisture-wicking — i.e. it keeps babies dry and helps them regulate their body temperature.
How Do You Manage Mosquitoes When Camping With a Baby?
Mosquitoes can be a challenge when camping with a baby, but there are lots of gentle ways to help keep them at bay.
We like to rely on natural options (Murphy’s Naturals Mosquito Repellent Incense Sticks are amazing) which help keep bugs away without harsh chemicals.
Consider dressing your baby in lightweight, long sleeves, and pants during peak mosquito times to add an extra layer of protection.
We opted for a large family tent so we can comfortably hideout in the tent if need be, but an enclosed pack ’n play with mesh will also work great to provide a bug-free zone for your baby to hang out.
With that being said, try to avoid extrememly buggy areas in general for peace of mind.
12 Essentials for Camping With a Baby
Here are 12 gear items we swear by when camping with a baby — items that turned camping with our baby from stressful to seriously enjoyable.
Whether it’s your very first trip or your fifth time camping this season, these trusted essentials will help you feel calmer, more prepared, and genuinely excited to keep sleeping in the outdoors with your tiniest adventure buddy.
1. No Reception Club Hideaway Duffel
The Hideaway Duffel has seriously changed the game for how we pack when camping (and traveling) with a baby. It’s clear the bag was designed for mothers on the go.
It’s thoughtfully designed, fits way more than you’d expect, and keeps baby’s stuff organized and easy to locate. Thanks to the Cubby insert, the bag opens like a meticulously organized drawer, ensuring we can spend more time enjoying ourselves around camp and less time looking for the pacifier (seriously, where do they all go?!)
The Hideaway Duffel also comes with a seperate laundry sack that allows us to keep the tent tidy so we can enjoy ourselves while camping, not just survive the outing.
It’s one of those bags that makes you feel like you’ve got your act together, even if (when) the camp chaos hits.
Use code Haleigh30 to save $30 on the Hideaway Duffel!
2. No Reception Club The Sidekick
Going camping? On a road trip? Catching a plane? Heading on a grocery store run? I could go on — the Sidekick from No Reception Club is my go-to diapers on the go.
The Sidekick compactly houses everything you need for diaper changes in the outdoors, with room to spare. Feeling confident adventuring with your baby starts with simplifing those every day tasks, like changing diaper.
It goes where I go: clipped around my hip, slung across my shoulder, or easily grabable from the picnic table or tent.
While the Sidekick will come in handy when camping with your baby, it will also quickly become a staple for all outings.
3. BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss
I didn’t expect to use the BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss outdoors as much as I do — but after just one camping trip with it, I vowed to never camp without it.
The bouncer is our go-to spot for baby while we make breakfast, pack up gear, or just sit around the fire. It’s lightweight, folds totally flat, and doesn’t require power.
The best part? It’s a camping essential that you’ll also use at home daily.
4. Munchkin Brica Baby Travel Pod
My biggest concern when gearing up to take our baby camping for the first time was the sleep setup.
Thanks to the advice of other adventure moms, we bought the Brica Travel Pod and now can’t imagine camping with our baby without it.
For parents in search of a safe and portable sleep option for their baby, look no further. This travel bassinet folds flat, pops open fast, and provides a safe spot for baby even when camped out in the middle of the woods.
5. Nemo Switchback Sleeping Pad
A foam pad like the NEMO Switchback provides an added layer of insulation to your sleep setup when camping with a baby.
Foam pads are light, durable, and fold up fast — requiring no inflation and, therefore, are not as risk for puncturing. They’re also multifunctional: for tummy time, a sit pad, changing mat, or playmat for baby.
6. Morrison Outdoors Little Mo 20 Down Baby Sleeping Bag
An outlayer is essential for keeping your baby warm while camping.
The Little Mo 20 is a cozy little sleeping bag onesie, designed for babies 6 months or older, and a great sleep option when camping in colder temperatures.
If you’re camping with a baby younger than 6 months (don’t worry we did too!) we followed the layering rule of thumb to keep our baby warm: a base layer, mid layer, and outer layer. For an alternative outer layer option, we love the CloudBlend Sleep Sacks from WildBird.
7. Ergobaby Omni Deluxe (Mesh) Carrier
I have serveral carriers I love, but when it comes to camping and hiking, the Ergobaby Omni Delux Mesh is the one I reach for.
It’s soft, supportive, comfortable, and breathable. Whether we’re walking around camp, hiking trails, or trying to get baby to nap while we explore, this carrier makes it all feel doable.
Dare I say it’s my favorite piece of adventure gear I own?
8. Ik’splor Baby Adventure Zippy
I learned about the Ik’splor Adventure Zippy from a fellow outdoorsy mom Creator, and it quickly became one of those don’t-leave-home-without-it pieces.
Made from 100% Merino Wool, it’s soft, breathable, and keeps baby comfy from chilly mornings at camp to cozy stroller walks in the evening. The full-length zipper makes diaper changes easy (even in a tent), and the built-in footies are a lifesaver when socks keep disappearing.
Oh, and did I mention you can match your baby with their nursing top? It’s a must, really.
9. Murphy’s Naturals Mosquito Repellent Incense Sticks
All Murphy’s Naturals products are our go-to when it comes to keeping bugs away at camp, but we never go camping with our baby without their Mosquito Repellant Incense Sticks.
They’re made from natural ingredients, smell amazing, actually work, and let us enjoy our time outide without having to constantly swat at bugs.
Try them once, and I’ll promise you’ll be tossing them into your camp bin before every trip. Simple, natural, and effective — yes, please.
10. Munchkin Shhh… Baby Sleep Soother
We didn’t realize how clutch this tiny white noise machine would be until we were trying to get our baby to sleep in a tent with neighbors playing music, dogs barking, sleeping pads squeaking, and zippers zipping all night. IYKYK.
The Munchkin Portable Soother is tiny, rechargeable, and has just enough volume to drown out any campground chaos. Honestly, it helps everyone sleep better — including us.
A portable sound machine = a small but mighty win when camping with a baby.
11. Anico EASZZZ Baby Night Light
This portable night light quickly became one of our favorite parenting hacks. We not only use it camping, but also every night at home.
It’s small, dimmable, rechargeable, and gives off the perfect soft glow for middle-of-the-night feeds, diaper changes, or finding a pacifier in the dark (for the millionth time). The best part? You just turn it over to turn it on. No hard-to-find power button or switch.
You’ll appreciate having a light that allows you to see without waking the baby, trust me.
12. Do Princesses Make Happy Campers? Board Book
More for fun than a necessity? Maybe.
However, packing along a collection of camp-inspired books is a great way to create routine and normalcy while camping, while also starting a camp tradition with your baby.
Do Princesses Make Happy Campers? is one of our favorites, as is C is for Camping, and Goodnight Great Outdoors.
Camping with a baby doesn’t have to feel overwhelming — it just takes the right mindset (and a few pieces of essential gear).
These 12 items are things that made our own trips while camping with a baby smoother, simpler, and more enjoyable.
Keep in mind that, you don’t need every item on this list to get started! This post only aims to give you a starting point, as well as a little confidence to say yes to that next family camping trip. The best way to learn is to get out there with your baby.
I hope you find that fresh air, muddy feet, and starry skies are just as magical with a baby in tow. Maybe even more so.
