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By Carol Shields If you were avid campers before the birth of your grandchildren, you can easily include them in the experience so everyone can have a great outdoor experience. The following tips are useful for the novice as well as experienced camper. The list also includes some common accessories, which will let you and the children get the most enjoyment from the outdoors. When Packing First and foremost, when packing BE SURE not to forget their favorite teddy bear or binky. The selection of clothing will depend on the time of year and where you are traveling. When traveling with an RV, keep in mind the climate changes from indoors to the outside when using your air conditioner or heater. If you are tenting, the children will not be in climate-controlled conditions, so choose clothing accordingly. Pack a hat for sun protection. Toys should be kept to a minimum. This is an excellent opportunity for you and your grandchildren to share the outdoors and all that it holds. Preparing for the Drive Think about the length of time you will actually be on the road. On shorter trips will bottle-feeding or snack time occur during this period? Prepare travel packs of finger foods for them. Bring along wet wipes or wet washcloths for clean-ups while you travel. On longer trips, keep disposable diapers and extra outfits handy in the diaper bag. Pack a small box of toys to prevent boredom. Unusual trinkets tied to a long string occupy infants for hours. Stop frequently to stretch and for potty breaks. If you are able to travel at night or during his or her regular naptime, the drive may be more relaxing for everyone. Setting up the Campsite When you reach the campsite set the children up first. You can situate the car seat or carrier in an airy spot or, open up the crib/playpen. This is another opportune time to give a bottle or a box of cookies to occupy them long enough for you to set up the camp essentials. Be sure they are protected from mosquitoes and other biting insects. Netting over the playpen or crib works well. There are many safe products also on the market now for repelling insects on tender baby skin. When setting up the infant/toddler sleeping quarters, whether they sleep in a tent or in the bed of an RV, add enough bedding around to protect them when they roll. If you have the room, a portable crib will do the job well. If you’re tenting, an air mattress works perfect for bedding. During the daytime convert the portable crib to an outdoor playpen. If you’re tenting you can remove most of the bedding material and change your tent into a play area with built-in mosquito netting. Place the infants inside with some play toys. If you’re RVing, you can also invest in a small pup tent, which makes an ideal play area and protects the children from the sun and insects as well. Equipment Every child loves to be rocked and a hammock may be a wise investment. There is nothing better to lull a child to sleep than to rock with grandma or grandpa snuggled in a cozy hammock with the wind blowing in the trees above. The one item that you can get the most use out of is an inflatable children’s pool. Blow it up, but instead of filling it with water, line the border with soft blankets or pads and put the infants in it. It’s a perfect playpen and a space savings compared to packing a rigid playpen. And when bathtime comes, just fill it with water and let the kids play. If you plan to do some hiking or walking, there are comfortable child-carriers available. You will most likely find camping stores as well as children’s stores stocking toddler backpacks as well as infant carriers. Protect the babies from the sun. You and the children are outside all day. Eight hours of bright sunlight is harmful to sensitive baby skin. Sunscreens designed for an infants’ skin carry a screen number ranging from 15-40+. Another handy item is a portable swing. Those that tie to a tree limb are the easiest for travel. However, many campgrounds will not allow you to tie items to a tree. If this should be the case, the mechanized ones will do the same job, but are more cumbersome to pack. A first aid kit should be taken on every camping trip. Inside put additional items for the baby’s medical needs. For example, Tylenol, Oragel, and baby prescriptions, if any, should be placed in your kit along with the standard accessories. Mealtime Bottle-fed infants may still have midnight feedings. Formula cans store easiest since they need no refrigeration until opened. If you’re traveling with an RV and the infants are drinking milk, you could store prepared bottles in your refrigerator. Milk in aseptic containers need no refrigeration so you can store them alongside the bottle and open when you need to. If your babies are on pureed foods, the baby food jars are most convenient for travel. Another method is to bring along a portable food grinder to puree the food into child size portions. When preparing your own meals at the campsite, put small portions aside for the children. Keep mealtimes as close as possible to the same time as at home. Sassy seats are portable seats that will slide onto any sturdy tabletop and are also a great idea for picnic tables. Toddlers up to about 20 lbs. can sit on these. However, always check manufacturer’s recommendations for weight. These helpful tips will go a long way in making camping with your grandchildren a pleasant experience and one to be remembered. |
Camping with Young Grandchildren