What is the youngest age you should bring camping?

[MPTDAT]

I recently had a baby in May, although I believe he is entirely too young to go camping, my DSs and DH think it would be ok since I am breastfeeding. This year we are broke and not going, I don't have to worry about it. But, I was wondering what is the youngest age of children you have brought camping.

[Dee4j]

kids are resiliant..they go where you go, it's how much YOU want to deal withe the feedings etc out of your comfort zone...I think infants are easier than toddler, they don't eat stuff off the ground nd run off :p

My DD's first camping trip (in a tent!) was just before she was 3 months old

[austinado16]

kids are resiliant..they go where you go, it's how much YOU want to deal with....

Couldn't agree more.  Start taking your child out now and it will become part of their natural life.  Get a Kelty Kid Carrier style backpack (they're a dime a dozen on Craigslist and probably ebay.....get the version with the shade hood) and get out there.  Make your child an asset not a burden!

We took our daughter to her first car show when she was one month old.


We don't trailer to shows, we drive our vintage British car.  So that was 200mi one way, in her car seat, in the back of the car.

When she wanted fed we'd pull over for a breast stop.  When she needed changed......


Those are dog dishes by her head, because we also brought our 2 dogs to shows.  She's 2 months old in this second photo and we're on our way to Los Angeles for a big weekend show.

She's now 8 and in a week will spend 3 days and 2 nights with us hiking into and out of, the Grand Canyon.

Restaurants, movies, you name it.  Take your child, teach them good manners, and help them become a member of the family!

[sacrawf]

Instead of camping, we stayed at a State Park Lodge when my son was 6 weeks old, and we took him "hiking" with a cheapo stroller, carrying it when the trail got tough.

We found that when the kids were young, the State Park Resort Lodge rooms (Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky for us) allowed trouble-free air conditioned rest for over-exhausted kids, provided game rooms, lots of board games and puzzles in the lobby, rocking chairs on the front porch or upstairs deck, and use of the indoor pool. Being in the park kept us close for adventures on the hiking trails, tennis courts, outdoor pools, and fishing spots during the day.

[ScouterMom]

Couldn't agree more with Austinado - take him with NOW! start with day trips, then go longer. any limits you see are yours -not the baby's. He'll be fine as long as you're OK with it.

My ex-husband wasn't a 'camper', but he was really into boating.  He had been out on his grandparents boat when he was only 2 wks old, so of course, our son Jon had to beat Dad's time.... so Jonathan was out on the river in our ski boat at 10 days old! (mind you, we didn't repeat this too soon, because I had had a c-section and the bouncing nearly killed me!) But Jon slept thru the whole 3 hr ride in his carseat under the shade of the dashboard - this was in July, 1990.  Later trips showed he must've been born part fish, because as soon as he could WALK,  the summer of 1991, we had to make sure he had his life jacket on, securely buckled, before any doors were open on the van - otherwise he would gone right out on the dock and have jumped right in the river.  He was swimming in the lake his first summer and had a ball.

We divorced the winter Jon was 1 1/2, and I took Jon on his first tent camping trip before his 2nd birthday, and we've been camping buddies ever since.  

But 'camping' isn't the real issue - it's getting out and DOING stuff with the kids along. Jon went with me (or us) everywhere.  I can remember garage saleing with my friend from Lamaze class - our boys were about a week apart in age, and we were both breastfeeding.  We'd set out with the newspaper, maps, diaper bags and picnic lunches for us - and whenever the boys needed  to nurse, or rest, or a change, we just stopped and took care of them. We did everything at our own pace - but it worked and was very fun!  

I had a frontpack for Jon as an infant, and switched to a backpack or umbrella stroller, or a bike trailer - whatever was appropriate, for wherever we were going.  It took a bit of planning and organization to pull off - but after awhile, you find that you really don't need all the crap you think you need, and that kids are very accomodating and resiliant.  I was a stay-at-home mom when he was an infant - one who couldn't stand being stuck indoors!  So we biked, and walked the dogs (try handling a stroller AND two golden retreivers on leashes - they were very well trained! ) We went to outdoor fairs, parks, malls, etc.
 

All you have to remember is to feed them when they're hungry and let them sleep when they're tired, and the rest you'll do fine with.

Jon is now 18, and I think alot of what makes him the wonderful, outgoing, self-confidant young man he is, comes from his lifetime of being exposed to many different places, people and experiences from the time he was too small to remember any other way.

Besides, if you have any more, it isn't going to get easier! Start now and figure out what works for you while he's little! HAVE FUN!

Laura

By the way - one of those Burley Bike trailers for kids is a great investment - they can carry an infant to a 5 yr old, or two, and have room for  a diaper bag and a small cooler. they keep the bugs off the kids and are more comfortable for the kids than a hard plastic carrier or car seat. Pulling them behind a bike is easy, you don't even feel them behind you. Most have a handle attachment to use as a large-wheel stroller and you can get some in a fold-down style to fit in your camper or vehicle. And when your kids finally outgrow them - you can usually sell them for a decent amount. ( or let the dog ride in it!)

[JimS]

My wife and I took our son on his first camping trip when he was two months old.  We traveled from southern California to Montana.  He did fine.
Here is a pic of him getting a bath in the pop up's sink.

[austinado16]

That's what I'm talking about!  Great picture and a nice looking little man.

[3ontheGo]

Yep, we agree

[fallsrider]

We took our son out last year when he was 6 weeks old. We went to a state park about 3-1/2 hrs. away, for 3 nights. It was a great experience, and he did very well. He's been on 7 other camping trips since!

[mach8274]

We waited until our 3 year old was 6mos before we took him camping. We just wanted to make sure that he slept through the night before we went. I was always paranoid that we would wake other campers up if he started crying in the middle of the night.

Our new camper is only 2 mos old now, and she is already sleeping through the night, so maybe her first trip will be very soon.

Dave

[haroldPE]

same here.  we have been awoken by babies in the adjoining sites at night, and would not want to put any one else through that.

We waited until our 3 year old was 6mos before we took him camping. We just wanted to make sure that he slept through the night before we went. I was always paranoid that we would wake other campers up if he started crying in the middle of the night.

[Lifeangel1]

My DD was a few weeks old when we took her camping in a tent. she slept in  a pack 'n play and did very well. My DS was almost a year. We took my one DGS when he was 6 months. and the other was 9 months ( would have been sooner if they would have been born before summer).

They all slept very well and have been campers since. DGS are now 8 & 7 and are loving camping with Grammy!

[Dee4j]

We waited until our 3 year old was 6mos before we took him camping. We just wanted to make sure that he slept through the night before we went. I was always paranoid that we would wake other campers up if he started crying in the middle of the night.

Our new camper is only 2 mos old now, and she is already sleeping through the night, so maybe her first trip will be very soon.

Dave

no guarantee they would slept thru the night while camping...just being away from home and not used to it. besides they wake up and cry when they want something, you give it to them and they are happy... besides they don't cry that long..

My DD and SIL took their son away from home the first time after he was a year 1/2 old ad it was a disaster..he screammed himself into throwing up..to their defense they could not take him out into the world...He was born at 27 1/2 weeks and spent his 1st 3 months in the NICU when they brought him home it was the start of flu season and the risk for RSV was too great....he is now a very fast, very smart, 2 year old

[CAPEd CODger]

Cheryl and I took our 3mo old DD tenting on a friends mountaintop.....no water, no bath-house, no electricity.

The only problem we had was a leaky tent and constant rain........She (DD) was perfectly fine and happy....Cheryl and I were not so happy....dealing with a soaked tent and dog, yes we took our dog, too.

Anyway.....kids go where you go, and if you don't mind, they don't mind.

Happy camping!!!!

[TroyKnott]

I don't really think any age is too young. While i don't have my own children, i've been camping all over (Yosemite, Black Rock Desert, deep down baja, Hawaii, central California coast, etc.) with friends and family who have young children and babies. Its always seem to depend on the child and how relaxed of a baby he or she is. When down in Baja, a couple brought there little baby boy (about 1 1/2) and he had a ball. we played in the water and basically did everything you would do at home, except you just don't have a house roof over your head. Just remember bring sun shades, plenty of water, and a good sense of humor!

Troy
----------------------
Troy Knott
troy@campingmecca.com
http://www.campingmecca.com/
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