Monday afternoon we started making our way to Crawling Valley campground, after one too many stops we finally got our camp site. Two people (who will be nameless) decided to come camping with us, and they wanted to go earlier so they set up most of the camps. Once we got there we had to rearrange, the camps a bit since some of the flow didn’t make sense, with the kids there.
On that note this is the first time camping with an 8 month old, other then the fact that we took Keera & Zaden camping last May, 2013 at Crawling Valley while I was pregnant. Going camping with a baby is so much more complicated. Most of you will disagree or even roll your eyes, at this list that’s fine it is your choice. I have certainly learnt a lot this time around, and if I can aide to make other people(s) camping trip(s) easier even one person then awesome. This is my experience, and opinion.
*Not in any particular order*
-Tents
One for you/other parent, friend/and younger children. Of course if your kid(s) are old enough for their own tent go ahead and give them one to share. We didn’t bring a small one for our bags, but if you don’t have a camping trailer I would suggest bringing one for your bags so they don’t take up room in your sleeping tent(s). Our tent was a little bit cramped because of the bags.
-Play pen
A life saver for putting the little one(s) in , especially if they don’t walk and you don’t want them on the dirty ground.
-Sun reflector/mosquito net for the play pen
We forgot this one at home, but it’s no a no brainer, it saves your little one from too much sun exposure and from the mosquitoes.
-Small plastic reusable zippered bag
For some small washable toys so your child has something to play with in the playpen, then once you want them put away you just put them in the bag and zip it up. Easy clean up and keeps track of the toys in one spot.
-Buckets, shovels, other sand/water toys.
For the older ones this is a great and simple way to entertain them while you’re at the beach/water area. Even at the camp spot. Zaden was filling a bucket with rocks. 🙂
-Life Jackets
Water safety if your child will be in the water or on a boat. Even if they know how to swim, this is a no brainer.
-A stroller
We brought Emilee’s small stroller, which was easy and compact enough to pack up and not take up too much room. I would have preferred to have her bigger stroller that reclines, especially since she’s not much of a playpen sleeper.
-Flash light(s), lantern(s)
Dollarama has some fantastic kid sized battery operated lanterns, it keeps them from taking the adult ones and the flash lights you want/will need later on when it gets dark.
-Lawn chairs
One for each person/child, we had a fabulous “couch” lawn chair which is perfect when you want to sit down and relax with your child(ren) it’s also great for when you are breastfeeding since you can place all the stuff you want/need beside you for when you can’t get up.
-Toiletries
Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, diapers/wipes. The essentials you would need/want to use while you are camping. Id add sunscreen to this list.
-Towels/facecloth
Everyone gets a towel and facecloth it’s nice to wash your face, makes you feel better too!
-Glow sticks
For some safe nighttime fun, who doesn’t like glow sticks?
-Groceries with proper storage containers
-Cookware, dishes and cutlery
-Dish soap with a dish cloth and drying cloth
-A camp fire percolator for coffee
-Doll/stuff animal etc
Most younger child(ren) have a security doll/stuffed animal or even some have a “baby” blanket. Make sure you pack this. Zaden told us before we left to go camping that he didn’t want to bring “Dino”, yet once we were in the tent all settled for bed he asked for it. Planning ahead we had packed it anyways.
-Blankets/ a couple plain bed sheets
Sometimes it’s cold out and you want/need extra blankets. Then again there’s other times when you are just way too hot and you still want something cool to cover you.
-Clothes
-Swim suits and swimming diapers if needed
-Reusable water bottles/ suppy cup(s)
– Huge water jug
For hauling your cooking water/washing dishes water
-Something you can use to wash your dishes in
This time we had to improvise, we forgot one so we used the kids toy wagon. It’s just a small wagon thing that we had purchased on our way to the lake that’s big enough for the dishes.
-Card/board games
Crib is a camping favorite of ours, we also brought Bohnanza (the bean game) unfortunately we didn’t get a chance to play Bohnanza since we were so occupied with other things.
-Fire wood
IF you can manage to bring your own fire wood, you should definitely do it! Wood costs average 10$ a bag at most places and it doesn’t last long.
-Axe/hatchet to cut your wood
-Fishing rods and fishing license
Of course only if you are allowed/planning to fish where you are.
-Two garbage bins
One for your bottles/cans so they don’t get scattered around your camping spot/getting lost. We keep ours so we can return them to our bottle depot and get our deposit back. The other for your garbage that you can’t burn. Nobody wants you to leave a messy campground when you leave, try to leave as little trace as possible. Keep your stuff clean and organized so you don’t lose it.