Keep Your Baby Snuggly And Warm At Night While Camping With These Easy Tricks

If you are someone who loves the outdoors and camping, then it is only natural that you want to share some of those incredible experiences and adventures with your children. With summer coming to an end and cooler weather just around the corner, you may even want to take your kiddo out to some of the most beautiful fall camping destinations in America to introduce them to nature. However, with cool weather comes the problem of how to keep your kids warm at night when the temperature drops.

This is particularly important for babies who aren't able to regulate their body temperatures as well as adults. To add to the problem of keeping babies warm, experts advise not using blankets with babies until they are 18 months or older because they can be suffocation hazards. Luckily, there are multiple easy ways to keep your baby warm at night while camping from layering up their clothes to purchasing special sleeping bags for them. It is also important to note that while many people like to just have their babies sleep in regular pajamas but in the same bed as them to help keep them warm, this can be dangerous for the baby and is not typically recommended. So, how can you safely keep your baby warm while camping?

The first thing you will want to do when camping in cool weather with a baby is to look into different ways you can help keep your tent warm whether that is by choosing the right tent, investing in some insulated sleeping mats, or layering a up a bunch of warm blankets on the bottom of your tent to help keep stave off the cold temperature of the ground. Some people even add foam puzzle pieces to the bottom of their tents because they can double as both a layer of insulation and a play area for the kiddo.

However, no matter how much insulation you add to the bottom of your tent, it is still a tent and — in all likelihood — will still get a little chilly in low temperatures. So, in that case, the best thing you can do to help your baby stay warm and cozy is to dress them in layers. It is often recommended that you have a base layer made of merino wool (avoid cotton because it holds moisture), then cover that with a layer of fleece, and then add an outer layer on top. The general rule is that babies will need one more layer than what you would wear. You will probably also want to add a hat, mittens, and socks in cold temperatures.

If you are camping in cold temperatures or are just concerned about keeping your baby warm, you could always consider purchasing a baby sleeping bag or sleeping sack. Some outdoor brands even sell baby-sized sleeping bags that are rated to keep kids warm in temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The only issue is that these sleeping sacks and bags can get pretty pricey and your baby will likely outgrow them quickly.

If you don't want to buy a down sleeping sack that your baby will only use a few times, you can consider instead investing in a good baby snowsuit that they can hopefully get a little more use out of while also sleeping in it during camping trips. As pointed out by one Redditor on r/camping, putting little kids in snowsuits while sleeping in a tent is a good option because there will be "no worries about them rolling out of [the] sleeping bag during the night and them getting cold." Because camping with a baby is a little more complicated than just camping alone, you may also want to consider choosing a campground that is relatively close to home (at least for the first time) or even start out by sleeping in a tent in your backyard to test your gear and baby warming techniques in a safe environment.