RVing with a newborn

We camped with a 2 year old and a 2 month old. The toddler was much more work as he was fascinated with the campfire. We were smart to camp only 3 miles from home, because the newborn was still opposed to sleeping at night, and the crying carried very well through the canvas of a popup camper. So I headed home and returned the next morning for breakfast. The next night was a repeat of the first night.

October 13 2004 grandson born October 30 2004 was his first football game. We stayed in the motorhome Friday thru Sunday. Had a great trip. So he was 16 ays old.

Jim

We took our daughter right after we bought our PUP - she wasn't quite 2, and she has LOVED it ever since! We are getting ready to take her and our 6 month old son next month for a couple of close trips to get him used to it. I would agree with PP's in that you probably need to pack more than you think, you should try to drive when the munchkins sleep, and have a VERY loose itinerary. We also do a lot of Fall camping to avoid extreme heat and bugs. Enjoy every moment, as they go by way too quickly.

Happy Camping!!

Our youngest daughter was 2 weeks old when we took her on her first trip. We had a hybrid at that time. It was fine. just like at home. Don't let them get too much sun and try to keep the biting insects away.

Ten days old.

My granddaughter at 5 months, camping with us:



My other 2 granddaughters, my dog, and me. Kids are 1 year and 3 years.



My son at about 6 months. By the time this photo was taken, he was a seasoned "back of the pick-up truck" camper (and a tent to toss all our junk). He's now 28 years old!



We took the same little guy out Christmas shopping 4 days after he was born.

You can start camping with babies the day they arrive home. Your camper, RV, tent, or whatever, is nothing more than an extension of your home. Just do for the babies the same camping that you'd do at home! No difference. Just a different location!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he'll not depart!" (The good book with a loosie-goosie translation! You want them to be campers when they are adults, then take them when they are babies! AND have FUN!

My two DD's each camped for a week in a small TT (ice box, no toilet) at age 6 weeks. They are in their late 40's now, still camping. They have camping kids. I don't think that the GGD has camped yet, but her mother is the GK who seemed to like camping the least.

Only waited until mom was ready to travel. Tented in those days but had a 22 ft sail boat so we put the baby in a collapsible bed/carrier and wedged him into the corner of the cabin and off we went. Don't think he grew up any worse for wear.

People had babies in caves and Tee Pee. Many are now being born in much worse conditions today than any RV or modern tent set up. You'll be OK if you feed 'em, changer their diapers, don't lose 'em or let a dingo get 'em.

We camped at Thanksgiving when each of our girls were 4 months old. A pack-n-play was their playground and their bed at night. We didn't have a screen to go over it, but we fashioned one out of netting. It worked great and the girls are now 10 and 7 and we camp for the 3 months that they are out of school in the summer and several other weeks when they are on vacation.

While they are newborns, they are easy, it's when they get to walking and jabbering that they are hard to camp with. Somebody has to constantly be within arms reach and there is no "down" time unless they are in the bed.

We just temporarily removed our dinette cushions and put them in the house. That was the pack-n-play space and stayed there for two years. (The good part was that the cushions looked almost new when we put them back in.)

When the baby gets a little older, if it's warm, and they can sit up on their own, a small baby pool with about 1/2 gallon of water will keep them occupied for hours. Give them some plastic cups, spoons, etc. You still have to be right there, but they are usually content. If the water gets "dirtied", just clean it out, dump the remaining water and refill it.

My girls attended two different Jr. Ranger camps this summer and are on their way to being naturalists.

Get them hooked on camping early and they will camp when they get older. It's a good family activity and you will be closer to your children.