Camping can be a fun activity for all ages as long as everyone is prepared for any situation! This includes cold weather, and the responsibility falls to the parents when it comes to making sure that the children are protected from the chilly temperatures.
Babies, especially, are vulnerable to the cold because their bodies have a more difficult time regulating their temperatures. Too cold and it would be quite easy for your baby to get sick or worse. That is why you need to know how to protect them! When you do, everyone will be sure to have a great time making memories out in the wilderness instead of being stressed in a hospital.
Today, you are going to learn how best to keep your baby warm while braving the great outdoors and your camping trip will be all the better for it.
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How to Tell if Your Baby is Too Cold
It may be difficult trying to figure out whether or not your baby is too cold because they can’t speak yet and can only cry when they are uncomfortable, which could mean many different things! Well, there’s another parenting tip for this situation that may come in handy.
A good rule of thumb to follow is that if your baby’s skin feels clammy and moist to the touch, they are likely too cold for comfort.
Look at Weather Conditions in Advance
You do not know exactly what you need to prepare for if you have no idea what the weather will be like. That is why you should look at both the general climate of the area you will be pitching your tent in and what the forecast for the area looks like.
For instance, if you are camping out in the desert, you will need to pack in preparation for both incredibly hot and freezing conditions. At night, temps can drop to well below what you may be used to because the sand does not absorb heat!
Buy the Right Tent
If you are a beginner to the world of camping, you may be asking yourself how any tent would be different from another at shielding you from the elements. The truth is that there are many different types of tents for all types of expeditions! The best suited for cold weather are:
- 3 Season Tents. Tents of this type are meant to be enjoyed in spring, summer, and autumn! It can get a bit nippy in those fall months, so keep this in mind. For an example of a 3 season tent that everyone can appreciate, click here.
- 4 Season Tents. Obviously, this tent is meant to be taken on your journey through any season to keep you warm, safe, and dry. This one is a great choice for any family going camping in those winter months.
Bring Warm Clothing
Perhaps one of the most important things you can do to keep your baby warm while camping is to bring the right clothes. You can’t always keep your child in the tent; what fun would that be for anyone? Instead, bring along some items that can be worn in any cold weather situation.
- Jacket or coat. Depending on how cold the temperatures will be, you either need to bring a jacket or a coat to wrap your baby in. In milder climates, you likely will not have to worry about something thick and heavy, but it never hurts to take one just in case it gets colder during your stay!
- Always, always, always put socks on your baby! Most of the heat that we absorb comes out through our feet and our head. Trap that heat in.
- A hat. Just like we keep heat in with socks, we should do the same with some sort of hat. Ensuring that the little noggin’ stays warm is essential if you want your baby to be comfortable!
- Long pants. If you do not wear shorts or just a onesie in cooler climates, don’t let your baby do it, either. Long pants are the key to protecting little legs from the biting winds. A word of advice: denim does not insulate against cold weather, so baby jeans maybe aren’t the best fit for this type of trip.
- Long-sleeved shirts. The logic behind this is the same as why you would put long pants on your baby. Insulate those arms from the chill!
- If you are staying somewhere in a colder climate than most or if it’s the dead of winter, you really need to keep your baby’s hands covered up. Fingers and toes are the most susceptible to frostbite.
- Close-toed shoes. Of course, most parents put shoes on their babies at any time, but others may not usually do so. After all, little babies can’t walk yet! Some may figure that there would be no point in buying shoes. However, that just isn’t the case. Shoes are meant to protect our feet. Even if we do not walk, they will be just as useful for providing warmth and insulation against wintery weather.
More Tips for Keeping Your Baby Warm While Camping
There are plenty of ways to keep your baby warm inside and outside of the tent that you should consider putting into effect while you are camping. Check out these tips so you can keep your baby happy, warm, and safe!
Get a space heater
There are space heaters now to bring into your tent that drastically reduces the danger factor that other heaters possess. This model made by Mr. Heater has some really neat features that make it safe to camp with! It is clean burning and runs on propane, and the heater automatically shuts off if tipped over or if it senses low oxygen levels in the environment. Get it here on Amazon for $70-$90.
Bring a Soft, Warm Blanket
Sometimes, clothes just are not enough to keep your baby cozy and safe. In that case, you should bring a blanket to wrap them in that will insulate them entirely from the harsh weather. Fleece is a good insulating material that is still soft enough to be enjoyable!
Dress Your Baby in Layers
The layering method of clothing has made all the difference in the world to campers big and small alike. Remember, you can always put more clothes on the baby if they are still chilly! Make sure you have an inner layer that could be moisture-wicking or insulating, a middle layer for added warmth, and an outer layer to protect the skin from wind or rain.
Don’t put all of these layers on at once unless you know that the weather is too dangerous for your baby to be in with less than the full outfit. Layer over time to ensure that the baby won’t get too hot.
Build a Campfire
If you have the ability to build a campfire, then do it! Those moments when you are just hanging out with the family outside of the tent are only fun if everyone is having a good time. You will know if your baby is miserable because they will cry and scream. Avoid that fiasco by warming up your little home base and sitting nearer to the fire. Remember not to have your baby dressed in full cold-weather gear while sitting near the fire because they could easily become too hot. Take off the outer layer of clothing for the best results and periodically touch their skin to see if it is too warm.
Never Leave the Baby Unattended in Cold Weather
During the spring, you may be comfortable with letting the baby play in a little pen while you spend some quality time talking to other adults a few feet away. Maybe you want to leave them in the tent for their nap!
While in the springtime this might work, during cold weather camping it won’t. Your baby could too easily become swelteringly hot or freezing and you wouldn’t know until it is too late. If you have to leave for a little while, be sure that someone else can take a watch shift or that you come back often to check on them.
Keep Your Baby Dry
Being wet is never a safe or good situation when it is cold outside. Of course, everyone needs to bathe and that’s fine, but dry the baby off as quickly as possible. Since their bodies can’t regulate temperature as well as you can, being wet only speeds up the freezing process. Get the baby into warm clothes as soon as you can!
Now you are truly ready to take on whatever Mother Nature may throw at you (and your baby.) As long as you use your best discretion and keep them warm and dry, you should only have to worry about what to eat for dinner or which songs you should sing around the fire at night. Good luck and have fun out there!
