Camping with a Baby or Toddler

I tend to get the same reaction when I tell people we’re going camping for the weekend – sheer surprise and disbelief that we’re going camping with a baby!

We just came back from our second annual Memorial Day Camping Weekend. Last year, Kayleigh was 8 months old when we trekked to Watkins Glen up in New York’s Finger Lakes. The weekend was such a success, we decided to make it an annual tradition. (My husband has tried to get me to go camping for years, since we traveled cross-country after college!) This year we drove south to Assateauge Island in Maryland and Virginia, hoping to catch a glimpse of the wild ponies.

Scroll down for some highlights of our destinations!

Our experience camping with a 20 month old was a little bit different! Like last year, Kayleigh absolutely loved every minute of being outside – despite the bugs and the rain. However, this year was a little more challenging for us now that she’s mobile, the most stressful part was making sure she stayed away from the fire. Fortunately, we had extra hands as my parents and brother joined us this time around!

Our camping lodging does indeed consist of a tent, we happen to love ours. It has a screened in entryway, and then another screen door to enter the main section of the tent, which helps to keep those pesky bugs out! The entryway is extremely useful for a variety of reasons: it holds our wet shoes, so that the second inside portion of our tent remains clean and dry and we can even sit in the front section to stay out of the rain. Technically, the tent holds 6 people – but our two cots and Kayleigh’s pack ‘n play practically fill the entire space. We’ve found that bringing Kayleigh’s pack ‘n play acts as a familiar place, enabling her to sleep somewhat regularly – despite technically being outside! I also sleep much better on a cot, compared to the ground or even an air mattress. On a cot, I have no fear of being woken or bottoming out if Ben rolls around or gets up.

When it comes to cooking – we mostly cook our own food and skip eating out. We use a small Weber grill  which we’ve had for years as well as a portable burner, both run on small propane tanks. Our menu for the weekend consisted of burgers/dogs and mac ‘n cheese Friday night, grilled filet mignon with caprese salad on Saturday and grilled marinated chicken thighs with corn salad on Sunday! Just a side note about this corn salad – we made it from our Cooking Light magazine a few weeks ago and immediately said it was going to be our go-to bring along side for all BBQ’s this summer. It is quick, easy and absolutely delicious!! The secret ingredient is miso paste – so unfortunately not for those with a soy allergy. Find the recipe here!

We’re lucky, in general Kayleigh loves to be outside – which lends itself to camping. She’s always exploring and picking things up outside, we will be walking somewhere, anywhere really – and notice that she’s picked up a rock or a shell. My husband and I will have no idea when/where she grabbed it, she’s sneaky!

Items to make camping easier with a child:

• KidCo Tent (what Kayleigh’s hanging out in here & the picture up top)
  • This was a lifesaver during our first camping trip. It enabled us to keep Kayleigh contained, entertained, clean and bug free while we set up our tent and campsite. She loved rolling and playing around in her own tent! For trip #2 … grandpa kept her company in there!
  • I actually bought it for Kayleigh’s first EuroTrip – we were staying in 5 different places over a two week span and thought it could give her consistency and enable her to maintain a better sleep schedule. However, I later read that kids under 1 shouldn’t sleep in it due the risk of SIDS, so we’ve used it for fun and play but haven’t given a go at sleeping in it.
  • My only complaint – I can never fold the back into its carrying back quickly. Take my advice and don’t throw the instructions out!
• Camping High Chair
  • We brought along Kayleigh’s Bumbo seat for our first trip, but I wish we had this highchair last year too. It folds up just like a camp chair, fitting into its own carry sack. The chair has a nice tray, which can be used to hold food or crafts!
  • It’s lightweight and convenient enough to store in your car and bring to a restaurant that doesn’t offer highchairs or if you want to guarantee a clean one.
• Travel Bottle Brush & Drying Rack
  • This device is a lifesaver! It is a portable drying rack, that foldsin half, storing a bottle brush that you screw together. Each piece of the brush has a useful end – the regular brush as well as a much smaller wire end, perfect for cleaning the tops of nipples.
  • The rack has plenty of space for drying necessities and it is small enough to keep on a picnic table or near the sink on a bathroom counter of a hotel room if necessary.
• Glow Sticks & Flashlight – endless entertainment!
• Messy toys/crafts that you don’t want inside your house, such as:
  • Bubbles
  • Play Dough
  • Paint with Water Pages

A little information on our recent Camping Destinations!

About Assateague:

• 37 mile barrier Island
  • Northern 2/3 are in Maryland
    • the northern most part is a Maryland State Park
    • the remainder is the National Seashore
    • Camping is permitted in both areas – but book early, most weekends are fully booked during the summer months!
  • Southern 1/3 is in Virginia, the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge 
    • 1 mile stretch of lifeguarded beach
    • Assateague Lighthouse, available for public tours on weekends during the summer
  • Bridge access exists at each end of the Island, however there is no road along the island connecting the Maryland and Virginia sections. Driving from the National Seashore in Maryland to Chincoteague, Virginia takes a little over an hour.
  • The Island was originally going to be developed like Ocean City and in 1950 a road and some structures were built. However it was all washed out by a large storm in 1962. Afterwards, there was a push for the land to become a National Seashore, legislation was introduced to Congress and finally the National Seashore was established in 1965.
  • Wild Horses
    • ~90 horses currently roam the National Seashore
      • horses have become accustomed to being around people
      • they WILL steal your food and may bite/kick – it’s recommended you stay back at least 10 feet
      • very important to keep all food locked in your vehicle if camping, they will even steal food from beachgoers
    • up to 150, divided into 2 herds in the National Wildlife Refuge
      • limited interaction with people, known for their docile temperament
      • cared for by the local Fire Department
      • population controlled via annual Pony Swim
        • horses are corralled to swim across a narrow channel from Assateague to Chincoteague, annually on the last Wednesday in July
        • they are then paraded down the street to the fairgrounds
        • the following day, the foals are auctioned off and the remaining horses swim back

  Things to do on Assateague Island:

  • Relax on Beach
    • Beautiful, wide sand beach
    • Dogs and Kites are permitted outside the lifeguarded areas
  • Kayak and Bike Rentals available at the end of the Bayside Campground, they even have attachments for little ones!
  • Ocean City, MD is ~20 minutes north by car
  • Chincoteague, VA
    • Boat Tour: We used Daisy’s Boat Cruises for a private pontoon tour – unfortunately it rained on us the entire time! Despite the weather our Captain, Sandy was phenomenal. We were lucky enough to see a herd of horses, a bald eagle and two dolphins! She told us dolphins are commonly spotted in July and August, but we were lucky to see them early in May.
    • Ice Cream: Topping TripAdvisor’s List of Restaurants in Chincoteague is Island Creamery. Don’t be put off by the line – it moves very quickly, they have it down to a science. The ice cream was good, but I’m very glad I splurged the calories for a fresh waffle cone, it’s all you smell when you walk in the door!

  Things to do in Watkins Glen, NY:

  • Hike Watkins Glen
    • Gorgeous Gorge along a stream that over a course of 2 miles, descends 400 feet – creating 19 waterfalls some of which you walk over, under or through!
    • The Gorge Trail walks along the water – is paved and contains well maintained stairs, but can be slippery from the water’s spray!
    • The Rim Trail walks above the gorge – giving you a different, beautiful view from above!
  • Seneca Lake – where you can take a Boat Tour or go Trout Fishing
  • Wine Tasting along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail
  • Corning Glass Museum
    • My husband’s family business is in the glass industry – so a visit here was a must for us!
    • The Museum really exceeded our expectations, it was interesting, interactive and educational. Lots of exhibits for kids, perfect if Kayleigh was a little bit older.
    • We each took a Make Your Own Glass Workshop – at the time, they had a special to make your ownvase. Fortunately, they ensure your piece will come out nicely! Not being sure about what we would do with Kayleigh, we signed up for back to back classes – turns out we would have been ok taking the same class, because half the class goes first and then the rest of the class makes their piece. Because we were heading home the next day, the museum mailed us our vases!