How to Choose a Baby-Friendly Campsite

Are you planning a family camping adventure this season? If so, you have likely seen the extensive gear checklists and suggestions for what to bring with you. We have a pretty awesome one located in our Ultimate Guide to Camping with Kids. However, there are a few items the majority of these lists leave out that we think can make a family camping trip a whole lot better. Versatile, durable slip-on shoes If you have ever woken up in a tent in the middle of the night to the undeniable urge to use the bathroom, you know that the thought of finding and lacing up your hiking shoes in the dark while trying to not wake the whole tent is daunting enough to have you consider holding it. And, anyone with little kids knows that asking a child to hold it isn’t an option (or at least not a wise one). Bring slip-on shoes for the whole family that are easy to pull on, closed-toe so your toe doesn’t meet a rock in the dark and can double as a hiking shoe. Merrell’s classic Jungle Moc collection fits these criteria while also being stylish with options for every member of your family. Pre-prepped meals When camping with kids, you never know how the night will go so bring along some pre-prepped meals and ingredients to save your sanity. Here are a few options to make camp cooking a cinch: Pre-scrambled eggs - Break your eggs into a large Ziploc bag, add your milk and salt/pepper, seal the bag and store it. When ready to cook, simply shake the bag to mix, pour into your camp pan and you’re good to go! Less mess and you won't have to worry about keeping the eggs from breaking in the cooler. Pancakes - Mix together the ingredients for pancakes into a Ziploc bag and store it. When ready to cook, simply cut the corner off the bag and squeeze a little in the pan at a time. Freeze stew or soup - Make your stew/soup ahead of time and freeze in a large Ziploc bag. Throw it into the cooler before you leave and it doubles as an ice pack (this works for meat, like hotdogs too!) By the second night, it will be thawed enough to heat quickly in a pan and enjoy. Foil Packet Meals - These pre-prepped meals are super versatile, and all you have to do pull them out of the cooler and plop them on the grill. Check out this article for more information. Kids Play Tent This could be a pop-up tent you don’t mind getting dirty or an old tent you no longer use. Give your kids their own space to play with toys, relax or read in the shade while you set up camp and keep everyone happy. Rag mat or Astroturf for Outside Your Tent This provides the perfect spot to take off your shoes before entering your tent without tracking excess dirt and debris into the tent. Plus, you’ll always know where to find your shoes! Dustpan/brush Even if you take every precaution possible, you will likely still end up with dirt and debris in your tent. Instead of attempting to shake out your tent or remove the dirt by hand, bring along a small dustpan and brush to make cleanup quick and easy. The brush also comes in handy for cleaning up a picnic table and getting caked in sand and dirt out of towels, blankets or clothes. Water Gear Whether you are camping near a water source or create your own water fun to cool off after a hike, water gear is sure to make your life easier. A quality pair of fast-drying water shoes with good grips, such as Merrell’s Choprock collection, along with fast-drying UPF clothing make water play both fun and safe. Add in some squirt guns or even some sponges for the kids to soak and toss at each other, and you are set for some fun, water-drenched camping memories! Old/Inexpensive Digital Camera Let the kiddos morph into junior nature photographers by supplying an old or low-priced digital camera. You could even send them on a photo scavenger hunt to find and take photos of natural items around your campground. (Check out this list of scavenger hunt ideas here.) This is a wonderful way to explore their surroundings while still Leaving no Trace. Duct Tape The real question is what can’t you do with duct tape? From patching a tent to using it as a bandage, blister blocker or even rope/cord in a pinch, a roll of this been-there-done-that fixer should be in everyone’s camping gear. Hand-Washing Station Between the constant supply of dirt and the threat of a global pandemic, a makeshift hand washing station is definitely a good idea. All you need is a container with a spigot for water (such as an old laundry detergent container), a bucket to put underneath to catch the dirty water, and, of course, soap. Nighttime Adventure Items There’s nothing quite like sleeping under a sky full of stars, especially if you luck out with a spot in an area with low light pollution. Taking along a star chart to identify constellations along with glow sticks for the whole family can enhance the experience. You can also include a book of scary (or silly) camping stories to end the night with some family fun. Do you have a piece of gear or something that you brought along that saved your camping trip or made for a more stress-free vacation? Share your favorite camping hacks in the comments! Hike it Baby works to be the most effective hub of tools, information, and community inspiring all families with babies and young children to get outside and connect with nature. Learn more about Hike it Baby's mission and how you can get involved.   About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram.     Photos courtesy of Michelle Pearl Gee, Michelle Craig, and Krystal Weir. Editors Note:   We hope you enjoyed reading this article from Hike it Baby. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you.   But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We do not make this ask lightly, but if you are able to afford it, make a donation, and become a Hike it Baby member.  A membership also makes a great gift for that new parent in your life. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. If you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach. This post is sponsored by Merrell, however, we would not recommend something that our children do not love. 

Take the Guesswork Out of Packing for Your Camping Trip Summer may be coming to an end, but your camping adventures don’t have to. With lower temperatures, less traffic at campsites and the gorgeous colors of changing foliage, fall is arguably the perfect time to set out on a camping adventure with your family. However, between school and work schedules along with extracurriculars, it can be hard to scrounge up the motivation to gather up the necessary gear and get your family out the door for a campout. That’s where gear rentals come in handy. Camping gear rental companies,  such as Xscape Pods, can take the guesswork out of packing for a camping trip. They provide custom car camping and backpacking pods for up to eight people. Pods include everything from sleeping bags and tents to cook sets and roasting skewers, all of which are high-quality, name-brand gear. You simply order online and they will ship the pod to your door (if you're local to Portland, Oregon you can pick up at their store), enjoy the gear on your campout and then return it. Check out these six benefits to renting vs. buying your camping gear, and start planning your next fall family camping adventure. 1. Great for Beginners If you are new to camping the sheer amount of equipment needed can be overwhelming. Renting allows you to “try before you buy” to see if you like it enough to spend the money to buy your own gear. If you find you can't live without some of the equipment in your pod, you can keep it. Xscape pods list the price for each item on the pod lid and will simply charge your credit card for any equipment you decide to keep. 2. Save Money Speaking of spending money, if you know you will likely be an occasional camper, it can be more cost-effective to simply rent the gear when you need it rather than buying the gear that may sit around gathering dust and cobwebs in your garage. 3. Great for Travel Instead of trying to pack your camping gear into your car or paying an airline to stow it, why not either pick it up at your destination or get it shipped? You can get an Xscape Pod sent to a friend or family member or even an AirBnB or hotel. 4. Stress-Free Packing There is enough to plan and think about when traveling anywhere with kids. Ease your mind and ensure all your gear is accounted for by grabbing a pre-packed pod. This also saves a ton of time since it requires no equipment packing beforehand and no camping gear clean out (no need to air your tent out in the front yard) afterward. That means all the sand/dirt that ends up EVERYWHERE is not your problem (sorry, they can't do your laundry for you!). 5. Make it Work for You Kids change quickly and so do their needs, therefore, you can rent the perfect equipment for your season of life. As kids get older they may want their “own” space, or you may find that one cook stove isn’t enough for what you have planned. Xscape Pods also rents out equipment a la carte such as extra tents, stoves, coolers, headlamps, etc. so that you can get what you need when you need it instead of buying gear you may outgrow quickly. 6. The “Cool” Factor If your kids are like mine, anything new to them adds a “cool” factor to the experience. Have them help unpack the “mystery camping box” and make set-up an adventure for the whole family. This helps to keep moods high and adds some fun to the camping journey. And the best part is that the gear is returned before the novelty wears off. Have you tried renting camping gear? How was your experience with it? Let us know in the comments below! Connect with a community of like-minded families by making a membership level donation to Hike it Baby. Learn more about membership levels and join today! Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. More information on memberships, making a donation, and daily hike schedules can be found at HikeitBaby.com. Photos by Michelle Pearl Gee