Camping With a Baby Packing List: What We Actually Used (and What We Didn't)
After spending 16 days camping with our baby, we learned one big lesson:
You need far less than you think.
Before our trip, I spent weeks researching packing lists, trying to prepare for every possible situation. Like most first-time parents, I packed "just in case" items that never left the bag.
Some things became everyday essentials.
Others came home exactly as we packed them.
If you're planning your first camping trip with a baby, here's what we actually used, and what we'd pack differently next time.
The Things We Used Every Single Day
Baby Carrier
If I had to choose one piece of gear to bring, it would be our hiking carrier.
Whether we were exploring trails, walking through campgrounds, or simply trying to get Parker to nap, it became part of our daily routine.
We used it every single day.
Sleep Setup
A consistent bedtime routine made a much bigger difference than having the "perfect" campsite.
For us that meant:
same bedtime routine every night
The location changed constantly.
The routine didn't.
Layers
Camping weather changes fast.
Instead of bringing bulky clothing, we relied on layers.
Light base layers in the morning.
Warmer fleece in the evenings.
It was much easier than trying to pack outfits for every temperature.
Baby Chair or Blanket
Having somewhere safe for Parker to sit while we cooked or packed camp made life much easier.
Sometimes that was a high chair.
Sometimes just a picnic blanket.
Either way, giving him his own space helped keep camp organized.
Things We Hardly Used
Toys
We packed far too many.
Nature provided most of the entertainment.
Sticks.
Leaves.
Rocks.
Sand.
Water.
Those kept Parker interested far longer than most of the toys we packed.
Too Many Clothes
We expected to change outfits constantly.
Instead, we did laundry every few days and realized we only needed about half the clothing we packed.
Extra "Just in Case" Items
We packed several items because we were worried we might need them.
We didn't.
Experience gave us much more confidence than extra gear ever could.
One Thing We Forgot...
Ironically, the one thing we actually forgot was Parker's sleeping bag.
After taking a ferry and hiking 1.2 kilometres into our backcountry campsite, we realized it was missing.
We searched every backpack.
Tore apart the tent.
Even hiked back toward the ferry.
The next morning we went into town planning to buy another one.
It turned out...
It had been sitting in our car the entire time.
Thankfully overnight temperatures stayed above 10°C, so Parker slept safely in layers and his fleece sleep sack.
It definitely wasn't our proudest parenting moment, but it's now one of our favourite stories from the trip.
What We'd Leave at Home Next Time
Half the toys
Extra outfits
Duplicate baby items
Backup gear we never touched
Packing lighter would have made moving campsites much easier.
What We'd Never Camp Without Again
Hiking carrier
Baby sleep sack
Layers
Coffee ☕
Our Biggest Lesson
The biggest surprise wasn't which gear we used.
It was realizing that babies don't need perfect conditions to enjoy camping.
They need:
familiar routines
loving parents
somewhere safe to sleep
space to explore
Everything else is just making life a little easier.
If you've been waiting until your child is older to try camping, I hope our experience gives you the confidence to give it a try.
You don't have to get everything right.
(Trust us—we literally forgot the sleeping bag.)
