I’m going to start this off by saying… I’m not an “outdoorsy” kind of girl. I’ve only recently started camping with our kids because well, they like it, and I like to see the smiles on their faces from experiencing new adventures.

So now, we go camping. This summer, we went camping four or five times. I guess you could say we kind of became pros at it! Traveling with a baby can be stressful – especially if it isn’t something you’re used to doing. But it can be fun! Here are 8 simple tips to make camping with baby a little bit easier!

Tip #1: Be prepared with a big enough tent or camper. We have a huge 10 person tent for the 5 of us, so we have plenty of room for all of our stuff – plus room to move around if we got stuck in the tent due to rain. That seriously makes a huge difference. Last year, we had a smaller tent and even though we didn’t have the baby yet, we were a little crammed. We can fit a queen-sized air mattress, a twin size air mattress and a play yard for baby to sleep in.

Tip #2: With a baby, you need a good, compact terrain stroller. Ours, unfortunately, is not all terrain, so it’s a little bumpy when we’re pushing it in the grass or gravel. Other than that, it’s working just fine for us right now. We use it for more than just pushing baby around too… We use it as a high chair, a carrier to push other stuff around, and even a nap-time area for baby.

Tip #3: Don’t forget to pack a good baby carrier. You’re taking baby to a new environment and have no clue how they’re going to react. You may need the baby carrier for baby to take a good nap, or even more-so for long walks on the trails where a stroller just won’t do.

Tip #4: Electric. It might not feel like camping, but you need a campground with electricity. Why? There are a variety of things you’ll need electricity for when it comes to taking care of baby, but one that we found to be the most important for our family is white noise. You’re outside. There will be noises that baby has never experienced before. Make it easy on yourself – Avoid the potential all-night situation and use a white noise machine.

Tip #5: Snacks. If you have an older baby who likes to munch on snacks through the day, you’ll want to bring more than you think you’ll need. Make sure to pack everything in places you’ll remember where to find them and are easy to get to. When you’re setting up your campsite, it may be easier on baby (and you!) to keep them occupied in a high chair (or stroller) right by you with some yummy snacks.

Tip #6: Bring some new toys! This is especially important for those longer car rides. Babies have short attention spans, so keeping them busy is key. Remember – a bored baby is not a happy baby.  Of course, you should grab a few of their favorites, but new ones may occupy their attention even more. Maybe you’ll discover a new favorite!

Tip #7: Bring extra wet bags. This one is super important. Seriously. You may think you only need one for this and another for that, but believe me – the more wet bags you have on hand, the better off you’ll be. Don’t be the mom who wishes she’d grabbed them ALL before leaving home. Yes, this has happened. When camping, you’ve got dirty clothes, taking toiletries to the bathroom, wet swimming suits, wet blankets, dirty towels…. The list could go on and on. There are SO MANY ways wet bags are useful when camping.

Tip #8: Flip Hybrid Diapers. Make life a little bit easier on yourself. Flip cloth diapers have the option for disposable inserts, which are perfect for traveling. You’ll still get to put on those adorable cloth diaper covers that you love, but without sacrificing all your packing space.

Camping with baby doesn’t have to be hard. And it doesn’t have to be stressful! Have fun, enjoy the wonderful fresh air, and make memories in the great outdoors with baby!