We first took West camping when he was four months old. I felt like we had something to prove to ourselves by getting him out camping early.
Camping in the Rocky Mountains: A Beautiful Outdoor Experience for Families
We live in the Rocky Mountains and within 20 minutes of our door, we have access to some of the most beautiful camping in the state. As a couple, we are most in our element around a campfire. West hit four months old in July, which is just about the time nighttime temperatures break forty degrees in our mountain town at 9,000 feet. It felt warm enough. He seemed old enough.
But we had no idea where to start. You would think thirty years of camping acumen would give us a foundation, but the rules all seemed new. Trying to find camping gear for a four-month-old seemed almost impossible.
Camping Gear for a Four-Month-Old: Challenges and Solutions
We had bought the Halo Bassinest Luxe Series with camping in mind. The top detaches so you can take it when you travel or camp. Handy and we liked the bassinet overall. Place for baby to sleep, check. But that was where my camping plan of action ended. The biggest challenge I found was safe sleeping clothing for a baby.
Once they hit six months, Morrison Outdoors makes a wearable sleeping bag. Younger than six months requires some innovation. Ultimately, he slept in fleece pjs, his Burt’s Bees Wearable Blanket, and another warm quilted sleepsack with sleeves over the top. It was not warm enough, but we made it through the night.
The Rewards and Challenges of Camping with a Four-Month-Old
Ultimately, the trip was a worthy experiment for us. We had lovely moments sitting in fields of wildflowers and relaxing in the fresh mountain air. At bedtime, I held him while he slept, and we enjoyed the fire. Did he sleep perfectly? Heck, no. Does any four-month-old?
Eventually, I broke the “safe sleeping rules” and pulled him into my sleeping bag with me, which resulted in better sleep for all. You can lose your mind worrying about sleep and babies, but you can also just go camping and free yourself from the burden of perceived constraints.
Reflections on Camping with a Four-Month-Old
Would I take a four-month-old camping again? Yes, absolutely. It gave me some of my mojo back in a tired depleted state. But I wouldn’t do it again and again. It was a lot of work and cold. It felt hard to fully embrace the experience. We fiercely protect our bottom line in this family, and a life well lived is one outdoors, but we make adjustments within that context.
Adjustments are not tradeoffs. We just keep recalibrating. Now that we have a two-year-old, camping is a heck of a lot easier. Forcing it is not always the best path, but trying always is.
