7 things that change when you start camping with your baby

Is traveling with a child possible? Sure! Is it possible to go camping with a child? Of course, at least some things are definitely changing. Below are some points that we paid attention to during recent years of traveling with children.

I would also like to draw attention to what has NOT changed. Traveling with small children does not mean that a camping trip will be more expensive. Many campsites will not charge a single penny for children under 2 years of age. They will charge much less for those up to 6 years of age. Travel costs remain unchanged, indeed! Even going to a restaurant doesn't cost much because children usually eat off our plate.

Trip planning

In fact, there is no such thing as planning a trip anymore... I used to browse through thousands of pages about the place I was going to and buy a few guidebooks, which I read before the trip and at the same time took notes. I simply don't have time for this now. If I buy any guidebooks, I simply take them with me and read them in the car, but I don't worry about it, because once I reach my destination, I will get all the information I need to explore the area.

You will probably agree with me that it is best to gain your knowledge from the locals. Therefore, the first place we go to for advice on what is interesting to see in a given place is the reception at the campsite. In addition to knowing where to go and where to eat, they often have discounts on admission tickets, brochures and folders of these places. If you go camping in winter, you can often even buy ski passes at the reception.

It is also worth asking your neighbor at the campsite about interesting places. This way we saw some wonderful places in Sardinia. There, almost every crew makes a tour around the island and everyone exchanges information on where to stop.

Finally, there is tourist information. Of course, you can visit it first before you even enter the campsite :)

Packing

Traveling with a child means definitely more luggage. More clothes, cosmetics, diapers, bicycles, plus scooters, strollers, toys, bathtubs, inflatables... phew... But is all this really necessary? Make a list of the absolutely most necessary things that you need to take with you in the first aid kit, then make a list of things that you don't really need but would like to have and consider whether it would be better to buy them locally or even rent them.

The campsites have well-equipped shops where you can get everything you can find in Poland. At most foreign campsites you can even buy inflatables from the Polish company Intex! Many campsites have, for example, bicycle rentals with seats and trailers for children, and some of them even have strollers.

Where and when to go?

Even before we had children, we liked to go on vacation in the off-season. Now we continue to enjoy this privilege while the children are still in school. We like to travel off-season because we don't like the heat and crowds, but just like everyone else, we want it to be warm on holiday, so we choose the south of Europe.

If we travel in the high season, we choose central and northern Europe. The Scandinavian countries are a great destination for a mid-summer holiday.

Of course, when choosing a place, we always take into account whether we will be able to do what we want with our children. For us, it means bicycle and mountain trails, proximity to the sea or lake, but also amusement parks.

Journey plan

Travel time increases enormously with children. You need to take more breaks to stretch your bones and eat. Unless you are traveling at night, the travel time is also incredibly LONG ;) We always have plenty of books, games and toys up our sleeve. Cartoons on a tablet are also the ultimate salvation.

I think it is also worth thinking about where exactly we want to go on a given holiday, in terms of how many days we can allocate for travel. There is no point in choosing too distant destinations if we only have a week of vacation. We also count the time spent in the car when moving between campsites. We don't change places often - usually every 2-3 days - and we don't travel too far between campsites. Children are grateful to us that they do not have to spend a lot of time in seats.

Choosing a campsite

The choice of camping not only changes as children come into the world, but it also changes as they grow up. If you are going camping with a baby, you don't have to worry too much about the attractions at the campsite. He'd probably rather deal with a stick and a puddle anyway. Moreover, for a camping holiday with a baby, it may be even better to choose a smaller, intimate and quiet one than a large Family Park where loud music can be played even until midnight. But regardless of whether I was staying at a small or large campsite, I always paid attention to whether the campsite had a place to change and bathe babies, because it definitely makes it easier to care for babies.

A few-year-old child will do well in swimming pools, but then it is better to stay at a campsite that has swimming pools with a soft, non-slip surface, which makes painful falls more difficult. Safe paths where cars are prohibited, playgrounds, animations and child-friendly restaurants are also important.

Older children and teenagers will certainly enjoy attractions such as playing fields, a skate park, game rooms (also on consoles) and hang out rooms.

Cooking

Do you remember those times when you spent evenings at a beach bar? Unless your child falls asleep in the stroller, don't count on going out to the pub together in the evenings. You will probably cook most of your meals on the plot. If you are not an expert in the kitchen or want to save time spent in it, remember a few things. One-pot meals are best, while on holiday everyone prefers to eat fresh fruit and vegetables rather than huge two-course dinners, and on the campsite you can almost always order something delicious to take away.

Bring your grill! Even when traveling in a large camper with a well-equipped kitchen, we like to cook outdoors and we always take it with us.

I also encourage you to plan your meals in advance. Already at home, you can find interesting suggestions for quick and tasty camping meals.

Prepare for the unpredictable

Of course, every child is different. One likes to explore the area in a stroller, the other hates it. It may turn out that all your plans will go to waste and they won't like your carefully chosen campsite, but don't worry. The important thing is that you are together and can spend this time as a family. If not by the pool, then maybe on the beach or in the forest. One thing is certain, trips with children will always be different than those without children, but they will definitely be unforgettable :) and without a doubt, camping is the best place for a family holiday.

If you are curious why it is worth choosing a camping site for your next vacation, read this article: "Camping instead of a hotel"