One of our top tools for being prepared for any trip is having a list! I keep this running list ready for all our day outings, vacations, camping trips and alter it for each respective event. I feel way more at ease and know that by going through this full list I haven’t forgotten anything on our outing. We took our twin babies camping at 6 months and 9 months and used this essential baby camping list each time. We plan on adjusting this list as our twins become toddlers and as we learn more camping-with-kid hacks along the way! The items on this list are in addition to our regular car camping essentials list.
For Sleeping
2 Pack n Plays
2 SlumberPods
Portable Sound machine
Morrison Sleeping Bags
We fit two pack-n-plays for the twins and a full size mattress for Teddy and I inside our 6 person MSR tent. The SlumberPods fit over each pack-n-play, essentially having two tents inside a tent. Since it’s still light out in the summer when we put the boys down at 7 PM, the SlumberPods are super helpful in making sure the boys go down for bed. They sleep in their Morrison Outdoors Sleeping Bags, rated for 40 degrees F. For white noise, we brought our portable Hatch sound machine.
Our sleep setup:
For Feedings
Bottle Feeding
Bottles
Bottled Water – bring enough for formula and washing bottles multiple times
Camp stove and a pot, or JetBoil – to heat water for bottle warming. Can also use to boil water to sterilize bottles if you’re bringing a younger baby
Bowl – for hot water to warm up bottles (not needed if you bring a bottle warmer)
Collapsible sinks – one for washing and one for rinsing
Soap and bottle brush
Bottle brush
Alternatively, you can just bring a bunch of bottles so you don’t need to wash any. This is a little difficult with twins since you need double the bottles…
Pumping
Pump – I would bring the Spectra fully charged and it always lasted me for at least 6 30-minute pump sessions
Extra pump parts
Willow Gos, fully charged
Extra Willow Go pump parts
Ziplock bags
Refrigeration
After pumping I put my flanges and pump bottles in a ziplock bag and stuck it in our cooler to reuse later.
Solids: Snacks & Meals
Summer chairs – portable booster chairs! Really helpful to sit the twins in these with a snack while setting up camp
Bibs, utensils
Life Vac
Extra wipes!!!
Toiletries/Medications
Diaper bag essentials – diapers, wipes, butt paste, butt paste sticks
Dog poop bags – for dirty diapers
Sunscreen always!!
Baby Tylenol
Children’s Zyrtec
Thermometer
Teething soothing drops
Snot sucker or nose picker
Ziplock bags or trash bags for blowouts!!
Misc.
Toys
Carriers
Portable fan
