Wild Camping with a Baby or Toddler
What can I say. I started drafting this blog before I’d even posted this now quite popular pony video below, so it’s about time I finished this.
I’ll aim to make it useful whether you’re curious about camping with your baby or toddler, or more generally interested in wild camping.
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On August bank holiday weekend we headed to Dartmoor for our first time wild camping with our one year old son.
What is wild camping?
Wild camping is when you camp on land that is not an official campsite. The idea is that you set up camp as the sun is going down, pack down early in the morning and leave no trace. In the UK it’s illegal everywhere without permission from the land owner except Scotland and Dartmoor National Park, although its widely acknowledged many people wild camp in places such as The Lake District or Snowdonia. The key, I think, is respect.
The Rules on Camping in Dartmoor
There are only certain areas you can camp.
You must backpack camp, which means carrying your equipment as part of your walk
You must be at least 100ft and visibly out of sight from the road or any buildings.
Limit your stay to one or two nights
Keep your tent small
Don’t light any fires or BBQs - if you want to cook use a small portable gas stove
Don’t pollute any water sources
No staying overnight in any vehicles
Remember to take all litter home with you
Read the full code of conduct here.
Putting up our tent. Yes, those are sheep droppings. Good luck finding a dropping free zone.
Purple hues of our sunrise views
I write a lot about hiking with a baby but if you’re here wondering whether you can wild camp once you have a baby, YES, you bet. In fact, this was our first time wild camping. We were originally planning to drive up to the Scottish Highlands to the place we got married as it was our 2nd Wedding Anniversary weekend, but Leo had tonsillitis the week before so we opted to stay (slightly) closer to home, heading to Dartmoor instead. We’d never been to Dartmoor, though years of studying English Literature means it’s come up a few times. For many people Dartmoor is synonymous with ghostly folk tales and horror stories. For others it’s synonymous with rolling hills, coursing rivers and big granite Tors. The latter is much preferred if you’re camping and are like me, prone to a rampant imagination.
Many people prefer through-hiking, where they pick a long hike and camp along the way. As we have a one year old, we opted for a more chilled couple of afternoons taking shorter hikes to wild camp in different spots. We spent the time in between getting brunch and ice cream in Tavistock, and ticked off our first two Tors, too.
So what have we learned on our first trip wild camping with a one year old?
Pack as light as possible
Everyone knows babies need a lot of things. Nappies, wipes, multiple changes of clothes, toys, food. This adds a lot to the essentials you already need to bring for two adults.
Our trick was to use a designated Osprey Dry Bag to pack enough nappies for each night, a change of clothes, wipes, a meal and a snack. This worked a treat as you can either put the dry bag in the backpack if there’s room or attach it to the outside of your backpack or baby carrier (see photo).
Remember even when you pack as light as possible, it likely won’t end up that light. This is the backpack in action. It’s even heavier than Leo and the carrier I was wearing.
Keep backups in the car
This won’t really work if you’re doing through-hiking, but as we did one night at a time in different locations and made use of our car during the day, what worked well for us was keeping plenty of nappies, wipes, meals, snacks and toys in the car. Each day before setting off on our hike we’d top up the dry bag with what we needed for the night.
We also kept backups of trail mix, water, and some extra clothes for ourselves too.
Find toys in nature
It’s tricky to find room for toys when wild camping. To keep things simple, we kept a few select toys back at the car (such as Mushie cups, Mr Sloth (Leo’s fave), a few musical bits and a ball) and took NO TOYS with us to camp. Instead, we’d stop to look at various things in nature on our hike up, Leo could help set up the tent (ok, help is an exaggeration but you know, observe), climb on rocks and logs and play with the grass. While every baby is different, we found Leo is in his element outdoors, climbing about, playing with twigs and leaves, and getting all muddy. We found nature’s playground was definitely sufficient and if anything, tired him out more.
They might sleep better than you
One thing I was apprehensive about was Leo’s sleep. I didn’t know how it’d work, as nights where we’re out later he can get over-tired and struggle to fall asleep. What I did know is we’d need to be up extra early to pack down which would be a nightmare if he (and we) hadn’t slept. Well, we needn’t have worried. Both nights Leo slept like, well, a baby! In fact the second night it was pretty windy - IOW it sounded like a jet engine in our tent. Both Mr J and I were wide awake in the early hours accepting our fate of little sleep and savouring the starry view instead. Meanwhile, Leo was snoring away none-the-wiser. In fact, one thing I’ve learned these last few months is that he can sleep almost anywhere!
Plan first. Then go with the flow
Packing? Pitch location? These need to be thought out properly. The last thing you want is to be rushing to find a suitable camping spot as the sun goes down or struggling to set up your tent in the dark. We had everything we needed, we had the Dartmoor wild camping map handy so we could scout out where to hike to and we knew (roughly) where we’d camp each night. We’d make sure we set off with enough time to set up the tent and enjoy dinner as the sun went down.
However
Once you’ve got these chief things sussed, relax! Enjoy yourself. Use the extra time (if you have it) to explore one of Dartmoor’s 160 Tors, discover nearby towns, or savour some delicious Devonshire ice cream. With a baby it’s so important to go with the flow. There were poonamis that needed changing in the middle of the night and tantrums thrown that made breakfasts tricky and meant we couldn’t just pop into a cosy pub and enjoy a drink while planning our next spot on the map. There were times in the day when we needed to keep walking or driving or stay in the park while Leo napped. We really had to work around him. But we did, and it worked out.
Must-haves
First Aid Kit
No ifs, no buts; no pack is complete without a first aid kit, child or not. There are so many fantastic compact first aid kits out there and you never know when you might need to use one, even just for a bump or an insect bite. Always remember this piece of kit. In fact, if more than one of you is camping it’s better to take two or even three.
Water
You don’t say, right? Of course taking enough water when wild camping is a no brainer but it’s also heavy! You’ll need enough to drink straight up plus enough for any hot drinks or meals you plan to make, brushing teeth, etc.. We kept water back at the car and used a large water bladder in the backpack which we asked places to kindly fill for us during the day. We also got a couple of BeFree 0.6L bottles. These squeeze filter bottles are an absolute game-changer when it comes to water on the go, without the added weight. They’re ultralight, crazily compact, and have a hollow fibre filter that’s able to remove any nasty bacteria, cysts and sediment. PVA and BPA free, they’re perfect for outdoor adventures to turn unsafe water into safe drinking water on the go. They pack down ridiculously small so you can fit them in your backpack or pocket.
Dry Bags
Ok maybe not essentials but we have a few of these bad boys and they’re without a doubt some of the best kit we own. These handy little bags are compact, waterproof, and bit like a Tardis inside. Each has a different colour so you can identify which is which. What’s more, they have a handy clip to easily attach onto your backpack or baby carrier, so you can carry them even if you run out of space. Just be sure they’re not dangling anywhere where they could get caught and become a hazard while you hike.
Another trick? Stuff some of your softest items in them at night and they double up as a pretty neat pillow, too.
Head torch
We only had one between us this trip but I reckon we’ll take two in future. Most of the time you’re wild camping your brightest light will be moonlight, so a head torch is so handy. Think brushing teeth, needing to pee, trying to find your water bottle or phone.
Layers
One thing about camping - especially in blustery Dartmoor - is that it’s quite normal to go to bed warm and wake up freezing, even in summer. You’re likely to build up a sweat while hiking or putting up the tent, but quickly get chilly in the night when the wind picks up. All I can say is layers, layers, layers.
We camped at the end of August and I took a couple of thermal but breathable base layers which pack down light, leggings, a fleece, a hoody and a small packable raincoat. We also took a large Voited insulated blanket which kept us toasty warm on chilly mornings as I could wrap it around myself and the baby carrier like a poncho.
If you’re breastfeeding, I highly recommend NatalActive Wear clothing. I took my trusty bamboo base layer and sweater and it made any milk feeds way more comfortable. No having to faff around in a sleeping bag to lift one top up and pull another down.
For Leo I packed plenty of vests, sleep suits (which helped to prevent bites), and a cosy fleece borg jacket. A snowsuit is great too, though we didn’t need one this time. I took 4 nappies, two vests, two sleep suits, the Borg jacket and a rain mac each night, and left the rest of his clothes in the car.
The key is make sure you pack enough layers suitable for the weather and pack for worst case, because temperatures can drop quickly, even if the forecast looks great.
This is an incredible app whether you’re hiking or camping. You never know when you might need assistance. Make sure you download it to your phone before any adventure or hike. There are three words for every location which makes it so much easier to communicate where you are if you wind up lost or in an emergency.
What do you eat when wild camping?
We love our food and did wonder what we could take that was tasty to eat when wild camping. Great foods to pack when wild camping include:
Snack bars
Nuts and seeds
Dry fruit
Chocolate (if its not hot weather)
Trail mix (we made homemade trail mix and this was a real hit!)
Dehydrated meals
Eggs
Beans
Coffee bags and/or tea bags
Hot chocolate sachets
For Leo who was 12 months at the time, I took a few screw-top baby pouches, a mix of his favourite snacks, and he also had eggs, beans and easy peel oranges with us. At home he eats the same meals as us but when we’re out I find the pouches with a screw cap useful as they’re less messy and keep for later.
Highly recommend:
These collapsable silicone cups/bowls which come with lids
Enjoying morning coffees with the sunrise. (The gas was off in this photo - always use it outside and never in the tent!!)
Cooking can be extra hassle but personally we think it’s is one of the best parts of camping. We took a small portable gas stove this time and cooked a hot Firepot meal (all you do is heat the water and pour it in and wait for it to rehydrate - we can vouch for the chilli one!). Enjoying a cooked meal beneath the slowly dimming sun followed by a hot chocolate while stargazing made an unforgettable dining experience. We also fried eggs one morning which were delicious but I had a tough time scraping the pan clean after so not sure we’d opt for those again!
How do you wash when wild camping?
In our case, water wipes, water wipes, water wipes. We use the Mum & You ones for everything, from changing Leo’s nappy, to wiping our face and body.
For a longer trip I’d probably work out something better but for a couple of nights this worked fine. Just remember to take all used wipes home with you.
What do I do about poo?
Great question. If you’re curious what to do about poo when you wild camp, well you’ve got a couple of options. You can either take a poop trowel and biodegradable loo roll or go full luxury with a portable/folding camping loo, although good luck fitting that in the backpack!
We took biodegradable loo roll and a poop trowel. The idea is to bury it (well) underground and pack out the loo roll. We didn’t actually end up needing these at all on this trip as we stopped at enough cafes and public loos during the day.
Is it ok to poop outdoors?
Absolutely. It’s not just ok, it’s important. Holding your poop in can lead to constipation and even fecal impaction (although this is probably only a risk on a long trip). I’m sure you might be feeling anxious about pooing on a camping trip, especially if you’re going with people you’re not as comfortable around, but it’s important to remember that pooping is a natural bodily function and nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed of! We all do it.
That said, there are rules around where you can poop when wild camping and how to dispose of poop when wild camping. Generally speaking, you must be at least 200ft from any water sources, roads, trails, or campsites and you must dig a hole at least 6-8” deep. Official rules state you must not bury or burn your toilet paper.
What do you do if you’re on your period while wild camping?
If you need to use menstrual hygiene products you’ll have to pack out and take these home so bare this in mind if you think your period might coincide with your trip! A menstrual cup might be a good idea as you can usually keep these in for up to 12 hours.
For Leo’s poop we of course had nappies. At home we use a mix of cloth and disposable depending on plans but for camping we went 100% disposable, because they’re far more compact and easier to pop in a nappy bag to dispose of. Eco by Naty are the ones we use and I can say they kept all leaks and poops contained..
Will ponies eat my tent?
So if you’ve seen our “ponies chomping on our tent” video, you might be wondering this. Dartmoor National Park is home to over 1500 ponies (it’s estimated there were around 30,000 back in the 1950s) so your chances of seeing ponies if wild camping in Dartmoor is pretty high! It’s believed these bewitching hooved beauties have been calling the moors home for over 3500 years. It’s illegal to feed these ponies and important to respect their space. If they feel threatened, ponies can charge or bite. We were definitely taken by surprise to see a pony nibbling on our tent, only to open our tent and discover a whole herd, foals with them too. In our case it was a very magical experience but - particularly as we had Leo with us - we did stay cautious. As with wild camping itself, I think the key here is respect. In most cases if you respect their space, they’ll be absolutely fine and you’ll get to enjoy a very special moment seeing these captivating creatures so close by.
What do I need to pack for wild camping?
Here’s a picture of everything we packed in our backpack.
This is based on three of us camping, and because I needed to carry Leo in the carrier, we had to fit everything into one backpack. If you;’re solo camping this may or may not be useful and if there are two of you you’ll have the option to take two backpacks which might make things easier.
Our packing list:
First aid kit
Head torch
Map
Compass
Hand warmers
Loo roll
Poop scoop
Baby wipes
Disposable nappies
Nappy bags
Nappy cream
Bib
Food (one Firepot meal each per night, one meal for Leo, small box of homemade trail mix, a couple of hot choc sachets and a couple of coffee bags)
Compact pots, cups and cutlery (we used these)
Small pan
Portable camping stove
Mini gas canister
2 x sleeping bags
2 x compact sleeping mattresses
Voited insulated blanket
Water filter bottles
Clothes (read above section on “layers” to see which clothes we packed)
Portable power bank for charging our phones
Hairbrush and hair-ties (my hair has never gotten knottier in that wind)
Moisturiser
Deodorant
Mini toothpaste and toothbrushes
This is what it looked like packed up:
Above all, if you’re planning on wild camping, please remember to respect your environment and any wildlife you encounter, take all your litter home, set up late, pack down early, and leave no trace. It’s the people who neglect these rules that sadly give wild campers a bad rep. If we all take care to leave no trace then hopefully we can continue camping on these lands for generations to come.
Is there anything else you’d like to know about wild camping or camping with a baby/toddler? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer your questions
