Sleeping Outdoors with a Little One
Here are some of my thoughts on bringing an infant into the wilderness and how to make them comfortable when sleeping.
playing by the stream
Tracy, I think you hit on some good strategies used in the past, bringing the pack and play or a toddler tent. I have done both on different occasions and it is just what we needed. But sometimes, this is also not necessary. The one thing I think is important is to bring one blanket that smells like home even if it is very small; it seems to make the baby sleep better. I have never tried the inflatable bed you mentioned.
I have used a portable co-sleeper. That can definitely be brought on a rafting trip. Of course, your baby can crawl out of it but it does have small retainer walls.
Other useful items are a climbing crash pad or a thick thermarest-style pad or an insulated mattress. I don’t think your young child needs much to sleep on. I think adding shade is good. We struggled with this when in Mexico where it was hot and the tent got stuffy. We put up a tarp and tried to make sure the baby had a breeze.
While backpacking we brought an ultra-light insulated mattress, but that is not even necessary. See the pictures of the sleeping babies:
Have fun and let us know what you ended up doing!
Heidi Ahrens
