How to Take a Baby Camping: What to Pack and How to Keep Them Safe
Yes, you can take a baby camping, newborns included, as long as you plan around three things: a safe place for them to sleep, a simple way to feed them, and protection from heat, sun, cold and bugs. The most important item to take is a portable cot (portacot) with its own firm, thin mattress. After that come nappies, feeding gear, layers of clothing, sun and insect protection, and a well-stocked first aid kit. The checklist below covers the lot, followed by the safety advice Australian health organisations give for babies in tents.
Updated October 2026
Camping with a baby: the quick checklist
If you only read one part of this guide, make it this table. It covers what to take camping with a baby and why each item matters.
| Category | What to take | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep | Portacot and the mattress that came with it, fitted sheet, baby sleeping bag or light layers, a familiar sleep cue (white noise, a story) | A portacot gives baby their own firm, flat sleep space inside the tent |
| Feeding | Breastfeeding top or wrap, or formula tins, cooled boiled water, sterilised bottles, cooler and ice bricks; bibs and spoons for babies on solids | Bush taps and campsite water are not set up for formula prep |
| Nappies and hygiene | At least one extra day of nappies, wipes, change mat, sealable bags, nappy cream, hand sanitiser, baby wash | Remote sites may not have shops or bins nearby |
| Clothing | Layers, long-sleeved tops and pants, beanie and wide-brimmed hat, socks, spare sets in zip-lock bags | Tents get hot in the day and cold at night |
| Sun and bugs | Shade shelter, pram or cot mosquito net, lightweight long clothing, age-appropriate sunscreen and repellent only where the label allows | Babies burn quickly and many repellents are not for young babies |
| Health | First aid kit, thermometer, baby paracetamol or ibuprofen only as advised by your pharmacist or GP, any regular medicines, Medicare card | Help can be a long drive away |
| Getting around and play | Baby carrier, pram that lies flat, play mat or travel playpen, a few favourite toys and books | Somewhere safe to put baby down while you set up camp |
Can you take a newborn camping?
There is no single age that makes a camping trip suitable for every baby. Consider your baby’s health, your recovery from birth, the weather, feeding arrangements and how far you will be from medical care. For a newborn, talk through the plan with your midwife, GP or child health nurse and choose an easy trip close to home.
Some things to think through before camping with a newborn:
- Fever is an emergency in young babies. Healthdirect advises that a baby under 3 months with a fever of 38°C or higher should be taken to a hospital emergency department straight away. Know where the nearest hospital is before you go, and pack a thermometer. (healthdirect: fever in children)
- Vaccinations. Under the National Immunisation Program, the routine two-month vaccinations can begin from 6 weeks, with further scheduled vaccinations at 4 and 6 months. If a trip clashes with a due date, plan around it rather than skipping it. (National Immunisation Program schedule)
- Your recovery matters too. Getting up from a low tent floor, carrying gear and sleeping on uneven ground can be hard in the weeks after a caesarean or a difficult birth.
- Weather. Mild spring and autumn weekends are far easier than peak summer heat or a frosty winter night for a first trip.
If your baby was premature, has a medical condition, or you are unsure, talk it over with your GP, midwife or maternal and child health nurse before you book.
Under 6 months versus over 6 months
Young babies are in some ways easy campers. They are not mobile, they sleep a lot and, if breastfed, their food comes with them. The trade-off is that they cannot regulate heat as well, sunscreen is not recommended for wide use under 6 months, and most insect repellents are not meant for them. Once babies start crawling and putting everything in their mouths, the campfire, tent pegs, guy ropes, water and small objects all need closer watching. Many parents find that a travel playpen or a large play mat becomes essential at this stage.
What to take camping with a baby: the full packing list
Pack baby’s gear in its own clearly labelled tubs or bags so you are not digging through the whole car at 2am. A head torch for each adult makes night feeds and nappy changes much easier.
Sleep
- Portacot, with only the mattress supplied by the manufacturer
- Fitted portacot sheets (bring a spare)
- Baby sleeping bag in a tog to suit the weather, plus a lighter and a warmer option if nights are unpredictable
- Your usual sleep cues: the same sleeping bag, white noise, a song or a book
- A purpose-designed mosquito net that fits securely over the portacot, cannot fall into the sleep space and stays out of baby’s reach
Feeding
- Breastfeeding: a comfortable camp chair, a warm wrap for night feeds, water bottle and snacks for you
- Formula: unopened tins or pre-measured powder in a dispenser, cooled boiled water in sterilised bottles, or ready-to-drink formula
- Enough sterilised bottles for the trip, or a way to clean and sterilise them at camp
- Babies on solids: bibs, spoons, a few easy foods, and a cooler with plenty of ice
Raising Children Network says the safest way to transport formula is to carry cooled boiled water and powder in separate containers and mix just before the feed. If you take made-up bottles, they should be icy cold when you leave, kept in a cool bag with ice bricks, and used within 2 hours. Ready-to-drink formula is another option when you cannot prepare feeds safely. (Raising Children Network: making, storing and transporting formula)
Nappies and hygiene
- Nappies: count how many you use on a normal day at home, multiply by the number of days, then add at least one extra day’s worth
- Wipes (more than you think: they clean hands, faces and camp chairs too)
- Portable change mat and nappy cream
- Sealable bags for dirty nappies and wet clothes, because many bush campsites have no bins
- Small baby bath or a large tub, baby wash, towels
- Hand sanitiser for when there is no running water
A roomy nappy bag that wipes clean is handy for day trips away from camp. Our nappy bag guide covers what to look for.
Clothing
- Two or three outfits per day, packed in zip-lock bags so they stay dry
- Lightweight long-sleeved tops and long pants for sun and mozzies
- Warm layers for evenings: a fleece suit or jumper, beanie and socks
- Broad-brimmed or legionnaire hat
- Swimmers and a rash vest if you will be near water
Sun and insect protection
- A shade shelter or gazebo for the day area
- Pram and portacot insect nets
- Sunscreen for babies over 6 months (and small areas on younger babies only)
- Insect repellent only if the label says it is suitable for your baby’s age
Health and first aid
- A first aid kit, including a burns dressing, saline, tweezers and a thermometer
- Any medicines your baby already takes, and pain relief only as directed by your pharmacist or GP
- Medicare card, your baby’s health record and the address of the nearest hospital
- A charged phone and power bank, and a note of where mobile coverage drops out
Getting around and play
- A baby carrier, which is often easier than a pram on sand, gravel and bush tracks. See our baby carrier guide for fit and safety tips.
- A pram for transport. If baby falls asleep, move them to their safe portacot as soon as practicable
- A play mat or travel playpen so you have a safe spot to put baby down
- A few favourite toys and books, nothing small enough to be a choking risk
Safe sleep in a tent
Sleep is where camping with a baby needs the most care. Red Nose, Australia’s safe sleep authority, says a portable cot is the safest place for a baby to sleep in a tent, caravan or camper. Its key advice for camping:
- Put baby to sleep on their back, with head and face uncovered, on a firm, flat surface.
- Use only the mattress that comes with the portacot. Do not add extra padding, pillows or a second mattress. The supplied mattress is designed for that cot; adding padding creates a suffocation risk.
- Keep the cot clear of soft toys, bumpers and loose bedding. Put it beside the adult sleep area in the same tent; keep sleeping babies’ heads uncovered, without beanies.
- Set the portacot up exactly as the manufacturer’s instructions say, and check it is in good condition before you leave home.
- Keep the tent well ventilated so baby does not overheat.
Read Red Nose’s article on keeping your baby safe if you’re camping before you go. Portable folding cots sold in Australia must meet a mandatory safety standard; the ACCC Product Safety site explains the folding cots mandatory standard. If you are borrowing an older or second-hand portacot, check it carefully for missing parts, damage and recalls.
Air mattresses, adult sleeping bags and camp beds are not safe sleep surfaces for babies, because they are not firm and flat enough. Use the portacot for naps as well as overnight sleep. Red Nose advises against using a pram as a sleep space; transfer a sleeping baby to their safe cot promptly. Car seats and capsules are designed for travel only. Red Nose advises taking a sleeping baby out of the car seat once the trip is over, even if that wakes them. (Red Nose: take your sleeping baby out of the car seat)
For your own comfort, a decent mattress or stretcher next to the portacot makes night feeds much easier. Our round-ups of best family tents and camping mattresses are a starting point. Choose a tent with enough floor space for the portacot plus room to walk around it.
Heat, sun and cold
Hot weather
Tents heat up fast in the sun. Red Nose links overheating with a higher risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy and suggests dressing baby the way you would dress yourself to be comfortable. Check their temperature by feeling their back or tummy, which should feel warm, not hot or sweaty. Pitch in the shade if you can, open the vents and doors (with insect mesh closed), and never leave a baby asleep in a closed tent or a parked car. (Red Nose: keeping baby safe and comfortable in summer)
Sun protection
Cancer Council advises keeping babies under 12 months out of direct sun when the UV index is 3 or above. Use shade, clothing and hats first. Widespread sunscreen use is not recommended for babies under 6 months; it can be used on small areas of skin that clothing cannot cover. Older babies can use SPF 50+ sunscreen as part of the mix. (Cancer Council: sun protection for babies)
Mozzies and insects
The Victorian Government notes that some repellent formulations are not recommended for babies under 12 months. Check the exact product label and age directions every time; do not assume that different products with the same active ingredient have identical directions. For young babies, rely on long, loose clothing, insect nets over the pram and portacot, and staying inside the screened tent around dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. (vic.gov.au: insect repellent) Your pharmacist can help you choose a product for an older baby or toddler.
Cold nights
Inland and alpine campsites can drop close to freezing even in spring. Layer baby in a warmer sleeping bag rather than adding loose blankets or a beanie for sleep, and insulate under the portacot with a foam mat on the tent floor (outside the cot, not inside it). For more on cold-weather trips, see our guide to winter camping with a baby.
Around the campsite: fire, water and the car
- Campfires and stoves. Set up the play area well away from the fire, stove and hot water. If a burn happens, the standard first aid is to cool it under cool running water for 20 minutes, remove clothing and nappies near the burn unless they are stuck, and never use ice, butter or creams. Seek medical help for any burn in a baby. (Royal Children’s Hospital: burns and scalds)
- Water. Rivers, lakes, beaches and even buckets are drowning risks for babies and toddlers. Royal Life Saving’s Keep Watch message is constant, within-arm’s-reach supervision, with one adult clearly named as the watcher at any time. (Royal Life Saving: keeping children safe around water)
- Cars and campsite traffic. Campgrounds have cars and caravans moving slowly but often. Keep crawlers inside a playpen or on a mat you are sitting beside.
- Small objects. Tent pegs, bottle caps, gravel and dropped food are all within reach of a crawler. Do a quick sweep of your patch when you arrive.
Choosing a campsite and timing your first trip
- Start close to home. One or two nights within a couple of hours’ drive lets you bail out if it isn’t working.
- Choose facilities. A holiday park with powered sites, hot showers, a camp kitchen and laundry is far easier than bush camping for a first trip with a baby.
- Check the site. Look for shade, flat ground, distance from water and roads, and how far you are from the toilets for night-time trips.
- Time the drive. Leave around nap time so baby sleeps in the car, and plan breaks so they are not in the capsule for long stretches.
- Arrive with daylight to spare. Setting up a tent with a tired baby in the dark is nobody’s idea of fun. If you can, have one adult mind baby while the other pitches.
- Do a backyard trial. A night in the tent at home lets baby get used to the portacot in a new setting, and you can check your gear.
Tips for the first night
Babies notice new noises, new light and a different temperature. Keep the bedtime routine as close to home as you can: the same bath or wash, the same feed, the same sleeping bag and the same song. White noise can help mask other campers. Expect a night or two of broken sleep while everyone adjusts. That is normal, and it usually settles.
Set out everything you need for night feeds and nappy changes before dark: head torch, wipes, a clean nappy, a bottle or your feeding wrap. Then you are not unzipping bags at 3am and waking the whole tent.
Frequently asked questions
What should I bring camping with a baby?
The essentials are a portacot with its own mattress, a sleeping bag suited to the weather, feeding gear (or cooled boiled water and formula kept separately), extra nappies and wipes, layers of clothing, shade and insect nets, a hat, a first aid kit with a thermometer, and a carrier or pram. Use the checklist table at the top of this page as your packing list.
Can you take a newborn camping?
Some families can plan a short trip with a newborn, but get individual advice first. The key things are a safe sleep space, feeding safely, managing heat and cold, and being close enough to medical care. A baby under 3 months with a fever of 38°C or more needs to go to hospital straight away. If your baby was premature or has health concerns, check with your GP, midwife or maternal and child health nurse first.
Can my baby sleep with us on the air mattress?
Red Nose recommends a portacot as the safest sleep space in a tent. Air mattresses are not firm enough to be a safe surface for a baby to sleep on, and sharing a soft adult bed adds to the risk. Put the portacot right beside your bed so night feeds are still easy.
How many nappies should I pack?
Count how many you use in a typical day at home, multiply by the number of days away, then add at least a full extra day. Newborns and babies with an upset tummy can go through many more than usual, and remote campsites rarely sell nappies.
Is tent camping with a baby safe in summer?
It can be, with care. Pitch in shade, keep the tent ventilated, dress baby lightly, check their back or tummy for warmth, offer feeds often, and keep them out of direct sun when the UV index is 3 or above. On very hot days, a holiday park with air-conditioned facilities or a cabin may be a better choice than a tent.
This guide gives general information only. For advice about your own baby, talk to your GP, midwife or maternal and child health nurse, or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
