One of the best Mother's Days! Thanks fam ❤️ S One of the best Mother's Days! Thanks fam ❤️ So blessed to call this family mine!
Just beachy 🌴 Just beachy 🌴
Some photos of life recently. As much as Josh and Some photos of life recently. As much as Josh and I have been pretty go-with-the-flow with Cleo, we've found that she's been getting overly tired at night and almost inconsolable. So the last few nights we've been intentionally putting her to bed around the same time as Davey and Evy and she's actually been loving it? Go figure (also, not complaining! 😆).

Also.. today I walked out of the house to grab something from the car and this 10~ year old girl was walking by with her mom and she goes, "Mom she looks like Barbie!!"

Well that's the best compliment I've had in a while and I'm gonna hold onto it 💖
I've always seen myself as a "go with the flow" ty I've always seen myself as a "go with the flow" type person, and for the most part that's true. But what I've realized recently is that I'm good at going with the flow when I can see a good outcome down the road. But if I smell trouble, "go with the flow" Chelsea is gone with the wind 🌬️

This week we were working on memorizing some Bible verses with the kids. Evy randomly chose Psalm 119:105, "Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way, it is like a light that guides me."

It made me think about how all through scripture, God is just BEGGING us to trust that he has it all figured out. And time and time again, he comes through and does exactly what he says he's going to do. 

But for whatever reason, whenever anything unexpected happens, we immediately think that we need to jump in and control the situation. Some of us are really good at it, too. So it can be really difficult to leave the unknown in God's hands and trust that, yet again, he will provide. 

In this season of unknown for us, I'm praying daily for God to do His will with our family, that he would use us for good, and that we would trust the outcome. It's a scary thing to pray. But ultimately, that's exactly how we hope our short lives will be used—following the path he leads us.
Happy 6th birthday to the OG sister! There's no be Happy 6th birthday to the OG sister! There's no better feeling than getting to know the wonderful person she is growing into. We're so proud of this girl!! 6 is going to be a great year 💕
I'd want to sleep all day, too, if I were up every I'd want to sleep all day, too, if I were up every hour last night 🙃🙃 

Outfit @honest 🦋
Anyone see our other kids lately?? 😜 You know, Anyone see our other kids lately?? 😜 You know, it's so funny how some parts of the newborn phase have been like muscle memory and others have been like we've had our first born all over again. 

We were worried about how David and Evy would feel with this new family member but they have been so sweet that it brings tears to my eyes to put it into words. I was especially worried about Ev being supplanted as the youngest but, honestly, being the big sister suits her SO well and I think she's been loving it, too. 

I've also loved getting to experience this again with Josh. The way you band together during the newborn phase especially is very bonding. You rely on each other deeply and it's not always cute or pretty. 

Super grateful 💗
To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going to think she has the coolest, smartest, bravest big siblings in the world, and she's not wrong 😉
She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early on Saturday March 11 at 1:52 in the morning. 

Josh and I just had a feeling about that day (Friday), so we kept the kids out of school, went out to breakfast, and just spent our last day together as a family of four. 

My contractions started right after my 38 week appointment that morning and progressed throughout the day until around 4pm when I thought, "Mmk, I'm starting to really need to breathe through these. Better go in."

I was so convinced they were going to turn us away that it really didn't hit me that we were actually going to meet our girl that night until we'd been there for a few hours already. 

Baby girl ended up being 7lbs 15oz and 20in long!

We are all so in love. David and Evy are OBSESSED. A few times their friends have come to the door to ask them to play and they've said they'd rather stay home with the baby 😄

We are so blessed and thankful for this little girl ❤️
  • Family
  • Marriage
  • fitness
  • travel
  • Life & Finances
  • Home
  • Blog
    • Family
    • Marriage
    • fitness
    • travel
    • Life & Finances
    • Devotional
  • About
    • Contact
  • Devotional

Living the Sweet Wife

  • Home
  • Blog
    • Family
    • Marriage
    • fitness
    • travel
    • Life & Finances
    • Devotional
  • About
    • Contact
  • Devotional

Baby, Family, Motherhood, Outdoors · July 14, 2015

10 Things Not to Forget When Camping with Baby

10 Things Not to Forget When Camping with Baby

Maybe you’re a camping newbie looking for a little advice. Or possibly an outdoorsy backpacker who has been thrown for a loop with this new addition to the family. Either way, make sure to check off these must-have items before your embark on your next adventure with your little one!

Pack n Play

Our pack n play has been one of the best investments we’ve made since having our son. They’re great for indoors, outdoors, sleeping, and playing. When camping in our 4-person sized tent, Josh and I sleep in one half of the tent and the pack n play is set up on the opposite end with a covering on the wall facing us so baby doesn’t wake up jealous that he’s not cuddling with mom and pop. We tucked fuzzy blankets in the bottom for extra warmth and comfort for babe.

For outdoor use, pack n plays are great especially for babies that are in the pre-walking stage giving them a safe place to play out of the dust and bugs. We’ve also discovered that a fitted crib sheet fits perfectly over the top of our pack n play which keeps baby boy out of direct sunlight and keeps icky bugs out!

Bug spray/Sunscreen

Ok this one is obvious but oh so easily overlooked. So many bug sprays have awful chemicals and toxins that you do NOT want to be putting on baby’s sensitive skin. We use a coriander and lemon body mist from Arbonne which acts as a natural bug repellant. It not only smells GREAT but keeps the nasty blood suckers at bay as well.

The same goes for sunscreens! ESPECIALLY sprays. Never ever ever use a spray sunscreen especially on lil babe’s skin. No kidding, they can actually be worse for you than getting a sunburn. Take a look at this link to see a list of the most dangerous sunscreens and then suggestions for safer alternatives. Again, Arbonne also has great smelling and most importantly SAFE sunscreens for babies and adults.

Hook-on High Chair for picnic tables

Don’t know what I’m talking about? Here’s a great example of a hook-on high chair. We have loved using one of these as it frees us up during meal times and again this keeps baby right where you want him. I’ve seen these on Amazon for as low as $25 but they can get pretty expensive depending on the brand. Honestly, NO need to get fancy with these clip-on chairs. We started out using a sassy seat for babe that my mom had used when WE were babies and it still worked great for our son!

Easy, ready-to-eat foods (little to no prep)

Now if you’re still breastfeeding at this point, GREAT! Free and portable is the way to go! Formula will be pretty easy to mix up too, just more to remember to pack and pre-portion. We started baby led weaning with baby boy when he was about 6 months (another thing I am a HUGE advocate for). Check out my post on baby-led weaning here. We feed babe mostly fruits and veggies with some beans and meat mixed in here and there for additional protein. Canned foods are great for camping with babies! We look for peas, carrots, green beans, kidney beans. And all of these are usually soft enough for a baby to munch on even without teeth. We also pack blueberries, bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes, and other fruits and veggies that are quick and easy to serve to a hungry, still-learning-the-whole-patience-thing baby.

Wipes, wipes, and more wipes!

This one really needs no explanation. Between diaper changes, meals, falling in the dirt 100 times, you’re going to need wipes when there’s no sink around. And you don’t want to be caught without them during a diaper change in middle of the woods! So pack more than you think you’ll need. (Here’s another tip- baby wipes aren’t just for babies! I use these to take off my makeup and clean up when no sink is available. Just be sure to get unscented to avoid skin irritation).

Baby Carrier

If you have a baby, chances are you have one of these in some shape or form. While hiking and camping in the woods, however, you’re going to want something a bit more structured than a boba wrap. Now if camping is something you do for fun a couple times a year, having a simple back carrier would be the way to go to free up for hands and relieve back pressure. BUT if you’re a hardcore camper/hiker who wants to bring the kids along and you’re looking for a great investment, I’ve started to see baby carrier/backpack combos that are great for freeing up your hands, storing the essentials, and for getting a great thigh workout on that hike.

Warm clothes

Ok so you may think that this is a given but don’t underestimate temperature changes! Whether it’s from day to night or sunny to pouring rain, temperatures can drop majorly and you want to be prepared. We were just camping in upstate NY where the days were sunny and in the 80s and the nights dropped as low as in the 40s! Nothing is worse than worrying that your baby is too cold at night. We packed soft wool pajamas, fleece booties, and extra blankets for baby boy on our last trip and a couple nights we used all 3! This is another time where it’s better safe than sorry.

Sleep Association Toy

I don’t know about you but our baby boy has a special toy that, when he sees it, he knows it’s time for nap or bedtime. His thumb goes immediately in his mouth and he leans his head on my chest when that toy is in sight. Now, he doesn’t NEED this toy on order to fall asleep, but it lets him know, “Hey baby, it’s time to sleep now” even if we’re in a new environment that he’s not used to. This has been a huge blessing when we travel to new places and Babe is out of his sleeping routine. I recommend having a sleep association toy for any traveler.

Nuby Nibbler

Before little boy was born, someone gifted these to us and I thought they looked pretty nifty, but when we started baby-led weaning I thought, “Well I guess we’ll never really need these now.” I was so wrong!  I re-found these right before we flew across the country to visit my husband’s family and they were a miracle worker on the plane! And all I had to do was stuff some blueberries and/or strawberries in them before we left. Since then we take these little food pacifiers on every lengthy trip we take, and even some sort ones too if I remember.

In: Baby, Family, Motherhood, Outdoors · Tagged: baby, backpacking, Camping, chelsea damon, family, toddlers

join the club

You’ll Also Love

Lessons I learned in My First 2 Months as a Foster ParentLessons I Learned My First 2 Months as a Foster Parent
Cultivating Quality Time With the Kids This Holiday Season
Three Ways to Keep the Kids From Going Crazy (Quarantined) at Home [With Peppa Pig]Three Ways to Keep the Kids From Going Crazy (Quarantined) at Home [With Peppa Pig]

Comments

  1. Esther of Local Adventurer says

    August 7, 2015 at 5:58 pm

    thank you for sharing our post!! 🙂 we’ll have to keep your list in mind when we have kids and take them camping.

    • Chelsea says

      August 13, 2015 at 12:28 am

      Thank you Esther!

Hi! I'm Chelsea and we're the Damon's. We spent the last two years in WA state paying off student loans and just bought our first house in SC! I love a smooth black coffee, Josh's first love is the Seattle Sounders. Our kids are huge dorks and constantly make us laugh and we all love spending as much time outside as possible.

join the club

Recent Posts

3 Ways to Make the End of Summer a Blast for the Kids

3 Ways to Make the End of Summer a Blast for the Kids

3 Ways I Create Quality Time With My Husband

3 Ways I Create Quality Time With My Husband

The Best Tips + Packing List for Hiking with Kids and Babies

The Best Tips + Packing List for Hiking with Kids and Babies

One of The Best Things You Can Do as a Parent Is Have a Healthy Marriage

One of The Best Things You Can Do as a Parent Is Have a Healthy Marriage

Lessons I Learned My First 2 Months as a Foster Parent

Lessons I Learned My First 2 Months as a Foster Parent

The Pros and Cons of Getting Married Young

The Pros and Cons of Getting Married Young

Categories

  • Family
  • Marriage
  • fitness
  • travel
  • Life & Finances
Shop Presets

Instagram

One of the best Mother's Days! Thanks fam ❤️ S One of the best Mother's Days! Thanks fam ❤️ So blessed to call this family mine!
Just beachy 🌴 Just beachy 🌴
Some photos of life recently. As much as Josh and Some photos of life recently. As much as Josh and I have been pretty go-with-the-flow with Cleo, we've found that she's been getting overly tired at night and almost inconsolable. So the last few nights we've been intentionally putting her to bed around the same time as Davey and Evy and she's actually been loving it? Go figure (also, not complaining! 😆).

Also.. today I walked out of the house to grab something from the car and this 10~ year old girl was walking by with her mom and she goes, "Mom she looks like Barbie!!"

Well that's the best compliment I've had in a while and I'm gonna hold onto it 💖
I've always seen myself as a "go with the flow" ty I've always seen myself as a "go with the flow" type person, and for the most part that's true. But what I've realized recently is that I'm good at going with the flow when I can see a good outcome down the road. But if I smell trouble, "go with the flow" Chelsea is gone with the wind 🌬️

This week we were working on memorizing some Bible verses with the kids. Evy randomly chose Psalm 119:105, "Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way, it is like a light that guides me."

It made me think about how all through scripture, God is just BEGGING us to trust that he has it all figured out. And time and time again, he comes through and does exactly what he says he's going to do. 

But for whatever reason, whenever anything unexpected happens, we immediately think that we need to jump in and control the situation. Some of us are really good at it, too. So it can be really difficult to leave the unknown in God's hands and trust that, yet again, he will provide. 

In this season of unknown for us, I'm praying daily for God to do His will with our family, that he would use us for good, and that we would trust the outcome. It's a scary thing to pray. But ultimately, that's exactly how we hope our short lives will be used—following the path he leads us.

trending now

  • So I know the title of this post says, “What men want most in a wife,” but to be more realistic, this is about what men need most in a wife. Like men, there are a lot of things that we (women) would really like in a husband. Like, it’d be a huge plus if he looked like Chris Hemsworth. But that’s not really what we need in order to have a positive relationship with our spouse. If we married him, we probably think he’s pretty cute, anyway. Take a look at these 5 things a man really needs in a wife, and if you can think of anything else, share your thoughts in the comments below! 5 Things men want most in a wife
  • Do you ever wish that sometimes you could just write a long list to your spouse of all the things he does that drive you insane?? I have done this. 8 of the Worst Marriage Habits
  • Disrespect in marriage can go both ways. Women can react to disrespect from their husbands in many ways. I'm here to share a few positive ways women can react to disrespect in their marriages in order to handle it well and steer their marriage in the direction of grace and kindness again. How to Handle Disrespect in Marriage
  • Sure, they say don’t go to bed while you’re still angry, but sometimes husbands and wives just need some space! That being said, there are healthy ways and unhealthy ways (productive and hurtful, if you will) to get space away from a spouse. Let’s talk about those. The Right and Wrong Way To Give Your Spouse Space

instagram

Follow @chelsealeighdamon

One of the best Mother's Days! Thanks fam ❤️ S One of the best Mother's Days! Thanks fam ❤️ So blessed to call this family mine!
Just beachy 🌴 Just beachy 🌴
Some photos of life recently. As much as Josh and Some photos of life recently. As much as Josh and I have been pretty go-with-the-flow with Cleo, we've found that she's been getting overly tired at night and almost inconsolable. So the last few nights we've been intentionally putting her to bed around the same time as Davey and Evy and she's actually been loving it? Go figure (also, not complaining! 😆).

Also.. today I walked out of the house to grab something from the car and this 10~ year old girl was walking by with her mom and she goes, "Mom she looks like Barbie!!"

Well that's the best compliment I've had in a while and I'm gonna hold onto it 💖
I've always seen myself as a "go with the flow" ty I've always seen myself as a "go with the flow" type person, and for the most part that's true. But what I've realized recently is that I'm good at going with the flow when I can see a good outcome down the road. But if I smell trouble, "go with the flow" Chelsea is gone with the wind 🌬️

This week we were working on memorizing some Bible verses with the kids. Evy randomly chose Psalm 119:105, "Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way, it is like a light that guides me."

It made me think about how all through scripture, God is just BEGGING us to trust that he has it all figured out. And time and time again, he comes through and does exactly what he says he's going to do. 

But for whatever reason, whenever anything unexpected happens, we immediately think that we need to jump in and control the situation. Some of us are really good at it, too. So it can be really difficult to leave the unknown in God's hands and trust that, yet again, he will provide. 

In this season of unknown for us, I'm praying daily for God to do His will with our family, that he would use us for good, and that we would trust the outcome. It's a scary thing to pray. But ultimately, that's exactly how we hope our short lives will be used—following the path he leads us.
Happy 6th birthday to the OG sister! There's no be Happy 6th birthday to the OG sister! There's no better feeling than getting to know the wonderful person she is growing into. We're so proud of this girl!! 6 is going to be a great year 💕
I'd want to sleep all day, too, if I were up every I'd want to sleep all day, too, if I were up every hour last night 🙃🙃 

Outfit @honest 🦋
Anyone see our other kids lately?? 😜 You know, Anyone see our other kids lately?? 😜 You know, it's so funny how some parts of the newborn phase have been like muscle memory and others have been like we've had our first born all over again. 

We were worried about how David and Evy would feel with this new family member but they have been so sweet that it brings tears to my eyes to put it into words. I was especially worried about Ev being supplanted as the youngest but, honestly, being the big sister suits her SO well and I think she's been loving it, too. 

I've also loved getting to experience this again with Josh. The way you band together during the newborn phase especially is very bonding. You rely on each other deeply and it's not always cute or pretty. 

Super grateful 💗
To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going to think she has the coolest, smartest, bravest big siblings in the world, and she's not wrong 😉
She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early on Saturday March 11 at 1:52 in the morning. 

Josh and I just had a feeling about that day (Friday), so we kept the kids out of school, went out to breakfast, and just spent our last day together as a family of four. 

My contractions started right after my 38 week appointment that morning and progressed throughout the day until around 4pm when I thought, "Mmk, I'm starting to really need to breathe through these. Better go in."

I was so convinced they were going to turn us away that it really didn't hit me that we were actually going to meet our girl that night until we'd been there for a few hours already. 

Baby girl ended up being 7lbs 15oz and 20in long!

We are all so in love. David and Evy are OBSESSED. A few times their friends have come to the door to ask them to play and they've said they'd rather stay home with the baby 😄

We are so blessed and thankful for this little girl ❤️
How to use a French hair pin. I love these things How to use a French hair pin. I love these things because they can hold up even my thick and chunky hair and I don't have a large clip sticking off the back of my head (don't get me wrong, I love a good hair clip, too)! Have you tried one yet??

Explore

  • About
  • My Book
  • Contact

join the club

Shop My Favorites

  • About
  • Instagram
  • About
  • Media Kit | Guest Posting
  • Privacy Policy & T&C’s

Copyright © 2023 Living the Sweet Wife · Theme by 17th Avenue