What I have learnt from camping with a baby and toddler in ALL weather:

Start slow and small

Stay close to home so if everything goes south quickly you can bail and go home.

Consider staying in a cabin before a tent.

Preparation is key

If possible camp in your yard first.

We set up our sons portacot in his room for a few nights before his first camping trip.

Bring a few open ended toys you know your child loves. We ALWAYS have a digger packed. If your child is older encourage them to help pack and choose some things they'd like to bring.

I am at the stage of my life where I very much appreciate having my own pillow so remember your luxury's too.

Mimic your home environment where possible 

Bring your child's comfort items, special blankets etc and try to mimic your home environment if possible. The more you camp, the less this is necessary, but I found it very helpful when we started.

Have low expectations

Expect to get poor sleep, at least for the first night. I know I struggle myself to sleep in a new environment and it takes time to adjust.

Be prepared to be flexible and comfort your child if needed.

Enjoy a slow pace

In the beginning, don't make big plans but enjoy a slower pace (this is one of my favourite parts of camping).

Plan for slow mornings, naps (hopefully) and playing around the tent.

Plan for the weather

Cooler weather- Bring hot water bottles and put them in your child's bedding before sleeping.

Wear wool beanies and socks to bed.

BRING ALL THE LAYERS.

Hotter weather- The cool gel pet beds from kmart are awesome! Especially for small babes as they can lie directly on them to cool down.

Bring extra frozen water bottles and keep cool towels in the eksy.

As a baby, my son was more comfortable in the cooler weather then the heat.

A note on gear:

It doesn't have to be expensive, or new,especially if you're starting out. Try and borrow gear for a first trip if you're unsure if camping is for you.

You will figure out over time what works best for your family (and this will change as it grows).

We started in a standard kmart dome tent that was found at a festival and it worked great. We all shared the one room and kept most of our gear in the car. Our son slept on a portable crib thing and we used our hiking mats. It worked fine for a while.  

I am very glad we invested in a queen dune mat and this suits us well. If you co-sleep this is a fantastic option.

Our son upgraded to a porta cot (another kmart second hand thing) and was in this for about 2 years, until he could climb out in his sleep bag.

We have just invested in a kids sleeping bag and he'll use a hiking mat with a blanket under for our next trip.

Our current tent is something like this and will last us years. It is huge but we're used to having the space now and will be great as our family grows. It is by no means the best you can get but fitted our needs, space and budget. I love the dark rooms and it means not waking at the crack of dawn!

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS OUR CAMPING LIST

Some great locations for beginner campers in Southern Tasmania:

Base Camp Tasmania

River's Edge campground

Mount Field National Park

Remember- Keep it simple and enjoy quality time in nature!