REFLECTIONS ON CAMPING ALONE WITH A BABY
Our campsite at Pinon Flats Campground overlooking Great Sand Dunes National Park.
A week and a half ago, I packed up Ivey and the dogs and headed to Great Sand Dunes National Park. I am considering this Ivey’s first camping trip. Technically, last fall we stayed in an unheated yurt at Snow Mountain Ranch, but this was his first time staying in a tent.
I planned this trip because I knew Charles was going to be out of town for about ten days and I wanted to do something special with Ivey in his absence. Temperatures are warming up in Denver but most popular camping areas are still under snow. Great Sand Dunes NP seemed like our best bet within driving distance and I happened to find availability for a campsite with epic views at Piñon Flats Campground.
Overall, our trip was a good experience. I wouldn’t say it was easy, though. I have a lot I’d like to share about our trip, but first - a few reflections on camping alone with a baby:
I found it more difficult than I expected to prepare food. This was partially due to wind - I felt like I needed to watch my jetboil closely to make sure it didn’t get knocked over and that’s easier said than done with a crawling baby. In typical mom fashion, my needs took a backseat to Ivey’s, and I found myself too drained to prepare or eat full meals. I could have worn Ivey in a carrier while cooking, but he prefers movement - cooking would have been too much standing around for him. In the future, if I’m camping without another adult, I’ll pack more food that doesn’t require cooking.
Bailing early was one of the better decisions I made on this trip. We were supposed to stay for two nights, but I decided to pack up and leave around sunset on the second night. This coincided with Ivey’s bedtime and we were able to do the full 3.5 hour drive home with only one quick stop for gas. We happened to drive through a snowstorm on our way home but that’s another story!
Babies have zero expectations and they don’t care about your plans. I’m the type of person who plans obsessively and is disappointed when I don’t accomplish all that I set out to do. Babies couldn’t care less! That 5 mile hike I had planned on the dunes? Ended up being more like a mile or two because none of us were enjoying it. The only person who was disappointed by our pivot was me. Turning back early meant more time for Ivey to play in the dirt at our campsite and more time to contact nap in the tent. He was not disappointed in the least!
Have you camped alone with a baby? What surprised you most? Let me know if the comments below.