Summer is a great time to enjoy a little backyard camping! Give your family a little vacation by spending a night outside under the stars. Here are some steps to plan your backyard camp out.

1. Find a comfortable spot – You want somewhere with room to set your tent and make your fire. Ideally it should be somewhere level and away from any foot or street traffic. If you’ll be sleeping under the stars (not in a tent), make sure you have a nice view of the night sky.

2. Do a quick cleanup – Remove any sticks, twigs, spiders, pet doo-doo, debris or rocks from beneath your sleeping spots. If there are any uneven spots in the ground, rake those out to make nice even beds. Uneven ground might seem suitable, but it will hurt your back after a night sleep.

3. Invite some friends – Your kids will probably think this is quite an experience, so invite some of their friends or cousins to share it with. You’ll still want to spend the night outside with them to make sure they are safe, but the more the merrier! If space is limited, however, keep it small.

4. Set up the tent – You don’t need a tent for an outdoor campout, but they are fun. Use something that’s simple and easy to set up. You don’t need the nicest tent in the store. If the weather is going to be nice, you could use a large umbrella or a well-hung tarp. You could even sleep in a gazebo or under a patio roof.

5. Cook some traditional camp food – Cooking is an important part of the experience. If you own a barbeque, fire pit, outdoor fireplace or grill, you’re all set. Otherwise, you’ll have to make a small fire pit using a circle of stones. You can cook plenty of foods over the fire with a simple set of pans, but the easiest solutions are hot dogs and hamburgers.

6. Leave your devices inside – Unplug yourself from society for the night by leaving your phones, tablets and laptops inside the house. Camping should be a worry-free, stress-free time to bond and interact with your family.

7. Sleep in something comfy – S leeping bags are usually too warm for summer sleeping, so opt for something lightweight. You could sleep on the sleeping bags with a lightweight blanket, sleep in a hammock, on an air mattress, on a layer of blankets, or on some outdoor patio furniture.

8. The next morning – Camping isn’t over when you wake up! Cook breakfast over the fire and then work together to pack up all the gear. If no one has work/school the next day, you can continue your exploration of the outdoors by attending a botanical garden, park or museum.

Written by Alicia Overby - Founder & President of Baby Elephant Ears

Alicia is wife, mother, and creator of Baby Elephant Ears. Baby Elephant Ears was created out of parental concern, not financial desire. In 2005, when their second child was an infant, he cried all the time and just couldn't seem to get comfortable.

After seeking advice and suggestion from the medical community and alternative medicine, they eventually ended up in the chiropractors office where their baby was successfully treated for asubluxation, discomfort most likely the result of the strain during labor, which was now being exacerbated by the normal lack of infant neck strength. Only proper neck, head, and back alignment would offer him relief. When they couldn't find a product to give their baby the necessary support, Alicia took matters into her own hands and crafted her own infant support pillow. The first Baby Elephant Ears was born!

For more information, visit www.babyelephantears.com.

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