I have a ton of info, but I'm determined to make this brief. I've posted loooong ones in Burning Moms, so check the archives.
No cloth dipes out there...just don't see how you'd store them unless you have an air-conditioned RV and are SUPER motivated to keep those pee/poo-filled bags cool. Disposable dipes, double lined trash can with lid opened once a day (evening pref). Rest a lot. Wear baby on your body all day and breastfeed constantly, which means twice as much water for mom...aka, you drink constantly while nursing. There is no way you could keep a baby hydrated if they were bottle-fed, but that's my opinion. Be ready to submerge baby in a tub of cool water if necessary.
I did not bring our son out as a newborn (3 mos in 2003), but Alchemy did. Then again , mine was my first baby, hers was her 3rd. Ask her about that.
It was amazing, and challenging, to have a 1 year old out there...and it made all the difference to be nursing then. Same w/ year 2.
On the note of "it would be too much for a 2 month old", you may want to consider how you will be feeling postpartum...that it really might be too much for YOU. You won't have a way of knowing this until baby is born, so go with the plan and be adaptable.
Blessings to you, Playamama!

Hi-
I have a 5 month old cutie and am considering bringing her. I dont think I could have faced BM with her at 2 months...but I live in NYC and just going out the door with my newborn was terrifying in this city...so everything seemed impossible to me. The truth is, despite the heat and dust...I think you will be fine because the people of the playa are so wonderful. You will find safe haven when you need it.

As far as diapers go...I have been saying "pee pee'' to my baby as she wet her diaper ever since she was born. The cloth diaper lets you know when its happening and you can just make a connection with the word and the action. At three months I tried asking her to pee when I knew she should have to go...you get a feel for it after a while. Mine goes a lot in the morning...like six times in a few hours... She also goes about 15 min after nursing... Amazingly she tried when I asked and peed in the sink. I am still amazed when she grunts and relaxes and pees. We only wear a diaper when traveling around the city....and she hates to pee in her clothes and lets me know by getting suddenly squirmy and disgruntled. I just whip that diaper off and let her go...in a cup on a bush over the curb. Guess Im a city-hippy freak...but I dont haul around wet diapers or deal with nasty disposables. We are mobile.

At home we just try and eep a towel under her while holding her and ask her to pee in her pot occasionally. I have not had a poopy diaper in two months! ( I do get peed on a Lot...but its not that bad really) You can tell from the farts when they have to poo and pay attention to the time of day when they usually have to go. Sit them on the pot and ask for a pee and you may get a fart or a poop....but whatever....you are communicating with them. THey like it as much as you do....its exciting to make a connection!

I saw these baby pee sponges, you are to use on the changing table, at the BabysRus store too. I think I will get a few. they are washable and the playa dries things so quickly.

Look up : Natural Hygene for Infants, Elimination Control

Its worth it. Dont teach your new person that their PANTS are a TOILET....you will just have to un-teach them later and thats a drag. They will do what you show them....you are the guide to how this life thing works.

It makes sense.

love to you all,
Michelle

I've had a couple of friends take their newborns to Burningman, but I didn't really have the guts to try it. I've heard their stories though, and from what they told me everything went fine.

I think the only way to go is with a sling. If you are carting your newborn around in one of those little carseats or strollers, he/she is going to be sunburned/playa dusted/dehydrated before you know it and there really aren't baby emergency services out there (babies need special IV equipment). In a sling the baby can nurse on demand so shouldn't get dehydrated, and if it's like my sling, the top will be closed so the sun and dust can't get in.

Other things I think you'll really need with a newborn: a "Misty mate" so that when it gets really hot the 2 of you aren't miserable-
And Especially a smart Mom who takes care of herself (tons of water / electrolytes / shade to hang out in all day / an RV to rest in / good food / did I mention plenty of rest) because if you are dealing with heat stroke or health issues you can't take care of a baby properly.

OK-now I'm going out on a limb, but I just don't think you should do it without a camper/RV situation (sandstorms can blow down or rip to shreds your tent-or the baby could throw up all over it and then what do you have for shelter) and some sort of an art car to ride around in or on (I'm sorry, I just don't think that biking around with your newborn in a sling or anywhere else is a very good idea, and you have to have transporatation, even if it is only to go get ice).

I've seen some good threads about diaper disposal on "Burning Moms" here at Tribe. I think even though the festival is green, cloth diapers just aren't going to work (at 10-14 diapers a day per newborn x 4 to 7 days you are going to need close to 100 diapers since there is nowhere or no water to wash them or dry them without coating them in a nasty alkali dust you won't want touching your baby's tushie-trust me!!).