Baby’s arrival need not mean the end of parents’ hiking trips. With a little bit of extra preparation and planning, baby will enjoy the hike as much as the parents.
What to Take while Hiking with Baby
Take all of the stuff recommended for a dayhike — water bottle, windbreaker, hat, first aid kit, snacks (e.g., dried fruit bars or nuts), sunscreen, insect repellent, bear spray, map, camera, binocular, etc.—plus whatever the infant needs. This will vary depending on baby’s age and the length of the hike, but could include diapers, wipes, a plastic bag for carrying out dirty diapers and wipes, antibacterial hand wash, bottle (unless baby is breastfed), appropriate baby snacks (for an older baby), and other necessities from the diaper bag.
On top of this, be prepared for other things that a small hiker will require. Take a hat or a light blanket to protect baby’s face from the sun. This blanket could also be spread on the ground to put baby on during breaks or be wrapped around the baby if the weather gets cooler. Pack an extra sweater or other clothes for the baby in case of sudden weather changes.
Leave Extra Time for Baby on the Hike
Allow more time to do the hike and be prepared to stop more often to take care of the baby. Robin Tawney Nichols, a conservationist, hiker and author of Hiking with Kids: Taking Those First Steps with Young Hikers (Falcon Guide, 2007), says, "Setting adult goals and expectations for any hike with kids is a recipe for instant disaster."
Baby may need diaper changes or time to eat. It may also be good to give him or her a break from the baby backpack. Most babies will enjoy the new sights and sounds around them: waterfalls, animals, trees, etc. Take time to allow them to enjoy this to the fullest. Let baby touch pinecones, tree leaves, or unusual rocks (carefully supervised, of course, so that they don’t eat anything harmful).
Choose the Trail with Baby in Mind
Choose a trail that is well within the abilities of the group and is "fairly flat without obvious hazards like a raging river or a lake with preciptious banks" (Nichols). Hiking with a baby is not the time to challenge yourself. John Eastman, a hiking dad, points out, “Mellow is the name of the game here. Let go of specific goals or destinations. Hiking only a few hundred yards while investigating the flora and fauna can make for a great trip.”
It may be a good idea to hike easy trails or trails that the group is familiar with and has hiked before. Nichols recommends prehiking a trail with other adults if you are "unsure about the suitability of a trail for family hiking." Be prepared to turn back if the terrain gets too tough, the weather changes suddenly, or the baby becomes overly upset.
Know the Weather Forecast
Check the weather before taking a baby hiking. Hiking with a baby is not the time to be out in inclement or uncertain weather. Penny Schwyn cautions that babies “lose body heat quickly, especially through extremities [hands and feet], because they are not generating heat through activity.” Avoid going out if the weather is rainy or extremely cold and windy. In the mountains, even if the weather promises to be nice, be prepared for sudden changes in the weather.
With this preparation, parents can continue to enjoy the great outdoors and share their enthusiasm for hiking with their babies.
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