Hiking with Your Baby: Everything You Need to Know
If you are new to hiking with your baby, it can feel overwhelming to think about how you will meet all of their needs while on a trail. I am not going to lie to you, going on a hike with your baby takes much more planning and tolerance for chaos than your solo hiking days, but the more you get out there, the more you will dial in your system, feel more equipped to navigate stressors, and fill your cup in the outdoors all while bonding with your little one. If getting out there is something you are excited about, it’s helpful to know what to bring and how to plan for a successful adventure!
Preparing for the Hike
Before you set out on your hike, there are a few things to consider. First and foremost, make sure you pack all the necessary items. You don’t want to be halfway through your hike when you realize that you forgot something crucial like diapers or formula. I like to keep a list on my phone that I can reference whenever I go out for a hike. This way, I can revise the list as I get a better idea of what I actually need and what I can do without.
Secondly, feed your baby before starting out on your hike! This may delay you getting onto the trail, but it will help your baby feel content and happy throughout the journey.
Finally, plan your hike around your baby’s daily routine. This will add some predictability to your day and help you and your little one feel more at ease (more on this later!).
What’s In My Pack
Packing appropriately for your adventure is a make-it-or-break-it step. It is important to anticipate your baby’s needs and pack accordingly. Again, each time you go out with your baby, you will learn new tricks and get a clearer idea of what you actually need versus what you can do without.
Here is what I bring with me when I day hike with my babies:
1. Baby Carrier
There are many different types of baby carriers out there. I’ll go into more detail on this later, but having a carrier that fits you and your baby appropriately will help you have an enjoyable adventure.
2. Layers
Just as you would bring layers for yourself, your little one should wear layers when hiking. Temperatures can change quickly depending on your elevation change, cloud movement, precipitation, or wind. Babies don’t regulate their body temperature as well as adults do. This means that finding the right balance in temperature is important. If possible try not to dress them too warmly. If they overheat, they will sweat and get cold as the moisture evaporates. That being said, your little one is riding in the carrier and not exerting themselves the way you are. You may be able to stay warm due to your activity level, but check in on your baby to make sure they are not too cold.
The layering system you will use will depend a lot on the weather you are hiking in. Here is what I would recommend for each type of weather:
Warm Days: lightweight, breathable clothes and a sun hat
Rainy Days: Rain jacket or rain suit on top of their clothes
Cold Days: Fleece bunting or down bunting (depending on how cold it is), beanie, mittens & booties (if not already incorporated into the bunting)
In the warmer months, I would recommend dressing your baby in something breathable that covers a lot of skin. This is especially important if they are under 6mo and can’t wear sunscreen. A sun hat is important for keeping the sun off of their face and head. Some carriers have a sun shade built in. This can be a great alternative to a sun hat if you little one likes to face you in the carrier.
For cold weather activities, I like to use a non-cotton base layer made of bamboo or merino wool. This way, if they get wet, the moisture will wick away from them and keep them warmer than if they were wearing cotton. We use simple fleece suits for our boys. Many of these buntings have hand and feet covering flaps. You can find these at second hand kids stores for super cheap! If you are going to be in much colder weather, I would recommend using a down bunting. A beanie is important for helping them keep warm. I like to put sunglasses on them if they are wearing a warm hat in order to protect their eyes from the sun reflecting off the snow.
When my kiddos were still very small, I would wear an oversized rain jacket/windbreaker and zip it up over the soft carrier in order to block their body from the wind.
3. Food
Burp cloth
Bottles
Formula
Warm Water
The system I have found works best for us is to bring a thermos of warm water, formula powder, and bottles. You can pre-measure the formula powder and put it in the bottles so that all you have to do is pour the water into the bottle and mix it! I like to bring a small ziplock of extra formula powder just in case they get extra hungry or the hike takes longer than expected. If you are nursing, you may not need to bring much other than a burp cloth and extra nursing pads.
I like to always bring a burp cloth on our hikes in case they spit up. This helps keep them as dry as possible so that they don’t get cold from being wet.
4. Diaper Kit
Diapers
Wipes
Changing pad
Trash bag x2
Extra set of clothes
Having the option to change your baby on the trail eliminates the stress of having to rush back to the car to change a diaper all while your baby is crying out of discomfort. I like to change our boys at the trailhead before starting on the hike, just to minimize the number of diaper changes on the trail, but I always pack a diaper kit with me to be prepared.
If you want to avoid carrying a heavy pack along with your baby, I would recommend grabbing a handful of wipes and putting them in a ziplock bag rather than bringing the whole package of wipes.
I like to make sure that when I change our boys’ diapers on the trail that I lay them down in a comfortable place. Find a spot out of direct sunlight or wind and preferably a smooth or even surface. In terms of a changing pad, it comes down to personal preference. You can bring a lightweight folding changing pad or simply lay your jacket down beneath them. I have found that the Thermarest Z Lite Sit Pad works great under the changing pad/jacket especially if you are on top of snow or rocks. The butt pad will keep them insulated from the cold and protected from bumping their head on a hard surface. Use the butt pad later for yourself to sit on when you feed/nurse them!
While it may seem a little extra, our boys have had far too many blowouts for me to go hiking without an extra set of clothes. This may seem over the top, but the last thing you want is to wear your baby’s blowout on you the whole way back to your car! Again, this is about personal preference.
Lastly, I like to bring two small grocery bags with me on the trail. One is to contain the soiled diapers until I get home and the other is for soiled clothes if they need an outfit change.
5. In Case of an Emergency
Sunscreen
First Aid kit
Saline Solution
Tweezers
Emergency Satellite Device
Before you go out on your hike, anticipate what emergencies you might need to prepare for.
If your baby is 6mo+ I highly recommend putting sunscreen on them before taking them on the trail. This is especially true at high elevations. The sun can be harsh on their baby soft skin!
You can have a super simple first aid kit and adjust it to your particular situation/adventure. For a simple day hike, tweezers, saline solution, antibiotic ointment, and some band aids are usually sufficient. Tweezers are good for getting a splinter out or if you are in an area with ticks, removing a tick. Saline solution can help with rinsing their eyes out if they get dirt or a bug in their eye. Again, you can adjust your first aid kit to the age of your little one and the anticipated issues that could occur on the hike.
Lastly, I HIGHLY recommend getting a satellite emergency device. We use the Garmin inReach Messenger on longer excursions and love it. It is small and lightweight and gives us the piece of mind knowing that if some emergency were to happen, we could get help in places that don’t have cell service. If you are hiking alone with your baby, this is especially important.
What Type of Carrier to Use
One of the most important things to bring when hiking with a baby is a child carrier. There are many different types of carriers available, so choosing the right one is important. Some people prefer a sling style carrier that allows for hands-free carrying. These wrap carriers work best for young babies who do not have enough neck control. Personally, I prefer using a soft-structured carrier (SSCs), which has padded straps and can be worn on the front, hip, or back. I have used a SSC for my little ones since they came home from the hospital and soft-structured carriers like the Ergobaby Omni 360 can be used until your child is 2yrs old!
The Ergobaby Omni 360 baby carrier is excellent in that it is highly adjustable, and can be worn in a variety of ways. It has a sun shade that can be stored away or used for keeping the sun off your baby’s face when carrying them. It even has a mini fanny pack pocket in the front that is great for storing your phone for snapping some photos!
My only complaint about the Ergo 360 is that it feels a bit bulky for wearing two kids at once (i.e. one on each hip or one on the front or back). I know people do it, but I haven’t felt that it was comfortable for me or my littles.
For fellow twin mamas or mamas with two small kiddos, the TwinGo Air Model Carrier could be an excellent option. It is a soft structured carrier that is a 2-in-1 carrier (unlike trying to wear two Ergo 360 carriers at once). It also has a built-in sunshade, small pocket, a breathable mesh lining for warmer seasons and a zippered panel that covers the mesh for cooler seasons.
If you have an older baby, you might consider a framed carrier. These carriers tend to have more room for holding gear, are comfortable, and can provide weather protection. Osprey’s Poco Plus carrier is highly rated, has a built in sunshade and PLENTY of storage for longer trails. It even has a rain cover accessory that you can purchase separately!
Regardless of what kind of carrier you choose, make sure it fits snugly around your body so there aren’t any gaps between your child and yourself where they could fall out. If you are hiking on a trail with any type of scrambling, make sure that the security of your carrier will not be compromised by your movement. I would highly recommend trying the carrier out on a flat, easy trail before attempting a more strenuous trail with your baby.
Setting Your Baby Up for Success: Routine, routine, routine!
I am a huge believer that babies (and humans) thrive with consistency and routine. For both you and your baby’s sake, it can be helpful to adjust your adventure to fit your baby’s daily routine.
Here is how I do this with our boys, who are currently 7 months old:
First, decide if you want your baby to be awake or asleep for the hike. If the drive to the trailhead is 45min-2hr long, I usually decide to let them take their nap in the car and be awake for the hike. For shorter drives, I will plan for them to take their nap on the hike.
For having your baby stay awake for the hike:
Diaper & feed your baby before leaving the house
Baby naps in the car for 45min – 2hr
Arrive at the trailhead and feed & diaper your baby
Put your baby in the carrier facing outward with a sunhat (if they have enough head control)
Arrive back to the car at one of their nap times
Feed & Diaper baby at the trailhead
Baby naps for the car ride home
For having your baby take their nap on the hike:
Arrive at the trailhead ~30min before their nap time
Feed & diaper your baby at the trailhead
At their nap time, get your baby in the carrier facing toward you. I like to pull the sunshade over their head to provide a cozy, low stimulation space for them to fall right to sleep!
Go for a hike
Arrive at the car at a specific transition point in your baby’s routine (i.e. next feeding, next nap, etc.)
If you are really trying to set you and your baby up for success, plan to be back at the car at a feeding and nap time. This way, they can sleep in the car and you can relax on the drive home. However you plan to adjust your adventure to your little one’s routine, my recommendation is that you do your transitions (getting out of the car, getting out of the carrier, etc) at specific points in your baby’s daily routine. This way, you aren’t waking them prematurely from a nap or making them wait longer than normal for a feeding.
TIP: There are some great portable sound machines out there if your little one needs white noise to fall asleep. You can simply latch it onto your pack and add an extra element of familiarity to their on-the-go nap!
Safety Tips
Stay on the marked trails. Make sure you’re not wandering off into areas that are unsafe for your baby, especially if you’re hiking in a national park or other protected area.
Watch out for wildlife! While it may seem obvious, don’t approach wildlife with your baby! You might be thinking, “well, duh, of course I wouldn’t do that,” but I have seen some crazy things like parents putting their child on top of the bison in Yellowstone National Park, so I think it is worth mentioning.
Make sure your child is properly hydrated before leaving home, especially at higher elevations or during hot summer months when dehydration can occur more quickly than usual due to increased heat exposure from sunlight reflecting off rocks and dirt roads/trails.
I like to keep my Garmin inReach Messenger with me on longer hikes so that I can get help in case of an emergency.
Don’t be afraid to turn around! Being responsive to your little one is far more important than finishing a trail.
Conclusion
As a twin mama, I have had to wrestle with my own journey of accepting that I am NOT a homebody and being in nature is vital to my ability to show up as my best self for my kiddos and partner. Being a mom was going to look different from the examples I have seen in my life, and that is okay! By taking my little ones on adventures with me, I found that I was simultaneously filling up my cup while sharing joy and bonding with my boys.
It is not selfish to still go after a life of adventure as a parent–in fact, your love for adventure is an opportunity to enrich the lives of your kids. I have found that getting outside is great for all of us. As a mom, I notice that I become revitalized and ready to show up as the best version of myself for my family. My boys benefit from the soothing elements of nature while also exploring a new environment with parents who engage their curiosity and sense of wonder. Not to mention–my husband and I get the distraction-free time we crave these days for talking, dreaming, and sharing new experiences as we hike along the trail carrying our little ones.
If getting out on the trails with your little one would benefit your family the way it has benefitted ours, I would encourage you to give it a try! With adequate preparation and openness to the unexpected, hiking with your baby can be a rewarding and rejuvenating experience.
Like many of us, I have benefitted from learning from other mamas sharing their experiences. Let’s support each other in going after our big adventures with our littles! What tips and tricks have you found to help you adventure with your little one?
