Tips for Baby’s First Hike

Authors Note: I originally wrote this post pre-COVID-19 and I know we are all currently practicing social distancing and staying at home, but I’m hoping there will be a day soon when we can all hit the trails again. So until then, pop your babe in your hiking backpack and take a walk around your neighborhood or set-up your tent in your backyard and pretend you’re in the great outdoors.

Visiting Palm Springs this winter, we were super excited for our first opportunity to get Callie in a hiking carrier and on some trails. As this was Callie’s first time in a hiking carrier and on a hiking trail, we had a few different things to consider when choosing the best hike for our family. If you too are preparing for your first hike with a baby, we hope these tips and suggestions will prove to be helpful!

Timing

To make a hike enjoyable for your baby, first consider their awake hours. A hike can be a stimulating and bonding experience for you and your baby. This is a chance (and maybe a rare one for city babies) for them to be immersed in nature, so you’ll want to plan a time when they will be awake, alert and happy. Planning a hike too close to nap time can quickly turn a fun hike into a trek with a grumpy baby who wants nothing to do with being stuck in a carrier.

If you have an older baby who is down to 1 or 2 naps a day, a hike first thing in the morning after breakfast can be a great time if the trailhead isn’t too far away. Always aim to avoid the hottest part of the day and protect your little one from overheating and possible sunburn. If you have a younger babe in a front carrier, anytime is a good time if he/she will nap on the go!

Equipment

Since you’ll be carrying your little one, having the right equipment can really make or break your hike. If you are visiting from out of town and don’t want to schlep your own carrier, renting one is a good option! We got our carrier from Desert Baby Rental’s and were very pleased with the Kelty Ridgeline we rented. I’m not sure if it will be the one we eventually choose to buy ourselves due to limited storage, but it was perfect for a day hike and even provided a sun canopy.

You’ll want to invest in a good hat, with a neck flap if possible. Count yourself lucky if your baby will wear sunglasses and not tear them off and don’t be afraid to slather on the sunscreen! Make sure you also have all the necessities with you such as an extra diaper, wipes, fruit pouches, a banana and baby’s water bottle or milk/formula.

Trail Length, Elevation Gain and Terrain

While being in nature and seeing new sites can be exciting and stimulating for your baby, consider how long they will be happy in a carrier. Right now, at one-year’s old, that’s about an hour for Callie. It was important for us to find an out-and-back trail or a loop that would take around this amount of time. The timing is more important than the mileage here. You’ll want to calculate how long a trail would usually take you and then add on an extra 10-15 minutes for a slower pace due to photo sessions, snack/water stops, and that extra 20-30 lbs. you have strapped onto your back!

The type of trail itself is also an important consideration. If you live in a place where you don’t hike often, I’d recommend choosing a trail that has minimal elevation gain. Carrying a baby is different than just carrying a small pack. The things in your pack don’t have a mind of their own, jerk around or make sudden movements (at least I don’t think they do!). You will want to choose those first couple of hikes something that is on the easier side while you get used to your new center of gravity carrying a baby.

Considering the type of terrain is also important. Does the trail have a lot of rocks and pebbles, is it sandy? The best option for a first hike with a baby is a trail that is solidly packed dirt or even one that is partially paved to make sure your comfortable with your footing. If you slip while hiking solo or with a pack, the only person that gets hurt is you, but if you’re carrying a baby, that puts everyone in danger. Even if you’ve climbed several ‘14ers, choosing a hike with easy terrain is an important consideration for that first hike with your little one.

Be Flexible

Be prepared for the fact that your baby might not be a big fan of hiking the first time you do it, even if you talk it up, prepare in advance and do everything “right”. Babies sometimes are just babies and they have their own ideas and personality about what they enjoy. It’s not a failure if you need to turn around and head back to the trailhead after the first 15 minutes if your baby just isn’t having it. Try again and give yourself some grace.

Have Fun!

It’s important that your baby sees how excited you are for them to experience the great outdoors. Callie has been in a city-style carrier since she was born and we call it “Mama’s Pouch” (even though sometimes Daddy does the carrying), so she gets very excited when we ask if she wants to get in. Since this “pouch” will likely be new to your baby, give them some time to explore it and even get in it before you go out on the trail. Talk to your baby about how exciting your hike will be, that it will be outside, and they will get to see all sorts of new things.

When you’re out on the hike make sure you continue to talk to your baby, pointing at various things, and telling them about what’s happening. If you’re about to do a bit of a climb or descent, let them know and ask them to hold on. They understand so much more than we think! If you’re comfortable with it and have some knowledge of plants, let your baby touch some tree bark, leaves or hold some dirt. Just watch out for that poison ivy! Letting them experience and learn about nature with multiple senses is an amazing thing to witness.

We were lucky that Callie was thrilled with her time in the carrier and smiled ear to ear for the duration of our hikes. She’s generally a very easy-going baby and LOVES to be outside. It helped that so many people on the trails stopped to say hi to her, wave and smile in her direction. We encourage you to get outside and teach your baby to enjoy the trail, appreciate nature and before you know it, they will be hiking right beside you on your next adventure.

Happy Trails!