Written by: Amanda Yapp
I am a new mom to a wonderful baby boy as of October 19th, 2020. Due to the pandemic, my family has been cooped up for awhile, so we are definitely ready to get out enjoy the outdoors, and the best thing I can thing of is taking him outside to enjoy nature by hiking. But where are the places that I can go that would be easy for me to hike with my infant son? And what gear do I need for him in order for the both of us to be most comfortable while out on our hike?
These are some of the most important things you’ll want to bring when hiking with a baby:
- Baby Carrier – This can save you from having back pain by carrying your little one; we suggest trying the Ergo Baby Carrier. This can also make it easier to move around on some of the hiking trails, as strollers can’t always go everywhere.
- Snacks – These are a must need for both kids/babies and adults to keep your energy up during the hike. Take a snack break about halfway through the hike.
- Drinks – Water is a must, but also some sports drinks with lots of electrolytes are good too!
- Blanket – It’s helpful to have a blanket to sit on while taking a rest or to change diapers on. If you plan to eat on the blanket, we suggest a separate one for changing diapers on.
- Hat – These can help protect you and your baby from the sun. We suggest finding a hat for the baby that ties underneath so the hat stays on better.
- Sunscreen – This is a must to protect you and your baby from the sun. Make sure to reapply every so often so you remain protected.
- Bug Spray – Most trails have lots of bugs you’ll encounter along the way, so it’s important to protect yourself from certain ones, like mosquitos. We suggest finding a bug spray that is for sensitive skin or ok to use on babies.
- Diapers – If you are bringing a baby, this is a necessity you do not want to forget! We suggest bringing quite a few, as you never know when the baby might have to go.
- Wipes – This goes hand in hand with diapers. You need them when changing those stinky diapers!
- Wet Bag or Trash Bag – A wet bag is a bag you can keep all the messy reusable items. If you’re using reusable diapers, this is a must, but if you’re using disposable diapers, a trash bag will suffice.
- Hand Sanitizer – Not only good for helping slow the spread of viruses, but also good for keeping those hands clean after a messy diaper change.
- First Aid Kit – This is a much needed item for anyone. If an accident occurs while out on a hike, you’ll want something to quickly take care of any injuries.
- Sunglasses – Keep the sun out of your eyes for a better view of what’s in front of you; not to mention it can protect your eyes!
