Hiking with children doesn’t have to be miserable By Heather Burke
If you’ve always been an outdoor adventurer there’s no need to give it up now that someone calls you Mommy or Daddy. Your hikes may not be the gruelling 12-hour ones you’re used to experiencing, but easier trails will take on a new level of interest when seen through your child’s eyes. Infants
Hiking is the first outdoor activity you can do with a new baby. Strap on a front carrier to hold your baby, and you’re ready to hit the trails. Okay, so you’re also taking diapers, a change pad, extra clothing, and some toys, but you get the idea. Hiking with an infant is a great way to get back in shape when you don’t seem to have five free minutes in the day. And I’m not just talking to the Moms; Dads have been known to gain a full belt size because of less exercise during their wife’s pregnancy. During hikes, the rhythm of your walk will usually lull an infant to sleep. But just because they’re sound asleep, don’t think your precious bundle isn’t getting anything from the hike. Studies show that infants carried in front carriers cry less, and are more secure, than those who aren’t carried in one.
Older Babies
Older babies require a back carrier for hiking. Wait until your baby has good neck support before using these. It’s a bumpy ride, and your baby will need to compensate on his or her own. Try several carriers before settling on one. You might have to spend a bit extra to get the perfect one for your baby but that’s okay; you’ll be using it for a long time.
O t t a w a O u t d oo r s S P R I N G
Some back carriers for infants are even rated for children weighing up to 23 kilograms. But you won’t see me hauling a kid that heavy on my back up a mountain! Features to consider when buying a back carrier include: • A detachable backpack for diaper bag essentials • Adjustable straps for parents of different heights • A sunshade. This is especially important for babies under the age of six months who can’t wear sunblock yet. Carrying your child isn’t the only way to hike with babies. Many trails are accessible to jogging strollers. These are a good option if you have a bad back or your toddler has become too heavy to carry comfortably. While I was pregnant, my husband and I were undecided about getting a jogging stroller. Rationalizing our indifference, my husband said: “We don’t jog.” Then we went to Gatineau Park for a hike with some friends, their new baby and their jogging stroller. That’s when we realized that even an easy trail can take on new meaning when you have to lug a baby. It didn’t take too long watching our friends until we were sold on getting our own jogging stroller. It had excellent off-road capability. Jogging strollers come with two
main options. You can get one that is only a stroller, or you can buy one with a conversion kit that turns it into a bike trailer. If you are planning to buy a bike trailer anyway, a conversion stroller makes a lot of sense. Ours has high canvas sides with an elasticized mesh piece that hooks over the front – perfect in deer fly season. If it starts raining, we flip down the clear plastic sheet, which makes the stroller waterproof to everything but a torrential downpour. These heavy-duty features don’t come without their drawbacks. They limit peripheral vision, so a child may not find the view as interesting as a more open model. Remember... kids in strollers and carriers aren’t keeping warm through physical exertion. Dress them more warmly than you are dressed yourself.
Little Hikers
I hope you enjoyed the strenuous hikes taken with your young baby because you’re about to S-LO-W down. Once children learn to walk, they don’t want to be carried. Unless you’ve been taking them out www.OttawaOutdoors.ca
