Hiking with children

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.

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

regularly in their backpack or stroller, they’ll protest not having the option of choosing where to go and when to sit in the dirt.

Before you get concerned about not going as far or as quickly as you want, maybe it’s time to remember why you started hiking in the first place. If all you want to do is get some exercise or reach the top of a mountain so you can come back down, why not use a stairclimbing machine at the gym? For those wanting to hike so they can breathe fresh air, see a little scenery and enjoy nature, then hiking with little children will still accomplish your goals.

Now is the time to stop and smell the wild roses. Ask your children to listen for bird calls. Can they spot the cardinals flitting through the trees? Point out leaves rustling in the breeze. Have them touch the bark on the different trees. Is it smooth or rough? Your children may soon surprise you and start pointing out things that you’ve missed.

Hiking with young children requires some preparation, but remember that you could be carrying your little hiker all the way home. So, pack accordingly.

Older Children

Older children (aged six to 10) have very inquisitive minds. It’s no longer enough to say, “Oh look. A turtle!” These children want to know what kind of turtle it is, and how many eggs it lays. (Did anyone say that you had to study biology before becoming a parent?)

Your children might want to help plan your hike, and pack their own knapsack. The more involved children are in preparing, the more enthusiastic they will be about going. Hike to a destination instead of just wandering around in the bush: your target will inspire little legs to keep moving. Hike up a specific mountain or to a fire tower. Collect a repertoire of kids’ songs that provide a good hiking rhythm.

With children over six, you can consider longer hikes. Your children will probably have more energy than you do! Just because your son or daughter ran back and forth like a chipmunk the entire two hours you hiked last weekend, don’t assume he or she is ready to tackle a weekend trip. If you push children too hard, they might not want to go hiking again.

With greater independence come other concerns. Your children may run ahead of you on the trail. Depending on their maturity level, you may be able to use the fork in the trail rule: every time they reach a fork in the trail, they have to stop and wait for you to catch up. Talk to youthful hikers about what to do if they get lost. Make sure every child has a whistle that they’re permitted to use only if they get lost. If that happens, they should stay in one spot and keep blowing.

Youthful hikers might want to crash around in the bush instead of staying on the trail. Not only is this harmful to the environment, but they could also be walking through poison ivy. Teach them to stay on the trail at all times. Since poison ivy can take so many different forms, the old adage, “Leaves of three, let them be” is an easy way to help kids remember.

Hiking with children doesn’t have to be miserable. With a little bit of planning, and the ability to be flexible, the whole family can enjoy hiking.

The Ottawa area offers hundreds of kilometres of excellent trails. Banish the words, “I’m bored” on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Go ahead. Get out on the trails. Start with an easy hike, and work up from there. Fresh air and great exercise are waiting. — Heather Burke is a local freelance writer and fellow outdoor enthusiast.

Extr a Ite ms to Bri ng

In addition to the gear you normally take on a hike, you should bring the following essentials.

Baby wipes

Young hands will get dirty. You’ll need baby wipes before you break for lunch.

Extra socks

If there is water, kids will find it. Wet feet and blisters make for unhappy hikers.

Whistle on a string

Make sure a whistle is loud enough to be heard at a distance if your child gets separated from the rest of your group.

Map and compass

The ability to read a map and compass is valuable skills to hone. Start your kids early and make it a game.

Binoculars

Whether you’re identifying birds or watching cows in a field below the Eardley Escarpment, binoculars are always fun.

Magnifying glass

Bugs look scarier under a magnifying glass. Sand, tree bark and leaves also make good subjects.

Field guides

For birds, plants, animal tracks or whatever other interests your child might have, you can’t beat a field guide. Encourage young hikers to bring only one book per hike.

Plastic container

If your hike is going to take you past a pond, bring a plastic container. Scoop