River & Trail Talk

This is written from the perspective of a mom, with a 4 year old and an 18 month old. For the purpose of this blog, I am defining a toddler as 1-3 years old and a little kid as 3-5 years old.

My hiking journey with kids began when my first baby was 5 days old. ‘Hiking’ evolves to mean many different things over the months, and years, when you’re including a small human.

Here is a brief summary of our hiking journey has evolved thus far:

• 0-3 months: Multiple, short hikes on most days
• 4-12 months: Naptime hikes, which meant locations and durations adjusted with their sleep rhythms
• 1-2 years old: Mix of longer carrier hikes, and shorter excursions for them to explore on their own 2 feet. Carrier refusal began after 18 months.
• 2-4 years old: Doing whatever the kid is up for and bribing with snacks to go any farther

Hiking with little kids takes a lot of effort yet it is always totally and completely worth it! Speaking for myself: I have learned that I am a much better parent outside, and my kids are happier and generally better behaved outside as well. If hiking feels too daunting, let’s chat about what “hiking” with kids can actually mean.

You can be as ambitious with your hikes as you feel comfortable. If you are extremely experienced and have the proper gear, you can do *just* about anything with kids that you would do without kids. This means that you absolutely can summit a mountain or do a multi-day backpacking trip with kids. As with anything, it will require more effort, planning and prep. I do not recommend planning these adventures if you do not have previous experience without kids.

For most of us, hiking with kids will be short, day hikes. Or a short hike that takes all day. It is dependent on your energy levels as well as your kids’ energy and enthusiasm outside. With little kids, weather can be more of a factor unless they are accustomed to “bad” weather and have proper apparel to keep them comfortable. Personally, I take my kids outside in all weather. I may adjust the duration spent outside - but we never hide from weather, unless there is a safety concern.

If your goal is to simply get outside more - and try to instill a love of hiking in your children, that’s what this blog is all about. If you’ve already read our blog: “How to Hike with a Baby”, some of this will feel familiar as many of my original points translate to hiking with a toddler and little kid as well.

3 Steps to Hiking with Toddlers & Little Kids

Step 1: Adjust Expectations

If you have hiked a lot before kids, this is a big one! Hiking with kids is not about the destination. It will rarely look like walking in a linear path from Point A to Point B. More often than not, your path may look more like the diagram below, with a significant amount of time standing still while they observe every single rock or worm or leaf they find.

Step 2: Make it Fun

The objective of hiking with kids should be to instill love of the outdoors so let them play! If they want to bring a car to drive over the rocks or a doll to carry in their pack, encourage it! These special items can serve as incredible motivation and distractions to keep them moving. My son once carried a shovel the full length of a hike so you could clear a path when he found snow. Another way to keep their little legs going is with simple search & find games.

“Let’s see if we can find a squirrel. There might be one hiding around the next turn!”

Step 3: Snacks

Snacks work as motivation for kids and adults alike. My number one recommendation is pack more snacks than you think they’ll need, and then a couple more just in case.

Potty Training on the Trail

Depending on where your kid is on their potty training journey, you can still hike. Here are some tips and considerations for diapers and potty use on the trail.

Diapers

• Change into a fresh diaper at the trailhead and size up for added absorbency. I used cloth diapers on my kids but utilized disposables during hikes to keep my hiking load lighter.
• During colder months, you can double up their diapers so if you need to change them on the trail, it is very fast.
• Pack a wet bag (small dry bag) to carry out the diapers and wipes.

Potty Training/Trained

• Pack a travel potty. I used to keep a foldable travel potty in our hiking carrier. It came with bags so it was easy to pack out any waste. 
• Without a travel potty, learn about ‘Leave No Trace’ principles. If your little one needs to poop and there’s no bathroom or potty in range, find a tree 200ft (~80 steps) off trail and dig a hole at least 6 inches deep. Support them while they do their business and then bury it.
• Some parents choose to use pull ups or training pants on hikes. It’s dependent on your own approach.
• Accidents happen. Whether you are on trail or not, accidents are part of the potty training journey. Pack an extra pair of clothes and toss the soiled clothes in a wet bag (small dry bag).

Gear and Apparel

There are plenty of mini options out there for hiking clothing, footwear and gear for kids. If it’s in your budget, they may love to have a small version of your hiking set up (like their own backpack) as motivation for hiking. You may be surprised at how motivating a single trekking pole can be for a toddler or little kid. Here’s the truth though: Toddlers and Little Kids do not need special apparel or gear for hiking - unless you are pushing for more ambitious adventures. If they want to wear a superhero costume with crocs, let them. So long as they are comfortable and have some sun and bug protection, they are golden. 

While your kids don’t need gear, you should plan to carry some essentials if you are planning to hike out of sight of your vehicle.

What You Should Always Carry:

1. Hydration
• You’ll likely be able to carry all the water you and your kids will need on a day hike. If not, having a water filter and/or purifier is important.
2. First Aid Kit (incl. Sun and Bug Protection)
• Your First Aid Kit should include enough for you and your kids. We have a free First Aid Kit checklist to reference. You can also purchase pre-made first aid kits.
3. Snacks
• So many snacks. Make sure you pack some for you too!

Some Extras to Consider:

1. Diapers & Wipes
• Even if your kid is out of diapers, a pack of wipes is always handy!
2. Extra Clothes & Layers
• When you have kids, you quickly realize how you always need a change of clothes for them. Packing layers according to the weather is also helpful to keep the hike enjoyable for all involved.
3. Carriers
• You should always expect and plan to carry your child at some point. For safety reasons, I like to keep a carrier in my pack, regardless of their hiking ability, so I know I can easily carry them out. A soft structured carrier or wrap is easy to keep in your pack. There are also carriers like the Trail Magik that clips directly onto your hiking pack. I will use this to carry my 4 year on my front and my 18 month old on my back, as needed.

What you carry is dependent on the season, location, terrain and duration of your hike. The list above includes some basic essentials to start with, and is not intended as a full and comprehensive guide. If you’re looking for advice on a specific hike with kids, visit us in store and we’d be happy to answer your questions!

Hiking with kids provides an opportunity to teach your little ones how to respect the trails and wildlife. Discussing the 'Leave No Trace' principles with your kids is an excellent way to help ensure they can continue to enjoy the trails for years to come, and be able to share them with future generations!

Give it a go!

Ultimately, you just have to get outside and go. Start small on local trails to see if this is something that you and your kids will enjoy. Getting a group of friends together with little kids, (or joining a local hiking group), is another great way to get your kids excited about hiking.

When you are ready to take it further, plan for a family friendly hike (with no set destination in mind). Adventuring outdoors is all about trial and error - and it’s no different with kids. Each kid’s endurance and hiking skill level is different. You know your kid best! Trust yourself that you know when to push, and when to ease back. The worst case scenario is you don’t make it pass the parking lot, and you get to eat all your trail snacks during the car ride home.

Happy Hiking!