Hiking

Image by Erwin Bolwidt (El Rabbit) via Flickr

. . . Yes, You Can Pack Your Baby For Your Hiking Trip Too

Baby carrier backpacks make a lot of sense really, I mean, you’d have trouble pushing a stroller along some of those rugged trails and Granny isn’t always available to babysit, so what else do you do . . . you introduce baby to the wonders of backpacking and trail hiking as soon as possible.

Mothers have been carrying their babies around in backpacks and slings for generations, it leaves their hands free to do other jobs or carry the shopping (nice photo don’t you think?) so these baby carrying backpacks are really just an extension of that rather clever idea. These back packs don’t only carry the baby though, no siree, many of them are actually a proper back pack which you can use to carry all of your other hiking or backpacking equipment, and baby kind of slots into his own little compartment rather comfortably and getting a great view of the great outdoors.

He certainly seemed to enjoy his hiking trip didn’t he, just make sure that they don’t eat too much candy or drink anything fizzy . . . a little upset tummy could have very nasty consequences down the neck of the unfortunate backpack carrying hiker . . .

Features of a Baby Carrier Backpack

Apart from somewhere to actually pack the baby, there are some other features which you ought to look out for when you are choosing a backpack in which to hike with your baby, toddler or small child . . . remember that babies have that nasty habit of growing and getting heavier . . .

• Baby Back Packs need a harness to secure baby firmly in position whilst you’re walking . . . you don’t want to lose the baby now do you, that would be extremely careless to say the least.
• Backpacks for babies should have nicely padded and curved shoulder straps to keep the pack horse (Dad, Mom, any other sucker who’s willing to give it a go) as comfortable as possible, with a hip belt to distribute the load evenly for said hiker. How’s that for an incentive not to let your child become one of the thousands of “obsesers” the media keeps talking about . . . no you can’t have an ice-cream, I’ve got to keep an eye on the weight of my backpack.
• Baby Back Packs also need to have plenty of pockets, because remember you won’t only have to carry your own hiking equipment, but babies have a whole list of hiking stuff they need to take along themselves . . . especially if they’re still at the diaper stage. A word of warning, perhaps it’s a good idea to skip backpacking with your baby for a little while during what can only be called “the potty training era” . . . it could get rather unpleasant.
• Baby Back Packs need to be adjustable . . . I’ve already told you that kids have a nasty habit of growing (in case you didn’t know), so an adjustable seat and torso height is important so that they can get a good view of the hiking trail but don’t end up toppling over your head (see first feature in list).

Baby Backpack Warning – you can’t put baby in a pack and take him hiking until he’s at least old enough to hold his head upright and sit up without you holding him. Ask your pediatrician if you’re not sure whether baby is ready yet for his first backpacking and hiking experience. Enjoy.

Let him sleep for Christs sake, he’s obviously seen enough trees for one day and all of that fresh air makes you sleeeeeeepy . . . .

 He’s enjoying that isn’t he? I bet that was his first hike of many.