Having a toddler doesn’t mean that your hiking days have to be over, but they will likely have to be modified. Yes your hikes will be slower, and at least to begin with, shorter or easier, but there is no reason you can’t eventually work your way back to your pre-child hiking trips. With a little preparation, and practice you can be successful hiking with a toddler.
Below I’ve summed up my top 8 tips when hiking with a toddler.
- Use a Hiking Carrier
- Research Your Hike
- Bring the Right Clothes
- Let Them Walk and Explore
- Plan for Extra Time
- Make it Fun
- Bring Snacks
- Get Good Shoes
Use a Hiking Carrier
If you plan to do a lot of hiking with your toddler, you will definitely want to invest in a great hiking carrier. A carrier will give you more freedom when choosing where to hike and for how long. Toddlers can walk a great distance, but when they hit that wall and refuse to walk any further, you will be glad you aren’t piggy backing them home.
Hiking carriers offer your little one a comfortable seat, and a great view while you navigate the trail. A carrier isn’t just handy when your toddler gets tired, but also great during difficult stretches or dangerous passages. When crossing difficult terrain, it is much safer to have your toddler safe on your back.
My son has even taken a nap in his carrier on some longer hikes.
Research Your Hike
When you know what to expect before hiking with a toddler, you will be better prepared. Do a quick search of the trail you plan to hike. There are three main questions you want answered when planning your hike. Total trail distance, elevation gain or difficulty rating and the current local weather.
Trail distance is important for obvious reasons. Knowing how long the trail is, will give you a good idea of how long the trail will take to finish. Can your toddler handle a walk of that distance, or are you able to carry them for the distance they can’t walk themselves? Make sure to choose a trail that is within your ability, or be prepared to turn back early.
Elevation gain is important as some trails can be very short, but the steep terrain offers further difficulty. Some trails are rated based on difficulty and elevation and distance are both considered when a trail is rated. Ratings range from Easy to Extreme. Most families hiking with a toddler will have no problem on easy and moderate rated trails.
The current local weather is a very important factor to consider before attempting a hike, with or without a toddler. You will have a very grumpy toddler on your hands if they are not dressed properly.
Bring the Right Clothes
Now that you’ve researched your hike and are aware of the current weather, it’s time to decide what to wear. Layers are your best bet for anytime you are hiking with a toddler.
As I am always cold, I always dress my son in lots of warm layers when we start our hike. My son however does not share my cold gene (thankfully), he is the opposite and often gets too hot quickly. I usually end up slowly stripping away his layers and packing them away in my bag.
As long as your little one is walking they are staying warm. When your little one gets placed in the hiking carrier though, they will likely need some layers put back on, as they will no longer be keeping themselves warm by walking.
In sunny weather, a hat and sunscreen are also important. During cold weather, a toque or beanie will help keep their ears warm.
It’s best to prepare for cold weather as layers can always be removed, but if you didn’t bring enough warm clothes you will have to end your hike early.
As we live in Vancouver, we can count on a rainy hike fairly often. We all bring light weight rain coats that fold down into themselves. They are easily stored at the bottom of our bags, and can be pulled out if we happen to catch some rain.
Let Them Walk and Explore
Toddlers are the happiest when they are allowed to fully explore their surroundings. If the terrain safely allows for it, give them some time to stop and smell the flowers (literally). The more time your little one can take their time and explore, the longer they will want to continue walking. Toddlers love to collect things like sticks, flowers or rocks. My son loves to have a stick in his hand at any given time, as well as search for pretty rocks to collect.
By allowing my toddler to take some time and truly explore everything around him, he stays interested in the walk that we are doing, and he can walk a surprising distance if he is entertained.
Be prepared, giving a toddler complete freedom on a hike, can make for a very long hike, which leads me into my next tip.
Plan for Extra Time
Everything takes longer with a toddler. Hiking is no exception. If you are on a time constraint, make sure to keep an eye on the time. You may have to turn around at some point and make your way back. It’s a good idea when hiking with a toddler, to not plan anything for the afternoon. Without the stress of watching your watch, you will have a better time.
Make it Fun
If you ad some fun into your hike, your toddler will be sure to enjoy it for much longer. There are many great ways to do this depending on what interests your toddler. My son loves to collect rocks while out on a walk. If we find some great smooth rocks, we paint them once at home (which ads an extra fun element). A small bag, pouch or bucket makes collecting them more fun.
Scavenger hunts are always fun too. Small kids love finding things. Either make a list complete with pictures so your toddler has something to look at and cross off, or play more of an eye-spy style game. As you approach something, ask your child to identify it or find it. These types of games are sure to keep your toddler mentally active during the hike, and can be played whether they are walking or in a hiking carrier.
Taking pictures of various items found along the hike is a great way to get them engaged in their surroundings. The Vtech Kidizoom Camera is a great little device for toddlers and young kids. The sturdy little camera is easy for small hands to hold and the photos can be reviewed on the camera itself or they can be uploaded to a computer. Our son loves to search for and take pictures of mushrooms along our walks.
If your toddler is able to grasp the idea of a map, let them navigate the trail or choose which fork to take. Allowing them to make some decisions will give them a big boost to their confidence and make them want to hike again.
Bring Snacks
Keeping your toddler well fed is key to keeping your toddler happy. Stop for a snack at some point, or put your toddler in the hiking carrier while they eat. No one wants a hungry toddler. Bring a couple favourite snacks that are easy to eat on the go.
Don’t forget water for everyone. Stainless steel cups work great, as the water can be kept cold for quite some time.
Get Good Shoes
If your toddler is anything like mine, they are not going to walk far in an uncomfortable shoe. Just because you are going hiking, doesn’t mean you need to purchase a hiking shoe. Unless you plan on doing some significant hikes, frequently, you are going to spend a lot of money on a shoe they are going to grow out of by next hiking season.
For hikes, I look for a good high top shoe or boot, as opposed to buying a shoe marketed as a hiker. You want a good sturdy sole, support around the ankle, and good laces.
Make sure to let your toddler wear in the new shoes before heading out on a big hike. If those new shoes are uncomfortable you are going to hear about it the entire hike, or they will refuse to walk at all.
If you have any questions or other great hiking tips you’d like to share, please leave a comment below.
