Hiking with a toddler!

My husband and I used to LOVE hiking before we had our daughter. I loved getting a workout, spending time with my husband, & having such a prize at the end of a hike with a gorgeous view! But when Stella came, I was so nervous to get back into hiking with her. It took me until she was about 5-6 months old to fully become an active hiker again. We only do small hikes (1-2 hours max) and we started with very flat bike trails, before we moved on to harder hikes. I wanted to compile a list of tips & tricks I have learned on the way to help other mommas feel more confident to get out into nature with their littles!

• The Carrier. When Stella was newborn-10mo/1year we loved our Ergobaby but as she got bigger, I was so happy to switch to the Deuter Kid Comfort 3. There is a few different styles and the Deuter link will help explain the difference. We ended up getting ours brand new off of eBay! I did like how with the Ergobaby, I had the option to carry her in the front or the back. But as she got heavier, it didn't have enough support for my back. But you can't use the Deuter until they are sitting up on their own independently and I didn't feel comfortable using it until she about a year old.

• Hard Phone Case (WITH CLIP). We love SUPCASE so much! This was essential because of how many times I have dropped my phone on a hike. We also wanted one with a clip so that I could strap it right onto the carrier. Stella loves to play music while we are hiking so this has really been a life saver!

• Hike It Baby. The Hike It Baby community is GOLD for new parents who love to be outdoors. It makes it so easy to become comfortable with your new child out on hikes and meeting other parent's with some same interest in outdoors. You can click the link to try and find your local hike it baby group, its normally on facebook but the website should direct you. I think a couple weeks the membership was free to try it out and then the fee was VERY minimal! I would have paid way more for this community!

• DEET Free Bug Spray. We don't tend to use bug spray very often, but when we get into really dense woods, where we are brushing against trees and grass, the bug spray does come out! After doing some research on the best bug spray that is free of harmful chemicals, Repel Plant Based Lemon Eucalyptus, was the hands down winner. According to consumer reports, it was the most effective bug spray that did not contain DEET and the lemon and eucalyptus was the best combination for mosquitos and ticks.

• Mineral Based Sunscreen. We use and LOVE a sunscreen that the company I work with has created for its business owners. It is zinc based and is a lotion type. Stella seems to do better with the lotion over the sticks. I really feel that is so important to have a toxic free sunscreen. Our sunscreen is only available to the business owners, so if you ever want to give it a try, message me on IG or leave a comment here. EWG is also my source when finding products and they came out with a great list for nontoxic sunscreens for kids!

• Mirror. When Stella is on my back, I like to have a mirror clipped to my carrier so I can see her if needed. Any mirror will do, but I really like this one. I like that it has a hook to clip onto the carrier, but then I add one of my old retractable nursing badge reels to it, so that I can grab it and pull to my face when I want to see her.

• Snacks. When I first started hiking with Stella when she was able to eat independently, I tried to be a healthy mom and do only fruit and veggies. Listen from a mother of experience, if you are carrying them on your back- you only want to give them dry snacks unless you want strawberries and bananas all throughout your hair. We love the HappyTot bars & their "cookies". Stella loves the cookies because she can name each letter while eating them.

• Fanny Pack. The Deuter does have a few pockets (one small one on the front I think), but I like keeping a fanny pack to store Stella's water, small bag of wet & my keys.

• Small Ziplock With Wet Wipes. Moms... I do not need to explain to you why wet wipes are essential.

• Timing. You know you're kid best, but for us its always MUCH easier to get a hike in right after breakfast. After her nap, she is always too grumpy and does not make it far.

• Expectations. DO NOT set yourself up for failure! Don't think that you will be able to get through hikes that you used to go kidless with no problem. Start with very low expectations to not become disappointed. You may not make it to the "top" and thats okay. Also, I found that when we started with a new carrier, I had to start with VERY small hikes. Like 15 mins to get her used to the carrier. We would also walk around our land or you could take a walk in your neighborhood!

I really hoped this helped! It was much longer than I wanted it to be, but I feel like the more prepared you can be when out with toddlers, the better!

Did I forget anything? Is there anything you guys love when going outdoors with your kids? Please let me know! Hope everyone is staying safe & healthy. I'm so ready to get back out doing things we love.

xoxo- Emily