Tuesday Tidbit #4

Hiking With Kids

I love hiking and I have no problem dragging my kids along with me.  But I've learned a few things over the years about what you need to take if you are hiking with kids and I thought I'd share a list of those things here.

First of all, you need plenty of water.  Each of my kids has a water bottle.  They're all different colors so we can tell them apart and I write their names on the lids with a sharpie so when they come out of the dishwasher we can return them to the proper owner.  I recently bought Camelbak water bottles at the Good Earth.  They have marks on them for 8 oz., 16 oz., and 24 oz.  You can bring little packs of crystal light to add to the water when it's at the 16 oz. mark if you're kids aren't good water drinkers.  I prefer plain water for hiking, though, and Zion's has a few refill stations in the park.  Camelbak backpacks are nice for hiking too but I only recommend them for older children, maybe 10 and up depending on their size.  Little kids don't hike well if they have to carry something, especially water which can be heavy in the beginning.  It's important that parents remember to take plenty of water breaks and keep their kids well hydrated while hiking.

If you have a laptop backpack they tend to be slightly insulated.  Ryan has some from Novell and they're great for hiking.  I put all the water botttles in the biggest compartment and throw in some frozen ice packs to keep them cool.  In the next section I put premade sandwiches and healthy snacks such as sugar snap peas, apples with a pocket knife to slice them, cutie oranges, etc.  I also bring some kind of treat like chocolate covered almonds, goldfish, mini Nutter Butters, etc.  If your kids are tired and upset sometimes a little break and a treat will perk them up enough to get through the rest of the trail.  Also make sure you have enough food for the length of time you will be gone.  Kids aren't likely to want to walk very far on an empty stomach.  Even gum or dum dum suckers can be a quick treat to distract a fussy child.

Another important thing to bring is sun protection.  Each of my kids has a hat and light jacket (for cooler weather or unexpected rain) that packs up tightly.  Sunblock is a must.  My favorite is Coppertone Continuous Spray SPF 50.  We spray them generously before we start hiking because it's easy to forget once you're making your way along the trail.  Chapstick is also a good thing to have.  If it's windy their lips can dry out quickly and crack.

Another important thing to consider is appropriate footwear.  We've learned the hard way what happens when you're child is hiking in shoes that are too small.  I made sure this time to check that all their shoes were the right size and even a little loose in the toes.  I ended up having to buy shoes for Eden and Austin but it was money well spent.  We had no feet complaints.  It helps if the shoes are lightweight but sturdy like running shoes.  Never take your kids hiking in flip flops or sandals.

Of course you want your kids to wear loose comfortable clothing.  I love those pants that zip off at the knee.  Just make sure you have extra room in your back pack to stuff clothing and jackets when it gets too warm.

We tend to push our kids to walk far and long but even I realize those little feet can only take so much.  A backpack for carrying little ones is essential for kids up to age 4 or 5.  Austin is almost five and he was big enough to hike the whole way this week but when Eden was the same age we often had to carry her.  It depends on the child.  But if you want to go far there's nothing wrong with packing a kid on your back.  Our backpack has a sunshade and an extra pocket to store diapers and wipes.  It also has mesh pockets for sippy cups or extra water bottles.

A first-aid kit is also important to bring with you.  Some neosporin and band-aids can come in handy.  Also tweezers for splinters and baby wipes for all purpose cleaning.  Don't forget insect repellent too. If you are bringing a baby don't forget diapers and diaper rash ointment.  I also like to bring a burp cloth to wrap around clips and cords on the baby carriers.  You never know where their head will end up when they fall asleep and it's nice to have a small blanket to wrap around things that can cut or irritate their skin.

Remember to always pack out what you pack in.  That includes used toilet paper and even apple cores and orange rinds.  These things can take years to break down and can be harmful to plants and animals in the meantime.  I bring a few extra small ziploc bags or use the dirty ones from our sandwiches to put trash in.

Finally, have a plan and know where you're going.  I've learned that if we waste time at the visitor's center trying to decide what to do our kids get restless and boredom leads to misbehaving which leads to crabby parents.  Have a plan, stick to it and get going as soon as you get to the park or trailhead.

Have Fun!