5 Tips For Hiking with Kids | Must Know
If you are looking for tips for hiking with kids in tow, you are in the right place.
Although I wouldn’t categorize us as AVID hardcore hikers, we do love being outside and adventuring with our kids. Ever since they were babies we have done our fair share of hikes.
We have worked our way up from flat half mile trails around a lake to 4 mile mountain hikes. There are some things that you learn while hiking with kids and babies over the years.
Below we give you some hiking with kids tips on what has helped us have many successful hikes over the years.
Hiking with Kids Tips
If your kids are under 5, prepare to carry them
We always try to encourage our little hikers to go as far as they can, but their little legs will need lots of breaks. Sometimes this is just a few minutes on my husband’s shoulders. We never owned a hiking pack, we always just brought our baby carriers.
We owned an ergo and a lillebaby and they worked great for us. The only caveat is that if it is super hot outside their bellies will get covered in back sweat….(insert grimacing face).
Bring an exorbitant amount of snacks and water
Nothing can put a damper on a hike like your kids whining about being hungry. Bring lots of snacks, pack a lunch, and bring fun “hike only” treats.
Also carry lots of water especially if it is hot outside. Take lots of breaks and fuel their little bodies with energy providing snacks.
Smother them with sunblock and bug spray
The bugs can be so ruthless to little kids. They must have sweeter skin than adults because I feel like my children always get way more bug bites than I ever do.
Sometimes hiking under the tree canopies it feels shady and like the sun can’t burn your skin. But oh boy let me tell you, it can! Plus if you are summiting a mountain, there usually aren’t many trees on the top.
The sun could be beating down. Use bug spray and lots of sunblock to keep their skin protected.
Check for ticks before getting in the car
So. Many. Ticks.
It took me a couple of years to stop being so squirmy with these disgusting little bugs. Usually when we find them after a hike they are still crawling so we just flick them off.
Keep a pair of tweezers in your pack just in case they already get embedded by the time the hike is over. I always place them into a piece of tape and fold the tape over to…..dispose of them. It is also a good idea to check your car later after you get home because sometimes they make it into the car without being noticed.
An unfortunate downside to hiking with kids, but manageable.
Have games ready to pass the time
If you are going on hikes that will last longer than 30 minutes it is a good idea to have some games ready in your back pocket for when the kids stop being in awe of the natural surroundings and start getting bored.
This usually happens to us after we summit a mountain and are on our way down. A favorite one for us is 20 Questions. You could do the “I’m Going On A Picnic” game or “This or That’… anything that could pass the time.
I hope you found this post helpful! We absolutely love spending time outside in nature as a family. These are the days that we create lasting family memories and invest precious time into or kids.
There are no distractions on a hiking trail, no electronics, no screens. It is truly one of our favorite activities to do as a family.
Here are some more resources you might be interested in:
More Resources:
5 Beginner Kid Friendly Mountains in NH
9 Favorite Kid Friendly Seacoast NH Hiking Trails
