kids kelty backpack carrier image
metasimon
Answer
Little, important stuff: Be prepared for bugs, sun, rain, cold, and heat. Not so much for you, you can just suck it up, but for the 4 month old.
You're right at the cusp between a Baby Bjorn front carrier and a child carrier backpack (Kelty is good, REI has them). Depends a little on your own child's neck strength. We've done both. 2 months through Europe with 2-3 month old in a Baby Bjorn (great for public transit) and BP trips in CA, AK, and HI with him in a Kelty child carrier backpack when he was 6 to 24 months.
2 to 4 years old was a time for closer stuff - more camping, less BPing. By 5, he could do 3 miles in a morning OR an afternoon and then we'd make camp.
In some ways, it is as easy as it will get for the next 5 years. Mom has everything the baby wants, baby has a semi-regular sleep schedule now, but stays where you put him/her. We've got a friend who followed her husband on the fricking Iditarod Sled Dog race (1100 miles) with a little one like that so it can be done.
Note that if you are carrying baby, someone else needs to carry all the baby STUFF. And your stuff. And their own stuff. That gets to be a lot of stuff. Sometimes I (dad) make two trips to haul it in (I get a peaceful round trip as a sherpa). Or we book a remote cabin (in AK or HI) with beds, stove, pots, roof, wood stove already there. It cuts your weight a lot and lets you do it in one trip. As does going during mild weather - you pack less clothes for everyone.
Just accept that the grownups will wear the same outer clothes everyday and the baby's outfit is just fine if there's drool on it. It's a BP trip, not a fashion show.
Attitude: While on a road trip or a BPing trip or riding in a pressurized metal tube at 31,000 feet I try to think of a pioneer family taking 6 months to cross the plains in a covered wagon. Hard tack, salt pork and bad water every day. Hot and dry or too cold all the time. One kid was born on the way, one died. Makes $5 for a hot meal and another $5 for a cold beer from the stewardess seem like a bargain. Or Mac&Cheese (4 years from now on a family BP trip) seem not so bad.
As others have said, don't get too ambitious - you'll do a lot less distance than you did on adult-only trips. Keep it simple, keep it fun, test and fine-tune the concept slowly. At 3 to 6 months, we found we could do most anything (hike the Black Forest, the Louvre, a glacier hike, subways, etc) for 2.5 hours. And then get somewhere comfortable (cafe, mountain hut, tent) for another nursing session and a diaper change.
Remember - the spectacular destinations are for your sake, not theirs until they're 5 or so. They'd be just as happy with the sticks and rocks in your backyard as at 10,000 feet in the mountains. Or on a playground in any city.
And accept that it will be more of a test of your flexibility as a parent than as a stud-muffin hiker. Modelling an active, adventurous lifestyle is important to us (trying to combat the TV/supersize me culture) and we are starting to see the fruits of that now.
Little, important stuff: Be prepared for bugs, sun, rain, cold, and heat. Not so much for you, you can just suck it up, but for the 4 month old.
You're right at the cusp between a Baby Bjorn front carrier and a child carrier backpack (Kelty is good, REI has them). Depends a little on your own child's neck strength. We've done both. 2 months through Europe with 2-3 month old in a Baby Bjorn (great for public transit) and BP trips in CA, AK, and HI with him in a Kelty child carrier backpack when he was 6 to 24 months.
2 to 4 years old was a time for closer stuff - more camping, less BPing. By 5, he could do 3 miles in a morning OR an afternoon and then we'd make camp.
In some ways, it is as easy as it will get for the next 5 years. Mom has everything the baby wants, baby has a semi-regular sleep schedule now, but stays where you put him/her. We've got a friend who followed her husband on the fricking Iditarod Sled Dog race (1100 miles) with a little one like that so it can be done.
Note that if you are carrying baby, someone else needs to carry all the baby STUFF. And your stuff. And their own stuff. That gets to be a lot of stuff. Sometimes I (dad) make two trips to haul it in (I get a peaceful round trip as a sherpa). Or we book a remote cabin (in AK or HI) with beds, stove, pots, roof, wood stove already there. It cuts your weight a lot and lets you do it in one trip. As does going during mild weather - you pack less clothes for everyone.
Just accept that the grownups will wear the same outer clothes everyday and the baby's outfit is just fine if there's drool on it. It's a BP trip, not a fashion show.
Attitude: While on a road trip or a BPing trip or riding in a pressurized metal tube at 31,000 feet I try to think of a pioneer family taking 6 months to cross the plains in a covered wagon. Hard tack, salt pork and bad water every day. Hot and dry or too cold all the time. One kid was born on the way, one died. Makes $5 for a hot meal and another $5 for a cold beer from the stewardess seem like a bargain. Or Mac&Cheese (4 years from now on a family BP trip) seem not so bad.
As others have said, don't get too ambitious - you'll do a lot less distance than you did on adult-only trips. Keep it simple, keep it fun, test and fine-tune the concept slowly. At 3 to 6 months, we found we could do most anything (hike the Black Forest, the Louvre, a glacier hike, subways, etc) for 2.5 hours. And then get somewhere comfortable (cafe, mountain hut, tent) for another nursing session and a diaper change.
Remember - the spectacular destinations are for your sake, not theirs until they're 5 or so. They'd be just as happy with the sticks and rocks in your backyard as at 10,000 feet in the mountains. Or on a playground in any city.
And accept that it will be more of a test of your flexibility as a parent than as a stud-muffin hiker. Modelling an active, adventurous lifestyle is important to us (trying to combat the TV/supersize me culture) and we are starting to see the fruits of that now.
Suggestions for a baby/toddler backpack?
Silly Momm
My husband and I are planning on doing some camping/backpacking once the weather warms up (it's still snowing where we live and we're beginning to wonder what Spring is) and we are in need of a baby/toddler backpack. My son is 10 months old and weighs in at a nice, healthy 35 pounds so an INFANT carrier is out of the question. He is much to heavy for those. I am referring to the ones with a large frame that carry ~50 pounds or more. I have no idea what names are good and reliable and research I've done hasn't turned up very good answers. Anyone with a suggestion, please let me hear it! Thanks!
Answer
We have a Kelty Kids backpack. It is wonderful. It is quite comfortable to wear, easy to put on and my son loves being in it (he's 14 months and around 25-30lbs). We camp and it is a lifesaver --- we bought it to use in place of our Ergo carrier on long hikes/camping.
It is like this one:
http://www.kelty.com/p-283-fc-10.aspx
We managed to find a gently used one on craiglist for about half of the new price.
We have a Kelty Kids backpack. It is wonderful. It is quite comfortable to wear, easy to put on and my son loves being in it (he's 14 months and around 25-30lbs). We camp and it is a lifesaver --- we bought it to use in place of our Ergo carrier on long hikes/camping.
It is like this one:
http://www.kelty.com/p-283-fc-10.aspx
We managed to find a gently used one on craiglist for about half of the new price.
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Title Post: Hiking with kids? What about camping and multi day walking? Any advice would be great. Ours is now 4 months.?
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Rating: 95% based on 981 ratings. 4,6 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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