One of our family’s favorite things to do together is go hiking! It’s something we’ve done together long before we had kids, and it’s been such a consistent part of our family’s routine that our kiddos have grown up hiking regularly. A lot of people are overwhelmed with the idea of hiking with kids, but it’s not as difficult as it sounds! Getting kids out into nature is an incredibly important part of their development and health, so I have some tips for helping you get started, including what you should bring along with you!
This post contains affiliate links
If you’ve never taken your kids hiking, you probably want to start small. Find a small trail at a local park and give it a whirl. Work your way up to longer, more challenging hikes. If you’re headed out for a short time, you probably won’t need all these supplies. But let’s face it, when we go out with little kids, it’s better to be slightly over prepared. ;) Depending on the ages of your kiddos, you might decide to leave some of these items out of your pack. Or you may add some more in depending on the weather or particular place you’re hiking.
Comfy, sturdy shoes – in the summer, Keen sandals are my favorite shoes for shorter hikes. Longer hikes or cooler weather obviously require different shoes, but Keens are still my favorite for hiking shoes. My kids also enjoy hiking in the summer in these inexpensive barefoot shoes that can double as water shoes.
Baby carrier – the Ergo works nicely for us for the length of our hikes and having a small baby. It’s also great to stuff into a backpack for a toddler/preschooler who suddenly decides they can’t walk another step. If you’re going to hike really long distances or big mountains, consider getting a camping backpack carrier that gives more support.
Diapers and wipes (I like the Seedlings wipes, which you can buy here) in a pouch for easy locating in your bag
Portable changing mat, in case the ground is wet or rocky.
A baby toy or two for babies who are being carried is a nice distraction when they get antsy.
Sunglasses to protect those precious eyes!
Water bottles for the whole family.
Extra change of clothes for baby (especially little ones who are prone to blow outs!) During colder weather, you might toss in hats or gloves, long sleeved shirts or sweatshirts, or other warm clothing.
Burp rags – these are obvious if you have a baby who spits up a lot, but I toss them in even after we’ve passed the baby stage. They’re great for wiping up messes or big scrapes. Baby wipes are great, but these are so nice and gentle!
Wool socks in winter
Snacks… because kids want to eat eleventy billion snacks a day, so they’re obviously going to be starving the moment you hit the trail.
Insect repellent, sunscreen, itch spray (the Lavaderm after sun spray is perfect for this), waterless hand purifier – all of these can be found here
Band-aids for the inevitable scraped knee, tweezers for slivers or ticks, and all the oils! These are my must-haves when we’re out for a hike:
- KidScents Owie oil (for all those bumps and owies on the trail)
- KidScents TummyGize oil (in case someone’s tummy feels icky)
- Purification/Geranium (great for helping to keep away the creepy crawlies – add some to hair or shoes)
- Basil (for those nasty stings!)
- Deep Relief (for any aches and pains that happen while you’re hiking)
- Lavender (to help calm any irritated skin)
- Valor (for the inevitable meltdown … from you or your littles!)
*All these oils can be purchased here – use code SHAREYL
We also always bring the black drawing salve stick and arnica salve from Earthley (use code SILOANDSAGE). The black drawing salve has saved us many times with bee stings, itchy plants, and tick bites. Arnica is great to have if someone falls and sprains an ankle or gets a nasty bruise.
Not pictured: hats – warm hats for winter and sun hats especially for babies, baby bottles or sippy cups. I bring ours in a small cooler that fits in the bottom of my backpack. I usually toss some cheese sticks or other small snacks in, depending on how long our hike is. Then I also have an ice pack in case we need one on hand.
Pack it all in a backpack that’s comfortable enough to wear for a long time:
If your kiddos have a difficult time hiking long stretches, try bringing along a scavenger hunt to keep their attention:
Now go off and enjoy the adventure!
Happy hiking, friends!