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We love hiking, and we love taking our kids along with us so they can explore and experience the outdoors too! But we all know that young kids and toddlers get tired faster, or maybe they just don’t feel like walking that day. And it’s definitely not fun hiking with a cranky two year old in tow! So, along the way we have discovered some items that make the hike more enjoyable for our two little ones, and for mom and dad too! Here is our list of our favorite hiking must-haves. Click on the pictures to learn more.
For Tired Kiddos
I love this child carrier for so many reasons! First and foremost, it’s comfortable! Both for me and for my toddler. The straps around my chest and hips distribute the weight so it is not hurting my back or shoulders.
Second, there is so much storage space! I used to shy away from getting a child carrier for hikes because then I couldn’t wear a backpack to carry our water or anything else. This carrier solves that problem and then some! There is detachable backpack on the back that will hold a ton of stuff. Plus, there is another storage space under where you child sits. There are pockets on each side of the child’s space, as well as pretty good sized zippered pockets on each side of the waist band.
Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth, it has a sun shade for your child as well as an additional rain cover. There are foot straps (like on a saddle) that your child can put their feet through if they feel like standing instead of sitting. It has an inside compartment for a water bladder. Plus it has a stand that folds out so it stands by itself. This is great to make it easy to put the child in first, then put on your back, or also in case you child falls asleep, you can set it down without disturbing them.
For Hydration
Water is the most important thing to remember to bring when hiking. My two kids love these Camelbak water bottles. It is easy for their little hands to flip open the spout and flip back down when they are done drinking, and it is easy for them to drink out of. They actually use these everyday, not just on hikes, at home and in their lunchbox at school.
Or if your child prefers wearing a water bladder on their back, Camelbak makes mini ones for children! This frees up their hands to explore!
Clothing
Choosing the right clothing for your children when going hiking is important to keep them protected and comfortable, and most of all, happy!
Protect your little ones head with a wide brimmed hat! It also helps keep the sun out of their eyes!
These are the perfect pants for your child when hiking on a day where the temperature could change. Wear the pants in the morning when it’s still cool outside, then as it heats up, unzip them to convert into shorts!
Make sure your child is wearing shoes with good grip on the soles! Little ones love to climb on things when hiking, and these shoes do the job of keeping them from slipping and falling! They are also waterproof, so their socks and feet will stay dry if they step in any puddles or streams!
For Health and Safety
Protect your child’s skin if you will be out hiking in the sun! This Babyganics two pack comes with sunscreen and bug spray! The sunscreen is SPF 50 and is water-resistant, non-allergenic and tear free. The insect repellent is DEET free. It’s the perfect combo for hiking!
As safe as we try to keep our kids, they are still kids and will most likely fall and get a boo boo at some point on your hikes. This two in one first aid kit is the perfect kit to invest in. It has 120 pieces included, PLUS a 32 piece mini first aid kit that is perfect to throw in your backpack when you hit the trails!
For Fun!
Young children love exploring! Why not get them this explorers kit to take with them while hiking so they can explore their world more closely? They will love looking at plants and insects with the magnifying glass, taking a closer look at the mountains through the binoculars, or helping navigate with their very own compass! Plus it comes in a backpack so they can carry it all by themselves!
For Picnics
For a little bit longer hikes, we like bringing a picnic lunch. But even if we are going on a short hike, we make sure we bring snacks for the kids, because if they get hungry, they get cranky, and then the hike is no fun for anyone!
These pocket sized single antibacterial wipes are perfect for hiking and barely take up any room! Get all the germs off your little ones hands before they fuel up on snacks!
This is a pretty cool picnic blanket. Use it for picnics, at the beach, or anywhere you have to sit on the ground! It’s big enough for our whole family to sit on, and it folds up really compact in it’s carrying case so it hardly takes up any room in your backpack! Or use the included carabiner to clip to the outside of your pack! Also comes with four mini stakes to keep the blanket flat on windy days.
These snack sleeves are insulated so anything that needs to stay cold can be put in here with a cold pack so it’s still cold when you take it out to eat it! These fit easily in your backpack, or also come with a carabiner to attach to the outside if more room is needed!
I hope some of these make hikes with your kiddos more comfortable and enjoyable! What things do you bring along that help your kiddos be hiking champs? Leave a comment below!
