One of the greatest joys of having kids is reaching the time in their lives when they are finally old enough to participate in the activities that you as a parent enjoy. Hiking is one of those activities. Since it’s never too early to start sharing the things you love with the people you love, here is a handy checklist that will help you prepare your toddler - and the rest of the family - for a nice, stress-free hike.

The basics

No matter how old or independent your kid is, there are some basics that you should always tend to when taking them along with you on a hike.

● Make sure your toddler is dry, warm, and fed. Even the best-behaved kids get cranky and miserable if their basic needs aren’t met. When they’re warm, dry, and full, though, kids possess explorer superpowers.

● Keep your kids hydrated and cool. This is a mere addition to the first rule, but the need to look after your kid’s needs goes both ways.

● Pay attention to the weather. Kids are more fragile than us adults, so take good care of them and be ready to modify or cancel plans if the weather suddenly goes bad. Don’t be stubborn and insist that you must do everything according to your schedule. Be flexible.

● Don’t forget to have fun. Hiking with your toddler is the right time to release your inner child and have some pure fun. Remember that for children it is more about the journey than the destination, so be ready to stop and explore anything they find attractive.

An additional tip for maintaining your sanity and inner peace during the car ride to and from your destination: if your kid uses a portable console or a tablet during car rides, make sure they have earphones as well.

What to prepare

Finally, here is the checklist of all the essentials that you should prepare for an enjoyable hike with your toddler:

Good hiking shoes

When it comes to hiking shoes, boots are the ideal option. Since kids aren’t cautious about watching where they step, having hiking boots can spare them from getting wet feet when they accidentally jump in a puddle. Besides that, boots are best when it comes to preventing sprains. They also protect against snake bites. If you are searching for a nice pair of hiking boots for you or your toddler, choose something that mixes style and quality with tradition, like what you will find at Ellis Brigham.

Water bottle

When going for a hike, make sure that your toddler has a water bottle of their own in the backpack. That way, even if you get separated for a short while, your kid will stay hydrated.

Children need roughly one cup of water for an hour of hiking, but it is better to bring more since water can easily be spilled, bottles can be broken, and so on.

Appropriate clothing

For hiking with kids, you’ll want to pick comfortable, season-appropriate clothing. One more piece of advice regarding what your toddler should wear is always dressing in layers. Layering allows you to adjust your body temperature easily as you walk.

Dress your kids in bright colors against the season. That way, they’ll be easier to see and keep track of during the hike.

A rain jacket and a hat

Don’t put too much faith in the weather forecast. Make sure to always have a rain jacket at hand. The weather can change very quickly while hiking, especially in the mountains. A hat with a brim or a simple baseball cap can protect your child from the sun or rain as well.

A headlamp and a whistle

If the hike takes too long and you have to stay outdoors as it gets dark, or even if you get lost, these items will help you. You will each need a headlamp for hiking back home in the night.

Many modern backpacks come with a whistle already included, so check your bag to see if one is built into the straps.

Snacks

You are going to need lots of snacks. Let your kids pick out their hiking snacks. You should probably also give them their own snack bags, or they will eat all the good stuff out of the trail mix bag, leaving you with nothing but the boring stuff.

Sidenote: don’t pack crackers or anything else that can get crushed or squashed easily. Also, avoid stuff that can make your or your toddler extra thirsty.

Sun protection and insect repellent

Bug bites are one of the fastest ways to get your kids at their crankiest. Since that can easily ruin the whole experience for everyone involved, do your best to avoid it.

Even if you slathered up before setting off on the hike, you would all sweat and need to reapply, so bring your insect repellent with you.

Remember to apply sunscreen before you leave and make sure to reapply it every few hours.

A shovel and toilet paper

Hey, this is how you go to the bathroom in the woods when there is no outhouse on the trail. You don’t want to be one of those nasty folks that leave used TP on the course, right?

Speaking of nasty stuff, make sure to bring a few bags to store your trash in.

A first aid kit

No matter how well prepared you are, bad things sometimes happen. Because of that, you should prepare a mini first aid kit for your hike. Make sure to put it in a ziplock bag so it’s waterproof.

A few final remarks

Now that you know what you should prepare for a hike with your toddler, here are a few additional words of caution.

Expect the hike to take longer than you’ve anticipated. Worst case scenario, you might even get lost and have to spend the night out in the wild. There is also a slight possibility that someone could get injured, and you’ll have to perform emergency first aid or wait to be rescued. Day hikers tend to be the ones that need rescuing the most since they don’t prepare for the trip well enough.

Stay prepared, stay alert, and remember to have fun!

About the Author

Kevin has gone through an extensive home renovation with his son, which he has both

thoroughly enjoyed, and dreaded every morning. He is now the proud owner of half his dream house (the other half has been waiting for spring).

You can read more of Kevin’s work on PlainHelp.

Checklist For Family Hikes With Toddlers