Of all the different activities you can do with a baby snowshoeing isn’t the first thing that most people think of. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t a great idea to spend some quality time with your kid. My wife and I took our first child snowshoeing when he was a little over 1 year old. All of us had a great time in the worries we had quickly flew out the window. So what are some things that I wish I knew before I took my baby son snowshoeing?
Extra Snowshoeing Gear You’ll Need
You’ll definitely need a little bit of extra gear if you want to bring along your child. You’re definitely going to need a baby carrier that has little bit of insulation. I went with a Osprey Child Carrier because I love their hiking backpacks, but I think I would have been equally as happy with a Kelty Carrier. It isn’t like the old days carrying a baby with one of these carriers is about as easy as it could get.
The one thing that I forgot when I took my son on his first snowshoeing trip is a set of baby sunglasses. I’m sure you’ve thought about every way to keep the baby warm, but bright light off the snow is an often overlooked danger of winter hiking.
How To Snow Shoe With a Baby?
I think I worried more about taking my baby out in the snow than I did climbing my first Mountain. Granted my first mountain was Mount Si which is a great mountain for beginners if you’re ever in the Seattle area. My entire life I was taught that babies and snow simply don’t mix. Well that is the common thought, but it doesn’t have to be the right one.
With the proper amount of planning your child can be warmer than he ever would be inside. If your wife’s anything like mine your kid will be so bundled up that he couldn’t possibly be cold. and for the adults on the trip, snowshoeing with a baby feels no different than carrying a light hiking backpack.
How Heavy is a Child Carrier for Hiking?
As newer child carriers come out they just keep getting lighter and lighter. Check out the specs of the Osprey carrier that I bought just after my son was born. The thing weighs less than ten lbs. Even with a fully snow proofed baby you’re still only looking at 20-30 lbs which is pretty lightweight in my book. Yes trudging through snow is harder than dirt, but you do what you must to bring your son along with you.
Baby’s First Hiking Gear
You’ll get collective oohs and awws when you try on your baby’s first winter hiking outfit. Columbia’s baby snowsuits are easily the nicest on the market and they don’t cost a lot. I guess they want to get the kids hooked while they’re young(just kidding). Columbia snowsuits are water repellent and will resist just about anything winter can throw at you. Everything else you need is just going to be a matter of common sense.Bring along your hats, mittons, gloves and anything else required to keep warm.
With one of the Osprey Child Carriers which I talked a little bit about above you won’t need a separate diaper bag. It has enough storage to bring along bottles, diapers, food and anything else you’d need to jam in their. If your spouse is coming along they might want to bring along a small Osprey Daypack as well.
Snowshoeing With a Baby Tips
- Tell Somebody Close Where You’re Going: Whenever you go out in the woods you should tell someone where your going, but it’s especially important when there’s a baby on board. Never go off into the woods alone without notifying somebody of your whereabouts. It’s a good idea to only hike trails that you’re familiar with when you’re with a child. The bad thing is that walking trails in the winter is going to look completely different than without snow.
- Buy the Right Carrier: Buying the right carrier is going to make or break your snowshoeing experience. Without the right carrier everything is going to be more difficult. Remember you aren’t going to be able to just set a baby down in the snow if for some reason you have to take off the carrier. Dedicated baby carriers have little legs to keep the child above the snow.
- Keep Your Trips Short: I know how excited you probably are to get back into the woods after dealing with a crying baby for months. Don’t over extend yourself and trek to far out into the forest. Most kids can handle the cold for about an hour before they’ll get fussy.(I’m talking about 40 degree weather not frigid temps)
- Keep an Eye on The Sun: Sunny days are going to be your best friend during the winter. You can expect to travel a little bit farther in warmer weather. Unless your idea of a good time is hearing a crying baby skip days when the weather is below 20 degrees. If it’s too cold for school it’s probably too cold for you to be out in the woods.
- Add Extra Layers: The rule my mother always said is you dress your kid with one more layer than you’d like to wear. This might work at home, but it isn’t going to work out in the snow. Remember that you’re expending a lot of energy trudging through the snow. So you’re going to be a lot warmer than you’d normally be. The baby on the other hand is just sitting there looking pretty so he’s not going to be generating any body heat. Try and dress them to the point where they’re warm without overheating. Crying in the snow could mean he’s cold, but they’re much more likely to be overheating.(if you’re anything like me.)
- Pack Some Snacks: You seem to always remember food for your kid without thinking about yourself. I guess that’s how things should be. Make sure you bring along some light snacks and water for yourself as well as your child.
How To Check a Babies Temperature?
If you’re worried that you’re son/daughter is too cold you might want to check their temperature. My mom always checked my forehead, but that won’t likely work outside in the wind. Instead you’re going to want to place your hand on the back of the babies neck. You’ll probably breath a sigh of relief when you cradle his warm neck.