How to Hike with a Toddler

I’m not really a hiker, but I love to boulder and I own a dog. This means I pretty much hike every day, in order to get to the crag or get my dog (Merle) exercise. That used to be a solo activity but now, my son has started joining me and Merle on our outdoor adventures! At 15 months, he can hike in the desert terrain for 30 minutes on his own! But it didn’t start out that way.

Initially, we began using the hiking backpack when my son was nine months. Unfortunately, it was February in New Mexico, so it was often cold, windy and snowy. The first time a cold gust of wind hit him in the face, he gasped in shock! I kept the hikes to 10 minutes, partially because of the weather and partially because the pack was just so heavy. I knew early on my goal would be to acclimate him to using his own legs as soon as he started walking.

He began walking at 12 months and at 14 months, he started exploring the trails on his own. We would use a carrier to get him away from cars and other people. At first, he was unimpressed by the concept of hiking. When I took him out of the carrier, he was confused and refused to move. In fact, we didn’t move at all for 30 minutes while Merle ran circles around us. Afterwards, I had to carry him back to the car. Although on this first trip, he didn’t actually take to hiking, he seemed to like being outside in nature. This motivated me to keep trying.

The next day we went to the same spot and did the same thing. Except this time, I took his hand and helped him walk a few steps. I could tell a lightbulb turned on in his head and he understood what he was supposed to do. This trip was still mostly Merle running around us and me carrying him to the car.

On our next trip outside, I carried him to an area with more plant life without needles. This is difficult to find in southern Arizona since everything is sharp, pointy, and painful. I showed him that we can touch sticks, flowers, and trees. This was the key to getting him moving more. I also showed him that its fun to play in the sand. He absolutely loves it.

During each subsequent trip, he would walk a little more on his own. He was becoming bold and would attempt to walk up steep hills of loose rock. He took a few tumbles, which is when I realized that he needed to stop wearing onesies and start wearing hiking clothes. I also use mineral sunscreen on his skin because the Arizona sun is harsh.

At 15 months, I have created a hiking baby who dislikes being carried and loves experiencing nature. The carrier stays at home now. He starts walking straight from the car to the trail. He can go up and down hills and hike through sand. There’s usually a tantrum, here and there, when we don’t go the way he wants, but hey, that’s life with a toddler.