 It Can Be Done!
New Parent's Guide to Getting Outdoors
By Alice Cary, GORP Family Expert
Everyone knows the trouble with leading horses to water. But what about kids and the outdoors? Will they learn to love hiking, biking, canoeing, camping, and all those things we nature-loving parents live for?
And, more immediately, can bedraggled parents even get the kids and those crateloads of kid accessories to the trailhead, canoe launch, or campsite in the first place?
To the questions above, I can say from personal experience,"yes" and "take heart, it can be done."
At first, when kids are babies, nature outings are relatively easy. Emphasis on"relatively" (see Babes in the Woods for my escape techniques). For many first-time parents, taking babies just about anywhere seems like moving a mountain, much less hiking over one. Mountains, though, can be moved. After all, you survived those first three months with a newborn, didn't you?
Thankfully, pretty soon everybody starts getting used to each other, and moms and dads grow more adept at having a wee one in tow. (Lesson #1 for new parents: Be patient, easier times are always around the corner.)
Jumping Hurdles
My husband Jim and I faced major adjustments when our son Will was born six years ago. There's no denying we stayed home more, but we continued to do all of the things we love, both with and without our son.
Will has logged plenty of time in the outdoors. He has accompanied us on hiking and camping trips every year of his life. He went on his first backpacking trip when he was four (he could have gone earlier, but we wanted him to go on his own two feet, not on our backs). Now he's learning to cross country ski.
As a family unit, we were a well-oiled machine. Then life threw us—and our outdoor lifestyle—a curve.
Halfway through my second pregnancy we found out that our next little bundle of joy would actually be two little bundles of joy. Martha and Cary were born in April 1999. Suddenly, outdoor adventure in our household plummeted to near zero.
I feel a tinge of regret about not camping last summer, especially after I read that Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey of Carlisle, Iowa, managed to take their septuplets camping during their first year. Can you imagine? Frankly, it's hard to imagine doing anything with infant septuplets.
This summer, I pledge to take our twosome on their first campout. Already we're making good progress on at least getting out the door (see Babes In The Woods for tips on getting outdoors with infants). Friends gave us their double jogging stroller and we're no longer restricted in our adventures to sidewalks and malls. We routinely roll through trails near home. It's heavenly to be in the woods again.
| Baby in the Woods |
| Think locally. That's the key to getting started on outdoor trips with infants.
Whether you want to hike, bike, canoe, or camp, don't start off with a major expedition. In addition to your new child, you've probably got new equipment, such as a child carrier, baby jogger, or bike trailer to get used to. A few more words to the wise:
 Take short, easy trips and have fun. As you get used to these outings, you'll be ready to tackle more challenging outings.
Choose a destination you know well. The last thing you want to encounter with an infant is a tricky water crossing or whitewater rapids.
Make a packing list of what you'll need for adults and children, such as food and diaper supplies, and extra clothing.
Remember that infants aren't exercising and therefore need more layers of clothing than adults.
Little bald heads need hats, for warmth in cool weather and sun protection in summer.
Check with your pediatrician about using sunscreen and insect repellent. Many of these lotions aren't safe for infants. As a result, your baby will need protective clothing, netting, and monitoring to guard against sunburn and bug bites.
Don't have so much fun that you forget about the diapers. Wet diapers can contribute to hypothermia, and warm weather makes babies ripe for diaper rash.
Use front-mounted carriers for infants. Backpack-style child carriers must be reserved until baby has developed sufficient neck strength, usually by about six months. Again, check with your pediatrician.
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