Tips for Taking a Baby Outside: Camping, Hiking and in Harsh Weather

Parents of babies and infants still want to be able to take part in activities. Even though the infant may not remember or totally appreciate being taken on a hiking trip, the parents may still wish to allow the infant to come along on the trip. Perhaps the parents don't wish to leave the child with a babysitter. Or, perhaps the adventure is a one day excursion that is part of a bigger trip out of town, so there is no alternative. Other parents may simply wish to give the child a chance to enjoy the great outdoors. So how do you go about taking your infant outdoors? This article will give you some tips:

1. You need to protect your child from the elements. Anytime you go outside, your child is exposed to the weather. Dress the child appropriately, maybe a bit warmer than you would need to be dressed. Protect hands, feet, and head especially. If it's cold outside, the child needs to be warm at all times. Whereas you may be able to bear some of the cold, most infants haven't had a chance to develop a strong immune system and could catch a cold or upper respiratory illness easily. Protect the child's face from breathing in cold air, but also allow the child to be able to take breaths that are not too muffled by material over the nose and mouth.

As for rain and snow, you'll want to have the child in waterproof clothing just as you would be. Use some type of material, like Gore-tex, that allows for breathing. This way, the infant's sweat can evaporate so the infant doesn't catch a chill as this makes him or her wet inside of a coat or jacket. In rain, make sure to have an umbrella protecting the child from rain hitting him or her.

If it's windy, you should use some type of skin moisturizer or sunblock as well. Wind can do damage too!

2. Sunblock. If it's hot outside and the sun is out, now you have to worry about sunburn. Apply a waterproof sunblock that is made especially for children, with an SPF of at least 50. Try a new type of sunblock with helioplex, which does a better job of blocking the sun's rays.

3. What should you bring when taking the child on an outdoor excursion? In addition to sunblock and appropriate clothing, always have some type of hydrating beverage so the child doesn't get dehydrated. You can simply bring along water if you like. On especially hot or dry days, try using a beverage that has electrolytes added to help the child stay hydrated.

4. If the baby is still on formula, you'll need to bring some with you to feed the infant. To keep this cool, use a cooler. If you can't take a cooler based on the nature of the excursion, such as hiking, you can use something smaller. Try a hot/cold bag, that is designed to keep products warm or cool that are placed inside. Or, use a lunch bag with insulation that can fit inside your backpack.

5. Bring snacks. If the baby is past the formula stage, bring along food. A baby needs to eat more often than we do. We have larger stomachs and can hold more food inside, so we don't need to eat as often. A baby will deplete its food store quickly, so you always want to have snacks along. If you want to bring baby food, take it out of the glass jars and put into your own plastic containers.

6. Take wipes and diapers. This seems like such a basic thing, but I'd be willing to bet 20 parents out of 100 will forget to take diapers along for the baby when going hiking for the day.

7. Bring a change of clothes in the car. If your infant gets wet, you'll need to change the child out of the wet clothes. You could even pack a light change of clothes in your backpack.

8. Sunglasses. Yes, infants' eyes are sensitive to sunlight too! I remember when I was very young that my eyes seemed very sensitive to sunlight. Take sunglasses that fit the child, and put them on a rope or string so they won't get lost. In other words, attach them somehow to the baby. Just don't do this in a way that the child could get strangled by the cord accidentally.

9. Water outfit. In other words, if the baby's going swimming, you need a bathingsuit. Some places will not let you get away with putting a diaper on the child and putting him or her into the pool. Unacceptable.

10. Mosquito repellant. You don't want your baby getting eaten alive by mosquitoes, do you? Bring along some type of insect repellant that is safe for babies.

11. Allergy medication. If your baby is sensitive to pollen or grass, bring some type of allergy medication. If the infant is allergic to bees, bring a bee sting kit.