Enthusiastic hikers love a sweaty climb followed by a cozy stop at a hut. As soon as children are announced, future parents ask themselves whether they can continue to pursue their passion. The answer is: yes. If you have the right equipment with you and know all the safety regulations, you can go hiking with your children without any problems. We’ll show you what you need for hiking with children, how to motivate your children to go on a hike and how to secure them properly.
You have to answer this question individually. It depends on your child’s abilities. Of course, you can go hiking with your baby if you feel safe and your little one joins in. The older your children get, the more independent they become on hikes.
If you want to go hiking with your baby, you need a safe means of transport. This baby carrier allows you to carry it in the anatomically correct position (squat-spread position) and has three carrying positions. This means you can safely take your baby on the hike in a front, back or hip carrier. It is particularly important that your baby is sufficiently protected from the sun. We also recommend taking a playmat with you so you can take relaxing breaks.
Hiking is easier with children who can already sit. Then it is a good idea to take a Kraxe with you. The Kraxe is reminiscent of a large backpack. You can safely transport your child on your back. This offers the great advantage that you are mobile and the weight of your child is comfortably distributed across the hips. This Kraxe is a popular transport option. It has a removable sun canopy, a pillow that your child can rest their head on while sleeping and size-adjustable straps.
Once your children are confident about walking, you can try hikes where your child can walk themselves. However, avoid difficult and impassable routes. For example, start with a long Sunday walk. Bring a handcart or something similar in case your children get tired. This makes the little ones happy and the ride in the handcart becomes a little adventure in addition to the hike. This handcart is particularly practical because it can be easily folded and has plenty of storage space.
It is always an individual decision as to which routes you would like to hike with your children. After all, you know your child’s abilities best. If you decide on more demanding routes with inclines, we recommend a practical hiking stick and the right footwear to stabilize your children. There are already proper hiking shoes for small children. It is best to seek personal advice from a specialist retailer. There your children have the opportunity to try on the hiking boots and test them for comfort and safety. If you already know the model and brand and have tried and tested them, you can also order additional shoe sizes online.
The little ones are not always as motivated to go on long hikes as their parents. But there are things you can do to make your children even more excited about the hiking adventure. Children love to discover the world. They encounter numerous discoveries in nature. A cup magnifying glass is therefore a great addition to the hike. Your children can take a close look at plants and animals. The combination of children’s compass and binoculars is also exciting. So your children not only go hiking, but also go on research trips.
Anyone who likes hiking appreciates light luggage. That’s why you need to pack carefully and take the right things with you. The weight of luggage increases, especially with children. In addition to the right footwear and a hiking stick, the following things can prove useful when hiking. Also note the time of year and corresponding weather conditions.
The safety of your children is a top priority when hiking. Especially in mountainous regions, you should adequately secure your child. This means you and your child can hike in a relaxed manner without having to worry about falling. As always, you know your child best. Parents often secure their children with a practical complete harness. The child wears the climbing harness and is secured by you with a climbing rope. It is important that you make sure to use an elastic climbing rope. This is the only way you can prevent falls or safely stop them.
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