Once upon a time, we considered ourselves seasoned hikers. We packed the 10 essentials. We planned ahead.

Adventurous Moms hiking in Canada in 2007.

Then we had a baby.

When Addie was born, we made some adjustments. The essentials list expanded. We planned even more. We learned a lot during her first three years as we experimented with what we needed and what could be left home when we ventured into the woods. We became confident, adventurous hikers once more – taking Addie on our excursions became easy-peasy.

Hiking with an 18 month old Addison in South Carolina.

Then the twins were born. We quickly learned that doubling the amount of kids stuff we hauled in our packs was not the only adjustment we needed to make. Over the past ten months, we’ve worked out the kinks and made an updated list of essentials.

10 Essentials for Hiking with Babies and Toddlers

1. Ziploc Bags

2.5 gallon Ziploc bags are a great way to pack out dirty diapers, trash, and wet/soiled clothing while keeping the contents of your pack clean. I use 1 gallon Ziploc bags for our bathroom kit (trowel, toilet paper and hand sanitizer) and to waterproof our map, and quart-sized to hold snacks and my iPhone.

2. Baby Wipes

Baby wipes are a parent’s ultimate multi-purpose tool –  in the backcountry they clean up everything from poopy bums to sticky fingers and faces.

3. Hand Sanitizer

If your little ones like to poop in the woods as much as our Addison, hand sanitizer is key! It’s also great to use after changing a diaper and before eating! You can buy a small bottle of gel that hooks onto the outside of your pack, or a package of wipes.

4. Diapers

Double the amount of diapers you think you need because babies have some sort of internal mechanism that causes them to poop excessively and explosively when you are far from any sort of bathroom facilities.

5. Extra Clothing

Again, take more than you think you need. Addie once fell face first in a stream during a late winter hike and I hadn’t brought enough extra warm clothing for her – an epic fail that led to the end of our hike. For short hikes, we bring an extra onesie, pair of pants and socks for each twin, and an extra change of clothing and underwear for Addison. For hikes over two hours, we double that amount.

6. Baby & Kid-Friendly Food/Snacks & Drinks

All three kids love squeeze pouches of pureed fruit, vegetables and grains (Happy Family, Sprout, andElla’s Kitchen are our favorites). They are light to pack, and easy to eat while hiking. We also bring Stonyfield Farms’ YoBaby and YoToddler squeeze pouches of yogurt. Addie gets even more exciting snacks, like Honey Stinger Kids’ Organic Waffles, Nutella sandwiches, and M&M’s – which we dole out when she needs a boost of energy.

Addison loves to snack during our hikes.

Kids need to stay hydrated too! When riding in our Deuter Kid Carrier, Addie used to snag the tube of our Camelbak hydration bladder and help herself to water. This was great because we didn’t have to stop to get her water – she could drink on the go. Now that she’s older, she has her own Camelbak Mini-Mule pack. I also pack Organic Valley boxed chocolate milk. For the babies, we bring bottles filled with water and add powdered formula at feeding time.

As a baby, Addie was quite adept at drinking water from our Camelbak hydration bladder.

Now Addie carries her own Camelback while we hike!

7. Kid Carrier

I swear by our Deuter Kid Comfort III – it’s comfortable to wear, the kids all enjoy riding in it, and it has plenty of room to pack the traditional 10 essentials plus our 10 Essentials for Hiking with Babies and Toddlers! Kendra prefers to carry the babies in an Ergobaby carrier. When I am hiking with just Addie and her legs get tired, I tuck her between my daypack and my back – it works as a temporary carrier as long as my waist-belt is tight.

8. Bug and Sun Protection

We use Kids Herbal Armor Natural Insect Repellent Spray and Aveeno baby sunscreen. On really sunny days, all three kids wear hats. Kate is bald, so she always wears a hat.

9. Awesome Toys

It always helps to have a toy or two in your arsenal. We bring teething rings and rattles for the twins. Addie likes to bring her lizard clip-on flashlight, her camera, and occasionally a doll.

Addie taking pictures on one of our winter hikes.

10. Patience

This is the most important of the 10 essentials for hiking with babies and toddlers! Things can, and often do go wrong while hiking with little ones. Pooplosions, fits of crying, boo-boos, and hangry toddlers are par for the course. You can be as prepared as a boy scout and still have everything fall apart. Ultimately, how you deal with setbacks and obstacles will decide the success of your hike. So be patient with your kids, be patient with the process, and be patient with yourself.

Hiking as a family of five!