Baby Carriers For Hiking

The most important item in the list of equipment for hiking is accessories to carry your baby. We will divide them into two types: these are soft (frameless) carriers and frame backpacks.

Soft (Frameless) Carriers

Ergonomic Backpack. 

Do not confuse with “kangaroos”, which we do not recommend for hiking. They differ from ergonomic backpacks quite significantly. In an ergonomic backpack, the legs of the child are spread apart, the weight is distributed on the hips of the child. The soft fabric back supports the spine in a natural position. The wide belt transfers some of the child’s weight from the parent’s shoulders to the lower back. The child can only sit facing the parent.

“Kangaroo”. 

In “kangaroo”, the baby’s legs hang vertically down, and all the weight is on the crotch. The rigid back does not support the upper spine. The entire weight of the child falls on the shoulders of the parent. The child can be positioned either facing the parent or facing forward. In such a backpack, you can carry a child over short distances, maybe during a camping trip, but it is not recommended to carry it far and for a long time. 

 Sling 

It is a rectangular piece of fabric that is not easy to learn how to wind correctly, but, as they say, anything is possible for a person with intelligence. However, the sling is not very convenient to take off and put on in field conditions, and it will also be very hot in it during active walking uphill.

The age at which the backpack starts to be used varies from the size of the individual child: its legs must grow to the width of the back of the backpack in order to assume the correct position. Different models of backpacks offer all sorts of adaptations to adapt to small sizes. In general, approximately in six months, upon reaching a clothing size of 68 cm, almost any ergonomic backpack will fit without any additional tweaks.

Many backpack models allow straps to be worn either straight or crossed on the back. The crossed version is more difficult to put on without assistance, but in this form the backpack attracts the child more tightly, therefore it is the crossed straps that are recommended for use for small children up to six months. In addition, they will be more comfortable for women with narrow shoulders.

The ergonomic backpack can be worn on the front as well as on the back. The dimensions of the grown child (from 8 months) begin to interfere with the parent from the front, and he himself already wants to look around more – such a baby can be carried from behind.

The upper weight limit for ergonomic backpacks is very large – up to 20 kg. Much earlier than this limit, it will become too difficult for the parent to carry the baby in it.

Frame Carrier Backpacks

Over time, it becomes too difficult to carry a child in a soft backpack. Although it has a support belt, the bulk of the weight is carried by the shoulders. Frame carrier backpacks come to the rescue. The term for starting the use of such a backpack – the child should be able to confidently sit independently for a long time! This means that he spends his time (plays) mostly sitting (and not on his stomach, as before). The upper limit, as in the case of soft backpacks, is not worth worrying – they can withstand up to 25 kg, and before that either parent or child will refuse them.

Advantages of a frame backpack over a soft ergonomic backpack:

• Distributes weight effectively between shoulders, hips and lower back.
• There is some space between the child and the parent, so neither the parent’s back nor the child’s belly gets too hot (in a soft ergonomic backpack on the way up the hill, you can sweat so that the entire child will be wet because of the parent).
• These backpacks are convenient and quick to adjust for both the child’s and the parent’s height. The latter is especially important, because usually mom and dad use it alternately, and during the hike, you may need to adjust it several times during the day for different dimensions. (Note that this range is not limitless! If your height is less than 165 cm, be sure to try it on before buying a backpack: the very minimum height setting for some models may not be enough for you to properly rest the backpack belt on your hips.)
• At the bottom of the frame backpack there is a compartment for things in which you can carry diapers, clothes, food – this allows you to unload the second parent a little, and gives the first some autonomy if he suddenly lags behind or goes ahead.
• The backpack can be removed and placed on the ground with the child, thanks to the footrest, it will stand like a highchair. This is very convenient if you need to change clothes on the way, for example. (Just be careful: place only on a flat surface so that the backpack does not fall!)
• Shade from the sun is a very important function, at the same time protecting from light rain / snow and branches hanging over the trail.

Cons compared to soft ergonomic backpacks:

• High price, comparable to a good stroller (in large cities and popular tourist centers, for example, Oregon Coast Camping, such a backpack can be rented).
• Large dimensions: unlike a soft backpack, you cannot take it with you “just in case”, it takes up a full luggage space in the car.
• The backpack itself weighs more than 3 kg (but it distributes the weight better, so it will still be easier to carry an older child than in a soft backpack).
• Depending on the height of the parent, the child’s head may rise slightly above his head – this change in size must be used and taken into account (for example, entering a doorway or under overhanging tree branches).

For carrying backpacks, there are accessories such as a rain cover and a sleeping pillow. If you don’t have a pillow, it doesn’t matter: it can be made from any sweater, rolled diaper, and so on. A rain cover is very desirable, because if the child can be dressed in waterproof clothing, then you still would not want to wet the backpack itself. If there is no special case, you can use the case for regular backpacks, only buy the largest size. A sun awning can be included, or it can be sold separately – you need it!

How Long Can a Child Spend in a Carriers? And What If He Doesn’t Want To Sit In It?

Some children really like the backpack, and even in the city they prefer it to a stroller. “I sit high, I look far away!” But, unfortunately, there are some children who refuse to be carried around in backpacks. The thought suggests itself that if you start early, the child will get used to it, but the experience of some acquaintances shows that this does not always work. But it’s still worth a try.

If you take a child who has a positive attitude towards the backpack and is not capricious, you should still take regular breaks (every hour and a half) and it is advisable to build the route so that you do not have to walk all day.

How To Organize A Nap During The Hike And Observe The Daily Routine? 

If your route allows you to arrange an afternoon nap at rest (and the child agrees to fall asleep in such an unusual environment), it will certainly be great. But it often takes a full day of travel. In this case, babies sleep daytime dreams on the go, they are rocked in a backpack, and they fall asleep easily. Sleeping in a backpack is far from being as comfortable as sleeping in a crib, so usually children cannot sleep “long” dreams and sleep one cycle at a time, for babies it averages 40 minutes.

A child can split two of his usual dreams into four, one dream into two, and so on. In general, he will most likely gain his daily sleep rate, and if not enough, he will go to bed early in the evening. I believe that adhering to a daily routine in everyday life helps a child flexibly adapt to his forced travel disruptions.

Is It Harmful To Sleep In A Carriers?

 From the point of view of specialists in children’s sleep, only sleeping in a still bed, in complete silence and in the dark, is 100% complete. Nevertheless, many of the parents at a certain age are faced with the fact that a child agrees to sleep only in a stroller moving without interruption, in a car seat, while rocking in his arms … In any case, children are very flexible creatures, and it’s okay from 2- 3 days of daytime sleep in a backpack will not happen to them, especially since they will be able to fully sleep at night.

More articles about hiking you can read here.