hiking with 1 year old recommended?

[teasipper]

We want to thru hike the AT 2010. Because, we'd both be in between jobs and moving, we thought it'd be a perfect time to hike the AT. However, we have a one year old boy. Can the AT be done with a baby? Can anyone recommend any resources to check out?

[Nean]

I met a couple on the PCT once with both a baby and a toddler. Most people here probably won't agree but I say go for it, try it at least. You don't have to go back that many generations to realize people and babys have survived far more than you will encounter on the AT! I think it's so great that yall would even consider this that I had to comment on the ladies thread.

[JJJ]

Wife and I used something called "Ava's Kid Carrier" I did a search, but no luck.
They are simple in design a rectangle of cloth about the size of an 1YO torso with two small short straps at the bottom and bigger long long straps at the top.
All material a heavy soft velour.
You can tie a kid on you six to Sunday -very comfortable for kid and carrier.
We were on the trail and off the trail a lot in those days, early '80s.
The important thing is you and the kid felt like a single unit.
You could wear the kid on front and a pack on the back -if you're pretty stout.
If I can find ours I'd post a picture, if interested, PM me.
Wouldn't be terribly difficult to reproduce it.
jjj

[gravityman]

Good luck! It won't be easy, but if you want to try it, go for it! We couldn't get our 1 year old to sleep in a backpacking tent at all, and I'm sure a shelter would be very uncomfortable for everyone involved.

If you are breast feeding (and you probably should be at that age although it is a personal choice) that will make one thing a lot easier. In many ways a 1 year old would be easier than a 2 or 3 year old, which has been done (family from the north 2000-2001 through winter SOBO which we met in GA at the beginning of March. They had a 2 year old, and several more although I can't remember all the ages)...

Gravity

[Slo-go'en]

Eh gads, your asking for trouble! Just dealing with the baby poop is enough to say forget it! If the kid is 1 now, he will be 2 in 2010 and still too small to walk, so you'll have to carry him and that will be at least a 30 pound load most likely. Add in your gear and all the stuff you need for the kid and you got one serious load to lug.

Can it be done? Maybe. Will it be fun? Not likely.

Put your plans on hold for 10 years or talk grama and grampa into looking after the child while your gone...

[zoidfu]

You can't possibly be serious.

[aufgahoban]

My aunt and uncle use to go backpacking with their infant in the Colorado Rockies. They carried her in an authentic 'papoose'. Of course, that meant one of them was carrying the baby and maybe a fanny pack and the other was carrying all the gear. This was well before the days of disposable diapers, so you tell me how much fun that had to be. They never went out for more than a week or so at a time, but they never had any real problems. Not much extra gear involved really as she was still breast fed at the time. They of course, didn't plan for a long excursion and were more just getting out than making any real miles.
I'd worry about the rain/snow/heat/bugs more than anything else. How would you deal with that aspect? I can see a very upset child on about day 8 of hiking in the rain....

[Gray Blazer]

I hate to be a naysayer, but, he!! no!

One reason being that when you hike a lot on steep trails with rocks and roots and blowdowns, your gonna fall once in a while (maybe I'm the only one) and that's putting your baby in danger right there.

I don't see this being a women's forum issue, so that's why I replied. I'm outta here!

[Serial 07]

I know this is the "women's forum" but NO! STOP! for pete's sake, dogs prolly shouldn't hike the AT, why on earth would you bring an infant? to be honest, that sounds like a selfish plan, where you aren't really thinking about the health or well being of your baby...do something conventional and cheap if you want to spend some vacation time together...

[Blissful]

Too hard on the baby. And you. Enjoy parts of it when you can though. And in about 15 years, take him or her with you. I did.

[DAJA]

I know this is the "women's forum" but NO! STOP! for pete's sake, dogs prolly shouldn't hike the AT, why on earth would you bring an infant? to be honest, that sounds like a selfish plan, where you aren't really thinking about the health or well being of your baby...do something conventional and cheap if you want to spend some vacation time together...

I say go for it!

I guess all the ney sayer's are forgetting where we come from, as well as how many regions of the world continue to live... Sad that we've become so soft!

[zoidfu]

I say go for it!

I guess all the ney sayer's are forgetting where we come from, as well as how many regions of the world continue to live... Sad that we've become so soft!

lol yeah, those refugees look so happy and healthy.

Aside from the hazards, I just think the trip would suck royally for all involved and probably some that aren't involved.

I mean, take out everything else- do you think a baby should be spending hours and hours in 90+ temps days at a time? And having it's brain jiggled?

[Blissful]

I say go for it!

I guess all the ney sayer's are forgetting where we come from, as well as how many regions of the world continue to live... Sad that we've become so soft!

Yes and infants die because of what is happening in those countries, which is horrible to say - but is true, from disease, malnutrition, illness, injury. If it doesn't have to be done, why do it? People in other countries do what they do because they have to. I know people who work in Africa, etc

Hiking a six month thru hike on the AT with an infant is far too risky. Why do the risk just to go on a hike? You don't HAVE to. The baby will get nothing out of it. It's for the parents only when it comes right down to it.

I'd rather be safe and "soft" than sorry... Sorry.

[Gray Blazer]

I say go for it!

I guess all the ney sayer's are forgetting where we come from, as well as how many regions of the world continue to live... Sad that we've become so soft!

.....and do we remember how many infants died on those long treks (not to mention infant mortality in those regions where people continue to live like that)? I am not a fan of DCF (Department of Children and Families) or whatever it's called in your state, but, it seems like there would be an abuse issue there. I would be afraid to chance it.

I am so outta here.

[zoidfu]

This thread transcends gender. I declare it open to all!

[gravityman]

Of all the good reasons not to do it, I don't really see them here. If you have experience hiking with a baby, then you would know

1) You aren't going to slip and fall in a way to hurt your baby. If they are in a backpack, they are well protected in there from the old 'butt sit'. If you're carrying them on the front you are plenty careful. You are also much more careful with your foot placement and don't take the risks a 'speed walker' takes. It's just absurd that you shouldn't hike AT ALL with a baby because you might slip and fall. You shouldn't cross the street either...

2)Baby poop is not an issue. They poop general once a day. You hit a trash can on the AT mostly more often than that. It's not hard to deal with this in the woods. Pee dappers are probably 3 or so more times a day (unless you have a baby with a sensitive bottom, and then you might have to change more often). That's 4 diapers a day. It's not that hard and not that heavy.

3)Weight is not a serious issue. Mother will carry about 35 lbs, Dad will carry about 40 lbs. Wasnt' too long ago that was considered a 'normal' to light load. I know, because we've done it. Includes 7 lb baby backpack. You can probably do it a little lighter. This was in Colorado Memorial Day at 12k ft, where you need to be prepared for 20's and snow.

4) Weather - This is the most reasonable newbie to baby-hiking fear, and probably the most important to be able to handle. Without some significant experience, you could easily get in trouble. But my wife and I have been hiking in all 4 season at various altitudes with a baby. At one it's actually easier, as they are small enough to fit in a front carrier. Then you just have to make sure you have a big enough rain jacket and warm jacket to fit around both of you. If you are carrying them in a backpack, make sure to try out the weather proof system. It can take a few tries to get it right, and you have to be ready to bail if things aren't going as planned. But you should always be able to set up the tent and get in the warm bag if the baby starts getting cold.

No way a reasonable mother or dad would not be constantly checking on and aware of the warmth level of their child. It's pretty ingrained.

Below about 6 months you have to be careful about backpack carriers, bike trailers or ski pulks. The baby doesn't have the diaphram muscles to expand the chest in prolonged sitting positions. That seems scary to me and harder to judge than cold hands or feet. We kept him in the front carrier as long as it was comfortable for him and us.

The reasons that I can see for not doing it based on my experience with backpacking and camping with an infant are :

1) no sleep for anyone
2) you will be hiking your baby's hike. It will be a lot slower, you'll be headed in to town more often, and you will be taking more zeros.
3) Weather will impact your hiking miles a LOT
4) It will be a lot harder mentally

But then, you really don't get the chance to spend that much time together expect when you are out there away from the normal distractions of life. I could be a wonderful thing.

You also should be VERY comfortable in the backcountry in various weather conditions and know your gear and how to navigate.

Gravity

[zoidfu]

What about the heat and humidity? Dump water on your baby all day? Immerse them in every creek you come to?

[gravityman]

Yes and infants die because of what is happening in those countries, which is horrible to say - but is true, from disease, malnutrition, illness, injury. If it doesn't have to be done, why do it? People in other countries do what they do because they have to. I know people who work in Africa, etc

Hiking a six month thru hike on the AT with an infant is far too risky. Why do the risk just to go on a hike? You don't HAVE to. The baby will get nothing out of it. It's for the parents only when it comes right down to it.

I'd rather be safe and "soft" than sorry... Sorry.

There are plenty of things you don't HAVE to do. You don't HAVE to drive with the infant. Just get a babysitter all the time you need to go out. It's much more likely you and the baby will be killed in a car crash than a hiking trip.

As for 'It's for the parents only' I don't buy it. My son at 2 1/2 very clearly has impressions from some of his earlier camping trips to Moab at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year. Not real memories, but impressions he talks about. Would you expose your 1 year old to pornography or violence? No? Why not he if he 'won't get anything out of it'? Because you know he will...

Gravity

[gravityman]

What about the heat and humidity? Dump water on your baby all day? Immerse them in every creek you come to?

You have to keep an eye on it, but it's not a reason not to go. We've been hiking with a 1 year old in Florida in May. He did quite well, but we could tell he was getting hot after a while, and we would have to take him out of the carrier periodically. Probably was in mid 80's and very high humidity. Remember, they aren't exericing like you are. We certianly had him in the backpack during the hot hikes for the extra air cirulation for both of us.

Do you think you have to have AC to raise a child in the tropics in the summer time?

Gravity

[zoidfu]

It can be over 100 degrees for days at a time by the time a NOBO comes through here. High humidity too. It's brutal for an adult and babies are susceptible to heat injuries.