Baby Carrier for hiking??

Aghbaybay

Hello- I'm looking to start going on some hikes with my 6 month old daughter.

I've heard of using the soft backpack style ones like ERGO or BECO...but are the bigger ones like that look like a huge backpack and have metal on them and everything more comfortable??

Which kind is better? OR what other one do you recommend?

I have a pouch sling- but I don't think that would work that well.

Answer
I have a backpack carrier, it is one of the big ones with a metal frame, but it weighs almost nothing and is great for hiking. It is a Kelty brand and was one of my best purchases. I have a Bijorn and several slings, but for extended hiking I cannot carry in one of those.

Also, Maya is 3 and we can still carry her in the pack comfortably, which is nice. So, yes, they are MUCH more comfortable and I could even kind of forget she was up there.

Also, you can adjust the band that goes around your waist, so if you are feeling pressure in one part of your shoulders or back you pull a strap, and you can carry the weight totally differently.

If you do a lot of hiking then one of these is a must. Check Craigslist or local second hand stores as well. You can got one for $50 instead of $200. Babies r Us has them on display as well. You can put your daughter in it and try it on.

Any suggestions for a backpack baby carrier?

jveryrad

I have a very active 15month old daughter. She likes to grab objects and destroy them. She is difficult to bring to a store. Yesterday, I had to hold her while shopping in hardware stores because she insisted on opening packages or bottles if I let her down. The shopping carts can be very dirty in a hardware store.

Does anyone use a backpack baby carrier for their toddlers for shopping? I don't do much hiking, and I use a stroller to take her on walks. So I would just use it to take her where I don't want her to run around.

Is it safe to get into? Is there a risk of dropping her while putting the backpack on? Any other uses for this? Any suggestions for brands? I heard Tough Traveler is good. Thanks.

Answer
I love my backpack for shopping, and I can still carry my soon to be 3 year old. This is the one I have http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441776409&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302735239&bmUID=1160421939450 . We bought it almost 5 years ago when our oldest was the right size for it. It still looks brand new. I used it for shopping and long walks, my husband uses it for hiking. Have fun!

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Any opinions about baby backpacks and stroller systems?

army_siste

I don't have a baby yet but I might in the future. My question is about baby backpacks and strollers. Snuggli is one backpack I have seen. How useful are they? I saw one that said it could be used in the front for a small baby and on the back for a larger one up to 27 pounds. Are they comfortable and easy to get on and off? My concern was would my back start hurting after awhile? I have also seen some that have a metal frame that goes on the back? It looks kind of like the old hiking backpacks. Has anyone used that type? Is the soft Snuggli type better than the metal frame type?
On to strollers. I see alot of the stroller systems that come with the carseat carriers. Does anyone have an opinion whether they think the type that holds a carseat is better than just a regular stroller? I can see the benefits of both types. I would be a busy mom who be going on lots of walks and would also need to have one that would fold up nicely for the trunk of the car.Any other must haves for a baby?

Answer
Baby backpacks: I liked them okay. My husband loved ours. He would carry our daughter around all the time. They get in the way if you're trying to do something (and you really can't bend over) but they're nice for walking around and shopping if you don't want a stroller.
Stroller: Get one with a car seat carrier. They are so nice. You have to have a car seat anyway so why not get one that can snap onto your stroller. Its good for an infant because you know their head is protected in the carseat and you can see them at all times because you put the carseat on facing you in the stroller. Also, when your child is too big for the car seat, you can just use the stroller as a regular stroller. We have a 17 month old and have both kinds. Both fit into our trunk nicely. Our Jeep stroller (which is for older kids kind of a more expensive umbrella stroller) is great for going to the store. Her other stroller is nice if he needs a nap because she can lay down in it. Other things to have are a bouncy seat, a swing (our daughter absolutely loved hers), and for hen s/he can walk a stationary set so s/he can stand and play at the same time. We also liked our jumparoo but some people say they're bad for kids' legs. There are many good things for a baby, but it's all about what's good for you and your baby.

Do baby backpack carriers hurt your back?

Salishan B

Theres alot of trails around my new house and I want to do lots of walking/hiking with my 9 month old baby. I've been thinking a backpack carrier would be nice, but do they hurt your back?

would it be worth getting one?

Answer
Baby backpack carriers can hurt your back especially if your baby is very heavy. I think at 9 months your baby may be too big to carry on your back and may not fit into most back carriers. However, if you have a small baby, you may be able to do this. Your baby will be walking soon and not want to be carried on your back so you may only use the back pack carrier for a couple of months. In my opinion, I don't think it would be worth getting one at this point.

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What are some child friendly activities to do with an infant?

best baby backpack for hiking image

Amanda

My husband and I like to take day trips, go to beaches, museums, galleries, amusement parks, etc.

We're pregnant but are exploring all areas of parenting and want to know what other parents do to stimulate their babies or if most people wait til toddler age?

Answer
As a newborn, they will really just sleep most places you go. As they hit about 6 months, they become both much more alert, and much easier to carry around, in my opinion (once they are sitting unsupported they can go in a backpack or sit on your hip in a sling). So around 6-7 months was when I started taking my dd places just because she might have fun there.

There are a couple things you have to remember with baby outings. The first is that your baby will probably only be able to be happily awake for a few hours w/o feedings and/or a nap (some babies nap well on the go, others don't). So for any longer excursion, you have to make sure you plan in stops/time for these things. Babies also usually have a pretty short attention span, so the best outings are ones where enough is going on to keep them interested, but not enough to by totally overwhelmign (like very loud or very crowded. I have found my dd does much better in overload situations when she is close to me in the sling, as opposed to in a backpack, in the shopping cart, etc). The final thing to consider is that babies are more sensitive to environmental conditions - they should not spend a lot of time in the sun or in extreme temperature conditions, esp since before 6 months sunscreen is not recommended.

So that said, I have found the best outings to often to be ones that can be done in just a few hours, between naps. Often these are very mundane things. Babies LOVE animals, so a trip to a local petshop can be a favorite outing. We also go to the library's children room/story time - besides reading and getting books, babies LOVE seeing other children. Many areas have science centers with special corners for young chilidren. My dd also enjoys the pool, going on hikes or walks (something we did since she was very young), going to the playground, and actually even going on errands (lots of people to see).

As far as the things you mention, amusement parks are overwhelming for young children usually, and while they like the beach, a few hours out in the sun is probalby enough at that age (plus you would need a ton of gear to keep the sand/salt/sun off). babies are pretty indifferent to things like museums - they would probably enjoy the people, its just a question of how bad you would feel if she was loud (babies are pretty unpredictable). So I guess my overall recommendation is to keep it short and local most of the time, while they are young. Longer expeditions like camping or the beach are possible, but tend to take a lot of planning, packing and vigilance, so most people only do day trips occasionally.

Of course there are tons of things you can do with your infant in your own house as well.

Any opinions about baby backpacks and stroller systems?

army_siste

I don't have a baby yet but I might in the future. My question is about baby backpacks and strollers. Snuggli is one backpack I have seen. How useful are they? I saw one that said it could be used in the front for a small baby and on the back for a larger one up to 27 pounds. Are they comfortable and easy to get on and off? My concern was would my back start hurting after awhile? I have also seen some that have a metal frame that goes on the back? It looks kind of like the old hiking backpacks. Has anyone used that type? Is the soft Snuggli type better than the metal frame type?
On to strollers. I see alot of the stroller systems that come with the carseat carriers. Does anyone have an opinion whether they think the type that holds a carseat is better than just a regular stroller? I can see the benefits of both types. I would be a busy mom who be going on lots of walks and would also need to have one that would fold up nicely for the trunk of the car.Any other must haves for a baby?

Answer
Baby backpacks: I liked them okay. My husband loved ours. He would carry our daughter around all the time. They get in the way if you're trying to do something (and you really can't bend over) but they're nice for walking around and shopping if you don't want a stroller.
Stroller: Get one with a car seat carrier. They are so nice. You have to have a car seat anyway so why not get one that can snap onto your stroller. Its good for an infant because you know their head is protected in the carseat and you can see them at all times because you put the carseat on facing you in the stroller. Also, when your child is too big for the car seat, you can just use the stroller as a regular stroller. We have a 17 month old and have both kinds. Both fit into our trunk nicely. Our Jeep stroller (which is for older kids kind of a more expensive umbrella stroller) is great for going to the store. Her other stroller is nice if he needs a nap because she can lay down in it. Other things to have are a bouncy seat, a swing (our daughter absolutely loved hers), and for hen s/he can walk a stationary set so s/he can stand and play at the same time. We also liked our jumparoo but some people say they're bad for kids' legs. There are many good things for a baby, but it's all about what's good for you and your baby.

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How much do framed baby backpacks support?

best baby backpack for hiking image

rainwriter

I'm looking at getting a metal framed hiking type back pack. What is the upper weight/age limit to these? Here's the one I'm looking at getting. http://eastidaho.craigslist.org/bab/796313648.html Are these too big for toddlers?

Answer
they only go to 25 pds. Why don't you look at the ERGO carrier, those metal frames are horrible for you back! The ergo is great and comfy I use it all the time

What's the best way to prevent blisters on your feet while hiking?

dcsportbik

Getting ready to hike down (and up) the Grand Canyon and don't want to run the risk of any blisters on my feet. Any clever ideas as to how to prevent them from occuring?

Answer
I have done a lot of Grand Canyon hiking and have experimented with a number of blister prevention techniques. This is one of those areas with a lot approaches and everybody seems to have their favorite.

I personally have had the best luck with putting Spyroflex blister pads on the most likely spots before I start hiking. Spyroflex pads are a very thin membrane sheet (similar to the latex part of a bandaid) that stays on pretty well, can last for several days and is waterproof. Spenco sells a very similar item called Second Skin. Both can be found at REI and most outdoors type stores. Make sure your foot is dry and clean before you put them on and ensure that you get it on as flat as possible with no wrinkles. I did a two week backpacking trip using those and was the only in my group to not get a single blister.

The main thing is that you want a covering that is very thin and will stay in place (duct tape and athletic tape can also be used, but the above Spyroflex and Second Skin allow your skin to breath better). I have never had much luck with Moleskin or similar 'padded' products as they always seem to instantly get pulled off and stuck to my sock within a mile.

Other techniques which I have tried (and others that I know swear by) including putting a bit of baby powder in your sock (seems to work, but can be messy) and wearing a smaller liner sock inside your main sock (I always ended up feeling like my feet were suffocating even in cool weather).

As others above have mentioned, probably the most important thing is that you want to make sure that you have boots that fit you properly and are well broken in (and your feet are used to) before you start. This can eliminate a lot of blister and soreness problems before they even start.

Also, as soon as you start to feel any sort of friction or a place where a blister might be forming (a 'hot spot') you should stop and take care of it (put some sort of pad or protection on the area) immedately - don't wait until you have a full fledged blister before you do something about it.

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