You want your little guy or gal to love skiing like you do? I did. You can get them up and going sooner than you would think with a few modifications. Everyone does this a little differently so here is just one take on it.

There are only two rules: Have fun and be safe.

We put our daughter Eva up on skis at around 18 months but honestly it wasn’t her thing. We used strap onto shoe skis for her tiny feet and I honestly found them too slippery and wouldn’t recommend them for more than just getting used to walking around with something on your feet which is what we used them for.

I have found that 2 is a GREAT age to learn. Her skis and boots are honestly a little big but our thought was always “it’s not like she’s going to be power turning”.

Dressing for success

Bundle that kid up! We like base layers like Ella’s Wool, a pair of generic fleece footed jammies, ski socks, a down coat, and a waterproof one piece like Oakiwear or Tuffo. We add or subtract layers as the weather changes. We have tried a few different mittens but overall prefer the Veyo Mittyz because they go on and stay on well while keeping hands warm with no thumb in the hole battle! Any goggles if your kid will wear them and most importantly a helmet! I also wear a helmet. Look around for used skis and boots on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or local ski swaps, they are all over and much cheaper.

Step by step

1. When you get your kiddo up on the hill let them walk around in their ski boots. Then pop on the skis and let them practice shuffling around in them on flat terrain.

2. Attach an edgie wedgie (a small connector at the front of their skis that stops them from spreading apart) and let them start sliding down a very gentle slope, maybe a foot or two to start. I let them shuffle forward until they start to slide so they have to balance themselves and I position myself to catch them so they feel confident.

3. After they can get started and slide I start working on what we call “BIG SKIS!!” But most people call pizza. I can’t see myself yelling pizza at a kid on the hill and she seemed to understand big skis a little better so it’s what stuck. On flat again position their feet in a wedge. Have them practice standing on flat and pushing legs apart. Then go back to the almost imperceptible hill and have them practice there also with you below them.

4. Next pop on your own skis and go to the magic carpet (conveyor belt or other beginner beginner area with barely there hill). Practice sliding down and stopping hard before they even get going too fast just so they get the feel of it. If they are not solid with this skill and feel panicked you can ski backwards in a wedge in front of them and have them practice with you as a backup safeguard.

5. Getting on the magic carpet: Position yourself at the on-ramp and have them straight skis slide on and stand still. I make sure knees are bent so they can absorb the shock of it inevitably stopping and starting as kids fall getting on/off.

6. Getting off the magic carpet: Have them keep skis straight and slide off knees bent. I just let them do it themselves so they don’t depend on you helping them each time.

7. Start to get them doing turns by having them ski down that imperceptible slope and just calling them over to you from one side. Out of the 4 two-year-olds I have taught they all lean into the turn and turn without realizing they are initiating it! (So much easier than teaching adults) some kids respond well to you in a backwards wedge calling them over from two or so feet away and some kids prefer when you have your skis off and are in boots. Either way I tend to call them and say “come and get me!! Catch me!!! Can you get me??? Here he/she comes!” And make it a game. Practice here until you are confident they can turn and stop.

8. Getting on the beginner lift. Follow lift instructions for your own area. A lot of them I have seen have a bar between the two seats. If this is the case the lift operator will sometimes help by stopping the lift or boosting them up. Be prepared to push them back into the seat and I always hold them there. We are clear there is no messing around on the lift and no turning/squirming.

9. Getting off. I typically have the kiddo lean forward at the last minute holding my arm with two hands and have them slide onto the landing zone at the top of the lift. They keep holding and sliding next to me while I am slightly bent down until we are clear of the lift.

10. There is typically a big jump from the slope to the lift bunny hill for some reason. It’s frustrating for kids. Keep it fun! I always slide backwards in front of a two-year-old when introducing them to the bunny hill. Take it easy and work in a traverse. Play “come and get me” as you work your way down the hill. Most kids have a harder time and this first run (or 3) have been a place for extra treats, loves etc. try to keep it light.

Eventually you can try different green hills and terrain like small kickers or cat tracks.

Time on the hill

We have a lot of tiny treats on hand, make sure your kid can manage these obviously before they get on the hill and that their mouth is empty before you start sliding again! We started out taking a break EVERY run down for hot chocolate or something else. This is ALL brand new for them and the bottom line is you want it to be fun and safe. Some days we get hours of skiing out of a kid and some days only one run, we let their attitude be our guide which can mean a long trip up and down for 30min on the hill sometimes. I do not like ski trainer harnesses because I have seen it teach kids to sit in the back seat and/or not ski responsibly. Parents can use this to have kids ski terrain beyond their ski level which is simply not what I wanted to do. I also don’t love skiing with kids between legs because it can make them into rag dolls, limp in your arms and not learning to control their own skis. That being said I have done it a few times which my own daughter when she didn’t feel motivated to ski the basic slope, she always needs to see the end goal. I have also done it with a friend’s kid who panicked at the top of the bunny hill and couldn’t/wouldn’t go down. Both the leash and between the legs skiing are well liked by some parents and of that works for you, great! Kids are all so different and you have to adapt to what they will work with.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to be a professional ski instructor or that every two-year-old is ready to ski. Skiing is a dangerous activity as is riding the lift. Please only put your child in a situation you feel comfortable with and ask for help from a professional if you are not a confident skier. Follow all rules at your own ski area. How I taught these kids involves skiing backwards, please be confident in this before attempting to do it with a child. We Found Adventure and I are not responsible for any injury you, your child or anyone else while skiing. Ski with caution.

The answer is a pretty simple one. They nap wherever we happen to be and during whatever we happen to be doing. I am giving the caveat that we created two tiny humans who are pretty good sleepers in general.

Here are my tips on getting kids to nap while out adventuring.

Be Flexible

This is the most important piece of advice I would give any parent, new or old. Sleep is, in my opinion, one of the single most stressful aspects of parenting new babies and toddlers. Daily happiness seems to rely on when, where, and how long a nap lasts. We live a pretty regimented, scheduled life when at home getting through our week. However, when it comes time to hit the road, or the trail, we toss most of our schedule out the window. The only times we try to absolutely maintain are mealtimes. We have found that a hangry child is more difficult to deal with than a sleepy one.

Camp furniture from left to right: Helinox mini, IKEA stool, Portable booster

Read the Signs

Our kids are going to tell us when they are tired, no matter their age. Be present with them and listen and know when might be the time that a nap is needed before a complete meltdown ensues. For example, when out on an extended hike your strong-willed toddler is insisting on walking but is stumbling, stopping, and pitifully crying with more and more frequency, now is the time to get them in the carrier and get them asleep. One rule we have instigated on hikes is “snacks only happen in the pack”. Obviously this wouldn’t work for an older child but for toddlers who are still more than carriable this rule is golden when miles need to be covered.

Once they’re in, just be cool and don’t let them notice that they’ve played right into your plan or they’ll sense your weakness and demand to get out. This is usually when the singing starts. As the snack starts to end they’ll be so happy with their full tummy, the bouncy cadence in the pack, and joining in on the 15th round of ‘The Ants Go Marching’ that they won’t even notice when their little noggins begin to sway and eventually drop completely into a nap that every adult hiker we pass is immeasurably jealous of. Pro tip: If you are using a frame carrier that has a sunshade, put it up to give them a, somewhat, darker, more cozy atmosphere.

The Osprey Poco series of carriers all come with built in sun shades.

Now’s your chance! Make up lost miles, cover the ground needed and, whatever you do, DON’T STOP! If you stop, they will wake up. You have been warned.

If using a soft structured carrier (SSC) don’t jump the gun too early and put the hood up too soon or they’ll catch on and the nap may not happen. Let them get pretty sleepy or even close to sleep before you pop that bad boy into place.

Bring it to the Campsite

Truly living the napping while adventuring dream is having the extra time to return to your campsite and putting them into the tent to nap. LOTS of stars must align in order for this magical unicorn to occur.

Step 1. The weather must be perfect not too hot and, ideally not too sunny. The worst possible case is the horrific midwest combination of extreme heat and rain at the same time. Naps, or even sleeping, in the tent is basically impossible and you should just give up. A slight breeze is wonderful for a warmer, sunny day as you can remove the rainfly and let them snooze.

Step 2. Follow the same bedtime routine you’ve perfected at home and implement it in the tent.

Step 3. Know your child, will they sleep better with you present or with you gone and appropriately position your body.

Step 4. If you have removed yourself from the tent and the rainfly of the tent has been removed to ensure the perfect temperature has been reached you now need to be crafty so as to place yourself, and others camping with you, in places around, or near the campsite, that are still within a safe range of your tent but out of the line of the sight of the potential napper.

Step 5. Congratulations, you’ve reached nirvana and have a child completely asleep in your tent and now you can read that novel you need to read for your next book club meeting. No watching the movie for you this time, you actually get to enjoy silence and a book. Unless you have an older child who no longer naps and now is demanding your undivided attention.

Exhaust Them

As caregiver to your child it’s your responsibility to wear your small children out as much as humanly possible to ensure a nap is taken or bedtime isn’t as torturous as it could be. The longer the trip we are on, the longer the naps and the easier the bedtimes. I have (and boast regularly about it) gotten not one but, TWO kids to sleep in my lap in a canoe. I didn’t do it just one day but TWO days in a row. For reals, we’d been traveling for over a week and we were all exhausted. That meant easy naps and short bedtimes because they needed it just as much as we did!

Never Say Never

Often, as parents, we approach situations having preconceived ideas about what our children are capable of. So many times I think “She can’t do that.” “He won’t cooperate with that.” Push these thoughts aside and just see what happens. I truly think you will be surprised by what your children are capable of and all the strange places and positions in which they can sleep.

Slept for 2 hours on the floor of a ski chalet.

Bugs are a major concern in many locations; spiders, ticks, mosquitos, no see ums, black flies, midges, honestly this list goes on and on. So, the underlying question to all of this is how do we properly prepare  our children and ourselves for buggy days in the outdoors? We have developed a pretty simple system for keeping both adults and children relatively bug-free and happy.

Bug Repellent

After years of living in Washington state where the bugs aren’t generally an issue (although there was that one backpacking trip…. but, that’s another story) we ventured off on our first return camping trip here in Minnesota. We drove 5 hours up to the primitive Sawbill campground for some much needed northern air. We stepped out of our vehicle, ready to soak in the fresh air when a swarm of winged black ants descended upon us like angry vultures. They were harmless but, super annoying. We hadn’t bought bug spray in years so, naturally, had none with us at the time. Thankfully, Sawbill Outfitters is a short walk from the campground and we were able to peruse their small store and the broad selection of bug sprays therein.

Our son, Jack, was 9 months old at the time. He was a new crawler and a perpetual thumb-sucker. The notorious Deet-filled bug sprays made us nervous and we opted for Off’s brand of “All Natural” bug repellent. We coated our clothing and hats in the spray and hoped for the best. Shockingly it worked! Sadly, it stopped working about 5 minutes later. Our hats were soon damp as we continuously applied layer after layer of the spray.

Our fear of using Deet had us trying various types of all-natural bug sprays from Babyganics to a lavender essential oil (a smell that, I will admit and endure your scorn, I HATE!). Nothing worked longer than a few minutes.

Before venturing into prime biting insect territory, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA), home to at least six various species of biting insects, we met with our pediatrician and inquired about appropriate bug repellents for young toddlers. She informed us that 30% or less Deet bug repellents were safe to use however, she understood our concerns and agreed that she personally avoids it and recommended Picardin lotion. We have found that Sawyer’s Picardin lotion works very well, isn’t too greasy, is not in an aerosol can, and is a more natural option than Deet.

Pre-treated clothing

We started to notice more and more performance attire was coming pretreated with insect repellent and decided to investigate further. We soon learned that we didn’t have to replace our whole adventure wardrobe but that we could buy a spray bottle of Permethrin and treat the clothing we already had. The spray is colorless, odorless, and has no negative side effects on the clothing being treated. We have treated both wool and synthetic clothes and have noticed no change in the quality of the materials. Our favorite base layers are from Wee Woollies, these light-weight (not to mention adorable) merino wool clothes fit infants to young children. The long sleeves and pants are comfortable to wear on hot, long days in the canoe and chilly nights in the tent. An added bonus of the full coverage of these beautifully made clothing is the protection from the sun they offer. Only needing to apply sunscreen to faces and hands on a squirming, exploring toddler is a huge benefit of these clothes.

We tested pre-treating our clothing for the first time back in 2016 for our family’s first trip into the BWCA. We knew it worked well because, in true parent fashion, we only had time to treat a handful of clothing and opted to treat Jack’s clothes. We were there over the 4th of July weekend and the horse flies were out. Jack was bite free, save for a spot on his foot that wasn’t covered by his water sandals while we were in the canoe. We, on the other hand, were spotted with welt-sized bites. I actually have scars on my foot and arm from this trip.

From that trip on we have pretreated all our clothing, hats included, and have had incredibly smooth sailing. One of the nice things about the pretreatment option is that it continues to work for six weeks or six washings. That’s basically the length of Minnesota summers (or that’s what it feels like…) so we’re set with only a couple of treatments a year. Not needing to force the kiddos to apply both sunscreen and bug repellent is a serious game changer!

Dressing for success

One of the key elements to a happy trip in bug country is having the proper clothing on. The more exposed skin you have, the more likely you are to miss a spot with any bug repellent which will result in a bite. Wearing long sleeves and long pants that have been pre-treated is a sure way to deter those pesky pinchers. This is especially true in tick country. Wearing tall socks, if you’re a serious shorts person, and a hat will all help, not only with bug bite prevention but also protecting skin from the strong summer sun.

How do you wear long sleeves and long pants in the summer without suffering heat stroke you ask? Easy breezy! Buy appropriate base layers for the whole family! Merino wool works amazing and is antimicrobial which helps keep BO at bay. Wool is expensive so synthetic, polyester blends also work really well and can be found at most stores. Brands like Patagonia do make child-specific base layers which work super well. We use both wool and synthetic long sleeved, long pant, base layers on both our children and have never had an issue overheating. We’ve been at 4,000 feet in full sun on an 80 degree day and the kids were comfortable.

We encourage the use of hats that have flaps down the ears and neck so that the majority of any skin is covered by treated materials. We love Sunday Afternoon’s Kids Explorer hat, they are adjustable so they last for years and grow with the child. This style of hat also has a chin strap which makes it slightly more challenging for kids to rip off.

We also have mosquito head nets along for emergency, panic-ridden, bug-infested times. We practice at home with them and the kids, trying to play games and act silly to ensure the kids are familiar and comfortable with them. I’m still not sure if they would ever voluntarily put them on and hope I never have to find out!

An easy way to protect the entire family on a trip is to hunker down in a screen tent. We love our Nemo Bugout Shelter (we use the 9×9 for groups smaller than 5 and the 12×12 for larger groups) as it packs down relatively small for canoe camping and is quick and easy to set up between a couple of trees. Also, pay attention to when bugs are the worst by time of year and time of day. We have learned that backpacking in early Spring here in Minnesota is best to avoid the mosquitos in June and July. On trips to the Boundary Waters we hunker down in our tent at dusk, as that’s when the mosquitos are the worst.

Nemo Bugout Shelter in the Boundary Waters

So, you’ve been bitten by a bug, what now?

Itchy bug bites can be a nuisance and cause distress in the younger (and older) members of any adventure group. Common products to use include AfterBite, Benadryl Itch Relief Stick, Hydrocortisone, and Chamomile lotion. Different skin types will react differently to various bites. My advice is always to test out products before trips into the backcountry so only the most necessary items make their way into a first aid kit. We have found that Hydrocortisone works wonders on both our kids for rashes, eczema patches, and bites so it’s a nice option for us as it has multiple uses.

Our son, Jack, has seasonal allergies that he takes an antihistamine for that has the happy by-product of easing those pesky bug bites for him. When he gets bitten he often swells up and has really intense itching. With the help of his liquid Zyrtec taken daily bug bites are barely visible.

Some children (and adults) react very strongly to bug bites and a visit to a doctor might be in order for a stronger, steroid ointment to reduce swelling and itching.

Concerns around tick-born illness are huge here in Minnesota and other areas. Bobby and I have both had Lyme Disease twice and understand, firsthand, why we want to do everything in our power to prevent our kids from getting it. The CDC recommends the use of Picardin and Permethrin, as we mentioned above, to help prevent Lyme Disease. Thorough tick checks are incredibly important. Every single night tick checks should be performed on each person. Look over the entire body and be sure to have a very fine-tipped tweezers along  to ensure the removal of a tick is successful. If ticks are removed from the body within 24 hours of attaching, the chance of getting Lyme Disease is small. Thankfully, babies are the easiest to spot ticks on as diaper changes, lack of body hair, and often, bald heads make tick checks super easy!

Not all species of ticks carry disease and there are a variety of tick-borne illnesses depending on where you live. We recommend researching the ticks and diseases in the area you live or wherever you’re traveling in order to identify any ticks you find and help you know what symptoms to look out for in case you are bit. Here in Minnesota we keep an eye out for Deer ticks (aka Blacklegged ticks) which can be extremely small (sometimes they just look like a speck of dirt!). Deer ticks in Minnesota can carry Lyme disease along with other diseases while the more common and typically larger Wood tick (aka American dog tick) are relatively harmless here. The University of Minnesota is a good resource on Minnesota ticks.

Avoid the gimmicks

We got super excited when the Thermacell Backpacker came out. It’s a supposed mosquito repeller that attaches to a fuel canister and keeps mosquitos away at a range of 15 feet. Since the price tag was steep at $40 we opted to give it to Grandpa for his birthday. He brought it along on a 6 day trip across the BWCA with us in 2017 and when the bugs came out, he fired it up and we watched as mosquitos landed on it without a care in the world and the swarms continued… Maybe it works on other breeds of mosquitos? All I know is, be wary of gimmicks and be sure to post questions in hiking groups, regionally specific to where you’ll be visiting, before investing in a supposed miracle solution to these blood-sucking thieves.

A bug-filled trip can be exhausting and panic-inducing. Do your best to prepare yourselves and all members of a group that bugs happen, even if we really don’t like them. I was deathly afraid of ticks and spiders as a child. The more I was exposed to them as a young adult; the more comfortable I became around them. Reminding yourself that they are a part of our ecosystem (spiders do kill mosquitoes after all!) can help prevent parents from passing along preconceived fears. We went through a phase with Jack last year where he was afraid of the tiniest ant. Days, weeks, and months of repetitive conversations about accepting all living creatures and we finally seem to be on a healthier path towards bug acceptance and tolerance.

Download our printable day hike checklist

Jack at 5 weeks old when we each used to carry a day pack because we packed so much!

Our 12 Essentials for Hiking Regardless of Age

• Water – Hydration Bladders or water bottles, just be sure to have plenty for everybody regardless of age. If you’re on a trail which has access to lakes, streams, or rivers and you’re concerned that you might not have enough water, then bring along a filter. The Sawyer Mini is great, especially as an emergency backup, due to it’s small size and lightweight design.

Staying hydrated while in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

• Snacks – High calorie, easy to pack, easy to spot when dropped food choices are your best bet.

Eating a Larabar in the BWCA

• Rain Gear – Staying dry is very important for adults and toddlers. Baby rain gear doesn’t really exist so when we have an infant in a front carrier we just zip our own raincoats up and over them and hold an umbrella over both of us. For toddlers check out Oakiwear’s awesome products! We especially like their Trail Rain Suit. This can be bought in a much larger size and worn for longer thanks to the velcro around the ankles and wrists.

A must-have rainsuit for all your puddle jumping needs!

• Sunscreen – We love Babyganics sunscreen and use it on the whole family. At SPF 50, it’s strong and blends in nicely without leaving an oily residue on your skin.
• Warm Layers – Important for the whole family. Everybody should have a warmer layer available should the weather change rapidly, or should you find yourselves caught out after dark.

Keeping warm while out in the Cascade Mountains in November

• Lighter – Having a way to start a fire in an emergency is really important. Bringing along a lighter is a light-weight way of insuring you have fire at your fingertips should the need arise.
• Knife – A useful multi-tool should always be brought along. It’s important to always plan for the best, but prepare for the worst and having a multi-tool along can help you do just that.
• First Aid Kit – When out on an urban stroll I’ll just pack a few bandaids, infant Tylenol, and maybe some Neosporin. When venturing further into the wilderness I bring along my beefy first aid kit with everything from burn ointment, to a splint, to an instant cold pack, to large gauze pads. I also, always make sure to have Afterbite or Hydrocortisone cream along for the welt-sized bug bites that our guy endures all summer long. Just be prepared!
• Compass and Map – It’s important to have a compass and map along (and know how to use them) when entering any sort of wilderness area where trails can be tricky to follow, especially in inclement weather or snow! You may even consider downloading a GPS app, like GAIA GPS (iOS and Android) onto your phone. I cannot tell you how many times this app has saved our butts on land and water.

Navigating!

• Headlamp – Should you find yourselves out after dark having a light source will be key in getting out safely.
• Emergency Blankets – Again, if things go south having an emergency blanket along to keep yourselves, or an injured hiker warm is huge.

Day Pack with a Baby

• Diapers – Bring along a lot of diapers, as we all know infants are notorious for their diaper fiascos so being well prepared could mean the difference between a long and a short day out on the trail.
• Wipes – Lots and lots of wipes, should a diaper disaster or well aimed spit-up event occur. Target stores have great travel-sized item sections where you can get smaller packs of wipes to keep weight down.
• Hand Sanitizer – After a diaper change having something to clean your hands with is greatly appreciated!
• Diaper Cream – Having along a solid diaper cream to slather on your little one’s rump is key. Our guy can get pretty sweaty which can cause a heat rash and/or a diaper rash. Also, most infants will be sitting in the carrier all day so making sure they are as comfortable as possible during that time is very important.
• Changing Pad – We love our JJ Cole changing pad. The attached pocket for storing diapers and wipes is really nice, it’s very compact, and the handle is great. Keeping baby off the ground while changing helps to keep them clean which helps to prevent diaper rash.

Keeping jack somewhat clean on a change while hiking in WA.

• Change of Clothes for Everybody – We bring along 3 extra baby outfits when we have an infant along, and we often go through them all. We also bring along extra shirts for ourselves, as we are often victims of collateral damage during extreme diaper events.
• Dirty Diaper Bags – Just brining along some scented dog poo baggies is a great way to pack out any foul smelling diapers that you need to.
• Dirty Clothes Bag – I use a cloth bag that has a drawstring on top for packing out soiled clothing. When I get home I can throw the whole thing right in the wash, works great!
• Umbrella – Infants aren’t supposed to wear sunscreen so keeping them protected from the sun is important. An umbrella is an incredibly easy and effective way to do this. It can also double as a sun-shade if you need to change your baby in the sun.

Keeping Jack dry at 5 weeks old on a trip into the Alpine Wilderness in WA

• Blanket – In case they get cold, or you need to protect their legs from the sun, or they need some tummy time out of the carrier. It’s always a good idea to have a blanket along.

During a really windy day on the trail in winter the fleece blanket we had brought along kept Jack snug as a bug while we ate lunch.

• Bottles – if using formula, be sure to pack along extra bottles, nipples, or anything else you may need, including a backpacking stove to heat the bottle with if you need it.

Day Pack with a Toddler

• Diapers – Probably won’t need as many as you did with an infant, so just a few need to be brought along.
• Wipes – Not as many are needed as when your child was an infant but a small travel pack should be brought.
• Hand Sanitizer – Nice for adults following diaper changes and really helpful for your little explorers before snack or meal times or if they should get into anything unpleasant along the trail.
• Dirty Diaper Bags – Again, a roll of dog poo bags does beautifully.
• Diaper Cream – Still just as important as it was for your infant. You really don’t want your kiddo to get a diaper rash and this is an easy way to prevent it.
• Changing Pad – Even with toddlers it’s important to keep them as clean as possible while changing their diapers in the dirt. Anything can really work as a changing pad, a rain jacket, a life jacket, anything to keep them off the ground, preventing them from kicking dirt and duff into their diapers.
• Extra Socks – Having an extra pair of socks on hand is important for those pesky muddy puddles along trails that most toddlers can’t resist jumping in. You don’t want your tyke hiking in wet socks, which can cause blisters and discomfort for them and has the potential to cut your day short.
• Change of Clothes – The concern is less about diaper fiascos, but mud and water are more of a concern. Keeping kiddos dry during a hike is imperative for a successful full length day on the trail.
• Sunhat – We love Sunday Afternoon Hats for our toddler. The chin strap prevents younger kiddos from pulling it off their heads and the adjustable strap on the back of the head means that it can be worn for several seasons. Jack has been in his beloved Explorers cap for over a year now and it’s still going strong and has plenty of room for growth.

Jack rocking his Sunday Afternoon Explorers hat while exploring atop Miner’s Mountain.

• Bug Spray – Being in Minnesota bringing bug spray along is imperative. Because Jack is a thumb sucker we don’t feel comfortable using Deet-based sprays. Though our pediatrician has said it’s ok to do so if it contains 30% Deet or less. Instead we opt for an all natural bug repellent from Babyganics. This does well in slightly bug-infested areas but doesn’t stand up to swarms of Minnesota’s notorious mosquitos. When facing that situation, we dress Jack in lightweight, long sleeves and pant base layers that we’ve pre-treated with Swayer’s Permethrin spray. (Merino wool or synthetic base layers will protect them from the sun, but are also breathable and wick moisture to keep them comfortable on warmer days.)  Permethrin works for 6 weeks or 6 washings and stood up to black flies and mosquitos during a 3 day trip to the BWCA in July. We were covered in bites while Jack only had one on his foot after three straight days outside.

We keep a small day pack ready to go, so, when we want to go hiking we can just grab it and know we have everything we need. Plus, having less to prepare makes it more likely you’ll get out the door! As time goes on you will figure out your own list of hiking essentials to bring along on all of your adventures. I hope this list is helpful in planning and prepping for wonderful adventures with your kids along for the fun!

Download our printable day hike checklist

I’m happy to say that Jack loves to read and will happily sit and read through 10-15 books at a time regardless of length. The book bag I pack for road trips is impressively (and obnoxiously) heavy but I know they will all get read while out exploring.

Listed below, in no particular order, are our favorite books about the outdoors that we believe help children become avid adventurers.

The Bear and Friends Book Collection

These books now cover a myriad of topics but our two favorites are, The Bear Snores On and The Bear Wants More!! The rhyming and the word usage are fun for adult and child. I could probably recite these books by heart at the drop of a hat, they are so favored in our household. These books have become staples on all camping trips for bedtime stories!

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?

There are many books in this incredible series by Bill Martin Jr. whose words are accompanied by the fantastic illustrations by Eric Carle but, Panda Bear, Panda Bear is by far our favorite! The ending of this book makes me tear up every time I read it. This is another book that we try and always take with us on camping trips. On a recent trip to the BWCA, when Jack was 23 months old, Bobby was reading this to him and asked Jack which of the animals in the book Jack had seen that day. Without hesitating Jack flipped through the pages until he found the page with the Bald Eagle on it and proudly said, “Bird!” He was right, we had watched a Bald Eagle soar over our canoe earlier in the day. This is a camping memory we won’t soon forget!

Where Would I Be in an Evergreen Tree

Written by Jennifer Blomgren and beautifully illustrated by Andrea Gabriel this book teaches fabulous lessons on some basics in Forest Ecology. Children will learn, through rhymes, the interconnectedness of our forests. One of my favorite lines, “A vast web of life where, when conifers fall, they don’t really die, but give new life to all.” This one is a bit longer, so, if your kiddo isn’t sitting still for longer books just yet, you may want to hold off.

The Tree in the Ancient Forest

We got this book for Jack on our first ever trip away from him while we were visiting Olympic National Park. This book builds upon itself and teaches children about all the animals, creatures, and plants that grow within, under, and on old growth trees. Definitely a fun one to learn about the tiny ecosystem that exists within one single tree!

Desert Night, Desert Day

I definitely splurged on this one when I found it at the gift shop at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico but, I was so glad I did! The hidden pictures illustrated by, Kenneth J. Spengler, that show images of what you just read about on the previous page and what is to come on the next are fun to search for. Not to mention looking for the quail that can be found on every page! This book is great to teach kids about just a few of the animals who call the desert their home while also teaching them good observation skills.

When We Go Camping

Beautiful paintings by Andrew Kiss grace the pages of this book written by Margriet Rurrs. This is a great book to read to kiddos before camping trips to help them prepare for what is coming. Especially if you are canoe camping, as that is what the kids in the book are doing! There are camouflaged animals painted into the spectacular scenes that are fun for children and adults to hunt for!

The Camping Trip That Changed America

This is a longer book and a bit more suited for preschool-aged children. But, it tells the important tale of the pivotal camping trip that John Muir took President Theodore Roosevelt on in 1903 that convinced the President to step in and save Yosemite and so many other parks and wilderness areas. The book teaches important historical lessons that help children understand why and how our lands would and should be protected. My favorite lines from this book are, “”How can I help?” asked the president. “Keep it wild,” Muir said, “and protect it forever.”

S is for Salmon: A Pacific Northwest Alphabet

We were given this book while pregnant with Jack when we were living in Seattle. The nostalgia for us with this book is strong seeing as Jack was born in the Pacific Northwest. But, it is also a great book with wonderful illustrations that teaches about a variety of animals, plants, and bugs! Who doesn’t love a good alphabet book after all?

One Grain of Sand

This book was put out by the Golden Gate Parks Conservancy. We picked our copy up in Acadia National Park in Maine last year. This book teaches how a grain of sand is formed beginning as a part of a mountain and then going through millions of years of erosion until it joins billions of other grains of sand to become a dune. We like this book because it’s a good reminder of how ancient our planet is and about the intricacy of creation for something as small of a grain of sand truly is. It makes you appreciate and cherish the natural world even more when you realize how hard mother nature has to work to create all her beauties.

We Planted a Tree

Jack was just given this book for his second birthday by a good hiking friend of ours and we are obsessed with it! It teaches the importance of trees to our communities and all the natural benefits that planting trees provides for us. It gives the child glimpses into trees and cultures around the world along the journey and is definitely a must-read!

This is a list of just 10 books that we love that involve the outdoors, there are so many left for us to discover and learn from! Let us know what your family’s favorite books are in the comment section below!

We get asked many questions about camping with babies so I’ll do my best to address our most frequently asked questions.

To read our tips for camping successfully with kids see our guest post on MinneMama Adventures

Hiking at 4 weeks

We dressed him in a ridiculous number of layers. Our packs bulged with outfits, diapers, ointments, first aid kits, extra layers, an umbrella, and loads of snacks and water. My pack didn’t fit me, my postpartum body was squishy and bulged in places it never had before. My hiking pants didn’t fit right. My shirts were tight. My nursing equipment was something I had to get used to working around with pack straps.

4 weeks postpartum with about 40+ extra pounds

Those first hikes were slow, I was out of shape, still healing, and an anxious first time mom. I knew all the while that I had to be outside, that WE had to be outside. I knew that it was important for my recovery and good for Jack and great for my husband. The cadence of our hikes changed. The type of hike we sought out changed. Less elevation gain and shorter hikes were what we looked for. Other hikers couldn’t believe we had such a little baby out on the trail. For us, parenting was terrifying no matter where we were. Going for a hike just meant we were figuring it all out while walking in a gorgeous setting, rather then sitting on the couch inside.

Heather Lake, WA

I nursed my son in the woods, on the shores of lakes, along the sides of trails. We changed diapers amongst the duff of the forest. He would get dirty. I would do my best to not let that bother me. The sun would come out, so would our trusty umbrella to cover our fair and vulnerable baby. If we stopped walking he would cry. He became my personal trainer, not allowing me to slack off on the trail.

Nursing at an empty campsite

Hiking became so much more meaningful. My husband and I would talk as our baby slept in the carrier. We reconnected. Our relationship stayed strong during those first difficult months, I’m convinced that was thanks to our regular hikes.

As our son grows, so do our miles and so do our challenges. My fears of suffocation in the carrier lessened and then disappeared without me realizing it. The dirt that would coat him following a hike didn’t have me cringing and worrying about a diaper rash, it had me beaming with pride. Soon we could use sunscreen and our umbrella was left behind. Our packs deflated as fewer outfits, diapers, wipes, and newborn worries faded into the past. I began packing him snacks, because he wasn’t nursing as much. Soon nursing was a thing of the past and I was packing three lunches. I found myself sitting on top of mountains with my son sitting next to me, eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Could he really be that big already?

Atop Stawamus Chief in BC

He stopped sleeping through hikes and began looking around. He was noticing his surroundings, pointing at what was around him. I soon realized that he was enjoying these hikes.

Bringing smiles to the trail since 2014

Suddenly I was out buying shoes for my 11 month old who was walking. Three days after his first birthday he was steady enough to walk with us on a morning stroll and I held the tears at bay as he walked 1/4 of a mile.

Hiking on his own!

My pack, pants, and shirts all fit me again and my nursing equipment is gone.

Challenges still exist for us on the trail but they change with every hike. We used to worry about blowouts, dehydration, and body temperature. Now we worry about tantrums, keeping him engaged, snack times, and being too loud.

We were recently on vacation in Squamish, BC where we embarked on a 14 mile hike and Jack had an all out tantrum. His (and our) first. This hike, Garibaldi Lake, is touted as the most popular trail in BC and it hadn’t disappointed, we had seen hundreds of people on the trail. We had stopped at the turnaround point, a breathtaking alpine lake, and Jack had been happily playing with a pile of rocks on the lake’s edge.

Happy with his new “toys”

It was time to go and that meant taking him away from his newfound toy. He was not having it and the screams came loudly and dramatically and everybody in a mile radius probably heard it. Normally when he makes a scene I don’t get too embarrassed because it happens to all kids. But, he was the ONLY baby we had seen all day on the trail and I felt very self conscience about the whole situation. I froze. I didn’t know what to do. I felt terrible. I felt as if we were ruining everybody’s day. We put him in the backpack, knowing he likes to be on the move and hoped that would settle him down. It didn’t. I finally lowered myself down, put my head to his and spoke quietly and calmly in his ear. I didn’t say much, just spoke quietly about how he had been so strong and brave all day and that he should calm down and take deep breaths. Somehow this miraculously worked. He calmed himself down, found his thumb and the tantrum was over.  He was happy as a clam as soon as we started moving again.

My embarrassment stayed with me and I worried what others had thought of the incident. We had been hiking with friends and the next day I found myself apologizing to them for the outburst. They stopped me. Told me that it really hadn’t been that bad and they had seen/experienced much worse. It’s hard to put into words how much I needed to hear that.

Tantrums are a new part of our hiking routine. Our independent son likes to walk and explore and find his own path. There are times when this behavior isn’t safe and, therefore, isn’t allowed. A tantrum ensues over having to hold my hand, get back in the carrier, or simply put down the overly sharp, pointy stick that could take out the eyeballs of everybody in a nearby radius. I still feel prickles of self consciousness seep in but do my best to shake them away. I remind myself that this tiny human being doesn’t know any better. Everyday he is learning. Everyday he is figuring out what he can and can’t do in this world. Some days these upsets are going to cause a scene and that’s OK. Every child goes through this whether it’s on the trail, in a store, or in the privacy of your own home. I have learned to deal with it the best I can. For my husband and I, we decided jointly to simply let Jack work it out on his own. He’s a thumb sucker so self-soothing is something he does well. A few moments of screaming and he usually finds his center.

Every day a hike or an outing may present a unique challenge. We do our best to deal with the situation with as much grace as we can but remember that at the end of the day our son is loved and therefore, we are succeeding as parents. I’ve decided to not worry about what others may think of our son’s actions. They are seeing a snapshot of our day and are in no position to judge. My fear of ruining everyone else’s day is silly. We are all outside, where, last time I checked, being loud is encouraged.

Our intrepid hiker.

To read our tips to successful hiking with kids see our guest post on MinneMama Adventures

The idea of taking an infant or young baby camping can be overwhelming and scary. Questions, concerns and “what ifs” may plague you as you set out to plan your first camping trip. When we were discussing taking our 6 week old baby on his first camping trip last September, I was very intimidated and overwhelmed by all of my concerns. I decided to look for some inspiration in guidebooks and blog posts. My go-to outdoor baby guidebook is Babes in the Woods: Hiking, Camping, & Boating with Babies and Young Children by Jennifer Aist. This has become my bible when planning or prepping for camping or hiking trips. It helped to answer all of my questions from sleeping to eating to preparing for bugs with my babies best interests in mind.

I also looked for inspiration from those who had gone before me. Social media is an incredible tool to find and follow people who have already successfully done what you hope to do in the future. Bobby and I follow a number of professional climbers one being Tommy Caldwell. He and his wife, Becca, had their first baby, Fitz, in 2013. Just seeing the pictures she posts to her instagram account of their little boy out in the woods helped to inspire me and ease some of the fears I had about spending an entire day and/or weekend outside with my precious baby boy.

2. Plan for the best but Prepare for the Worst – Always have a plan B

The first time we went on a camping trip with our son he was only 6 weeks old (see our post Jack’s First Camping Trip). We were really nervous about Jack staying warm enough and were wondering how much of our night would be full of screaming. We packed many layers and chose a campsite that was off by itself in the hopes of not bothering other campers too much. We also chose a campground that was close to a fairly large town that had many hotels that we could stay at if things went horribly in the night. I had checked nearby hotels to make sure that there was availability for the night we would be there.

Jack all bundled up in the night at 6 weeks old in the tent

When packing for trips I always have a ridiculous number of clothes, socks, hats, blankets, and warm layers. You never know what a day might bring with a baby. How many blowouts or bad spitups will there be. I know how many diapers Jack goes through on any given day but I always double it and bring lots of extras just in case. I also bring along a fresh package of wipes, all the diaper rash ointment I have, baby tylenol, and our trusty Nose Frida in case Jack comes down with a cold or a stuffy nose while we’re out on the trip. I also bring along baby soap, a washcloth, and a towel in case a bath is required. I don’t pack lightly. I’d hate to be out in the woods and having a successful camping trip but then having to pack it in and head home because I didn’t bring along enough spare outfits.

3. Stay in your comfort zone and listen to your instincts

I would highly recommend for a first time camper to head to a campground you know and are comfortable with. Chose one that has some nicer amenities, like flush toilets or a heated bathroom building. Stay somewhere you are comfortable. We had booked a site at a campground we are familiar with but when we got there we realized the site was far too close to Lake Superior and there was a strong breeze that had us cold at only 2:00 p.m. We returned to the visitor center and asked for a different site. While it was a beautiful spot we just didn’t feel that we would be comfortable camping in a location where we were worried about our sweet babe staying warm enough all night.

A mother’s and father’s instinct is so strong and should be listened to at all times. If any parent or guardian is feeling uncomfortable about any aspect of the situation stop a minute and discuss the issue. Are there any alternatives? Remember that if one person in the group is unhappy or uncomfortable it will affect the whole dynamic of the group. So, listen to each other, respect one another’s concerns, and come to a solution that everybody is comfortable with.

For example, when we were planning our first camping trip with our 6 week old I was very nervous about our tent setup. I have a lot of fears around SIDS and, therefore, safe sleep is extremely important to me. I worried about Jack being smothered by us, or by our 80 lb Golden Retriever. The tent we had wouldn’t be able to accommodate all of us and a pack n play and I didn’t feel at all comfortable having us sleeping in different tents. We decided that the best solution would be to go out and purchase a new tent that had two rooms and could easily fit all of us and all of the items we would be bringing along and needing throughout the night.

Our new Kingdom 4 tent that fit everything nicely!

4. Don’t Forget to Eat!

Jack is 9 months old and now when we camp I have to plan for his meals in a whole new way. When he was an infant and was strictly breastfeeding a day on the trail or in camp was incredibly easy when it came to meals. Now, we’ve entered a whole new ball game. First and foremost, don’t skimp on food when packing. Plan out your baby’s meals as closely as you would if you were spending your days at home but then add some extras. Just as you may eat more while camping, so might your baby. We always take the time to stop and have our meals at the times we would when we’re at home.

We try and follow our schedule for food as closely as possible when on the trail or in camp. Jack’s nap schedule usually goes haywire during an adventure but food, I feel, is more important. Also, offer your baby water (if they are drinking water) frequently to help prevent dehydration. When Jack was an infant and we would spend the day on the trail I would offer him more opportunities to nurse then usual to ensure he didn’t become dehydrated. Dehydration can happen if they are spending a lot of time outside if it’s warm and they are sweating a lot. This can easily happen if they are against you in a carrier all day long.

Nursing in the woods when Jack was 4 weeks old!

Jack is the type of baby that becomes really distracted when in a new environment which can make feeding times a bit more challenging. I do my best to stick with it, even if it means a longer break then we had originally anticipated/planned for. But having a full and hydrated baby means a happy and healthy baby!

Breakfast in the campsite!

Eating isn’t just important for your baby, it’s also really important for parents! Nursing mothers should pack loads of snacks and extra water, remember if you aren’t fed and hydrated your supply may decrease which will affect baby. Taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of baby. My husband frequently doesn’t eat right away when we are preparing to leave in the morning which means his day starts off with a headache, extreme hunger, and he’s pretty unhappy. It’s so important to stop, eat, take a breath, and relax. The campsite or trailhead will still be there even if you leave the house a little later then you had hoped for!

5. Have FUN!

This is the most important tip I can give to you! HAVE FUN! Remember that going camping with a baby is A LOT of work. But, trust me when I say that it will be the best camping trip you will ever have! Watching your baby explore and discover the outdoors is a truly magical experience. We feel so blessed to have this little human being who is going to learn about nature and life from us and the world around him. Playing with him in the tent, eating lunch on the shores of an alpine lake with him, or snuggling with him in a sleeping bag on a cold/rainy morning as everybody is still waking up are magical moments that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Happily hanging out with Mommy by the fire at 6 weeks.

Hiking in the Onya at 6 months.

Jack’s first summit at 7 months

We were both pretty concerned about Jack staying warm enough in the night, as he still can’t regulate his own body temperature. We ended up bringing several layering options to keep him warm while ensuring he could sleep safely. Bobby had bought him a Patagonia Snowsuit in case things got really cold, one of Bobby’s coworkers had just given us a Merino Kids winter sleep sack, and my sister had given us a Halo Micro Fleece sleep sack. I also brought along three pairs of fleece pajamas, three long sleeved onsies, two fleece hooded sweatshirts, multiple pairs of socks (for both feet and hands), and several hats. Seems like a lot for a single overnight but you never know how many blowouts you’ll be faced with. In general when we take Jack out for hikes we always have him in fleece pajamas with an undershirt on and that seems to keep him the perfect temperature on warm days so we hoped the additional layers we packed would be enough to keep our little bean warm for a whole weekend spent outside.

Saturday morning came and I had managed to pack most everything throughout the day on Friday while Jack napped. Now it was time to load the car. Bobby rushed around like a mad man trying to get everything crammed into the car. I fed jack and got him dressed for our weekend of adventure before helping Bobby. We made our first mistake of the weekend that morning. We thought it would be best to get out the door as fast as possible and that if we didn’t eat breakfast and just got breakfast on the road it would help save time. This meant that we were both stressed, sleepy, and hungry. Not a good combination. Parents remember to take care of your own personal needs because when one person is unhappy the whole family is. We were snapping at one another about the smallest things and we knew that food for everybody should be a priority from then on.

We left the house at a reasonable time, but had to go back for a forgotten item. We were officially on the road at 8:30 a.m. Jack, if following a feeding schedule of every 2 hours which he sometimes follows to the minute or sometimes goes longer or shorter, was due to eat in 30 minutes. We used to be really obsessive about planning outings around feeding times. Now, we are both much more relaxed about it and don’t even bother worrying about it. We’ve taken on the mindset that he’s going to need to eat when he’s going to need to eat and I can feed him pretty much anywhere so why worry about it! Jack ended up taking an epic morning nap, as he is sometimes want to do and we made it halfway to our end destination (the camping area we were headed to was about a 2.5 hour drive)! We needed to stop at a grocery store for a few last minute supplies so I fed Jack in the car in the parking lot of a Safeway and Bobby ran in to get the last few items we were lacking. We were soon back on the road and enjoying our long road trip while listening to our new favorite children’s music sung by the outdoorsy duo, The Okee Dokee Brothers! Seriously for all you parents out there check out this wonderful duos music! Their two most recent albums, “Can You Canoe” and “Through the Woods” are fun for both kids and adults and have great outdoor adventure themes!

We arrived in Leavenworth, WA just in time for lunch and all three of us were ready to eat. We found food at a Bratwurst stand and sat in the shade while munching. Jack was alert and happy throughout our visit to Leavenworth and working hard on supporting his own head!

So content on our visit to Leavenworth!

We didn’t linger long before heading out of town and down the nearby Icicle Canyon in search of a campsite for the night. We chose this particular area to camp in because of the plethora of hotels that can be found in the town of Leavenworth. We had both agreed that if we couldn’t keep Jack warm or if things just weren’t working we would wave the white flag and head for a hotel.

The first of four campgrounds along the Icicle Canyon is Eight Mile Campground, as soon as we entered we began to get nervous that we wouldn’t be able to find a site for the night when we saw a sign decked out in white balloons that read WEDDING!!! Sure enough Eight Mile was full. We continued along the canyon road and stopped at Bridge Creek Campground. Again, dread set in as more balloons and signs labeled the way to the reception for the wedding at Bridge Creek’s group site. We continued further down the canyon road until we came to lower Johnny Creek Campground.

We had stayed at lower Johnny Creek once before when I was 30 weeks pregnant. We found the perfect spot in the campground for our needs, it was large enough to fit our giant tent, close to a pit toilet, close to the creek and it was off by itself. The only downside was that it was fairly close to the road but that didn’t dampen our spirits. We were hopeful that the distance between our campsite and everybody else, coupled with the noise from the creek and road would drown out any of Jack’s screams and therefore not disturb or upset any of our fellow campers. We had planned on introducing ourselves to our neighbors had the sites been close together and just warn them of our new camper as a courtesy. We did read in another parenting blog that some people bring along earplugs to offer to their neighbors as a peace offering but we didn’t go that far.

Bobby set up the tent while I fed Jack.

Our home for the night!

Once Jack finished eating Bobby took him and I set up the bedrooms inside the tent.

Hanging out in the campsite while I got the tent set up

We were very happy with the layout.

Jack was clearly tired after having been awake for a couple of hours. We swaddled him in a sleep sack and put him down for a nap in his new Pack ‘n Play.

Afternoon nap in the tent!

We too were exhausted and both fell fast asleep. We decided that Jack must be growing because he took another epically long nap! Bobby and I woke up an hour later feeling very refreshed while Jack slept on for a bit longer before waking up hungry. Bobby went out and built a fire while I fed Jack in the tent and when we emerged we had a roaring hot fire to warm Jack up!

We found that cooking a meal in a campsite with an infant is tricky. Usually Bobby and I share the responsibilities of cooking in camp but we were down one cook as Jack was a bit fussy and wanted to be held. Bobby took the task of soothing our son as I grilled up burgers, fried some onions, and set the table with all the other fixings we had brought along.

As is my new habit I scarfed down my food as quickly as possible. Jack was calm enough to be okay sitting in the carseat while we ate as long as I rocked him. But, he was due to eat and his fussiness was increasing. We retired to the tent, leaving Bobby with the dishes, and Jack had a hearty dinner. Nursing in the tent was incredibly comfy! We were protected from the sun and the bugs rather nicely! Nursing in my camping chair is shockingly comfortable made even easier with the assistance of my trusty Boppy. The sun was setting and Bobby set up one of our headlamps in a high pocket of the tent to act as a small lantern inside.

Jack generally cluster feeds at night starting at 6:00 and going anywhere from 9:00-11:00. But he was not following his usual pattern. Instead he was fast asleep by 8:30 and we couldn’t wake him up enough to have him eat. We were worried how difficult the coming night would be… Bobby and I went to bed as well and were both soon sound asleep. Jack slept for 6 hours straight! We couldn’t believe it! He got up and ate at 2:00 a.m. and was once again fast asleep.

Feedings in the middle of the night gave Bobby a chance to practice his nighttime photography

He got up 2 hours later, ate and was asleep in no time flat and slept until 6:15 a.m. In our opinions the night couldn’t have gone better! We had ended up dressing him in a long sleeved onsie, socks, fleece pajamas, the Halo Micro Fleece sleep sack, the Merino Kids winter sleep sack, and 2 hats. While his little cheeks and nose were chilly his body, hands, and feet were nice and toasty.

Jack all bundled up in the night

I was surprised at how warm he stayed, I had gotten a bit cold in the night and had been waiting for him to wake up screaming and envisioning him and me moving to the car to sleep. I continually checked on him and he was always warm and happily sleeping.

Bobby got up and built a fire for us to warm up by while he cooked a delicious breakfast of blueberry pancakes and bacon while I tended to Jack.

Happily hanging out with Mommy by the fire!

He went down for his first nap of the day (generally an hour after his first feeding) without a problem and while Bobby ate I began cleaning up camp. Usually we eat an on the go breakfast and are out of campsites by 7:00 a.m. at the latest, eager to get to the site of our days adventures! This camping trip was very different! We left the campsite around 9:00 a.m. after our leisurely  breakfast and a couple of feedings for Jack. Camping with an infant reminded me a lot of camping with my family as a child and I was rather happy with the change of pace!

He LOVES camping!

Overall we couldn’t have been more pleased with how well this first camping trip went! We were both pretty intimidated by the idea of camping with an infant but we were determined to do it! The weather, the campsite, and Jack’s mood all worked out shockingly well. The drive home was a period of reflection for us as our beautiful baby boy snoozed away and we found ourselves with big grins on our faces as we discussed how unbelievably well the whole weekend went. We know they won’t all go so well and are just trying to enjoy the moment of how well things have gone thus far.

For more photos check out our Facebook Page!

We did go for a beautiful hike on Sunday. Check it out – Bean Creek Bain