It can be rather annoying when you're starting out hiking with young ones and all the advice you seem to find is "just go" or "just get out there" when you desperately need specifics, right? I can relate. It can be really intimidating no matter how prepared you feel, though. Even as an experienced hiker, it felt like a completely different experience when I attempted to bring multiple kids, especially young twins, along. Here's a few things that really helped me. I promise though, just keep trying and eventually you'll find a groove that works for you.
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Research local trails, close to home. There is no need to plan a great adventure for your first outing. Keep it close. Keep it simple.
Plan out your hike at least the day prior. This ties into my first point. Find a trail that fits your comfort level. You might have to ask some friends, check local facebook groups, google, or one of my favorite ways to find trails, through alltrails.com or the alltrails app. Here you can look at trails filtered by distance to home, distance of trail, difficulty level, and more.
Pack the night before or at least before your kids wake up. That way you can just grab a quick breakfast and head out. I found this works well for us because most of my favorite kid-friendly trails are at least 45 minutes from home. If you are planning an easy afternoon hike then get packed up while kiddos are having lunch or napping.
Try and meet up with someone else. Sometimes having even just one other person there helps "break the ice" on your first few hikes. If you can find another mom to tag along with their kids that's even better.
Keep in mind your kids ages and stamina. Babies and young toddlers will most likely need to be carried most or all of your hike (which can in fact make it easier for you). Older toddlers and bigger kids will have different stamina levels which will affect how far, fast, and long you will hike. For younger kids or kids who aren't super active I would keep your first few hikes short - under 3 miles round trip.
Don't be afraid to turn around before reaching your destination. There have been plenty of hikes with my kids that we only made it 20 minutes down the trail before my oldest started complaining and asking to turn back. The point is to make it a fun experience for them, so forcing them to keep going when they are not having a good time will defeat the purpose and hurt further attempts to get them back out on the trail.
For younger kids, get some kind of kid carrier. If you are comfortable using a hard baby carrier, then by all means go for it. When I first started hiking with all my kids I used two ergo baby carriers and just strapped one twin on my front and one on my back. Most parents that only have to worry about one kid being carried will be able to utilize this method just fine and still be able to carry a small bag with snacks, water and essentials.
If you can invest in one (or if you will need to carry 2 kids at once) I highly recommend getting a structured hiking backpack carrier. Luckily they make a lot of different ones that fit all budget ranges. A simple amazon search will help. For reference I bought this one and I will say it's not half bad. I do however, have my eyes set on this Osprey Poco Plus.
Bring lots of snacks. Even if you think you won't need them. Bring enough to feed everyone all day. Sometimes I find food will motivate my toddler to keep pushing.
Dress yourself and your kids comfortably. In the summer this means light layers. If you are going on a trail with a lot of sun exposure I would recommend a UV protective shirt like a sun hoodie, as well as a good sunhat. In the winter or cooler months, this means planning out the right layers. Always start with a moisture wicking base layer, like merino wool or polyester. Then depending on temperature range you might opt for a mid layer like a fleece pullover followed by a winter jacket.
Footwear is just as important as everything else. If your kid is being carried I would worry as much about shoe choice but I would make sure to put them in a good sock, preferably a wool or polyester blend to help wick any moisture and keep their feet warm in the winter. For yourself and any kids walking making sure to have decent shoes with good tread. A wool or polyester blend sock is even more important for anyone actually hiking.
Always make sure you tell at least one other person where you are going, how long you think you will be, and be sure to check in with them before you start the hike and when you get back to your car (or back to an area of service).
The most important thing to remember, though, is to have fun. There is something so wild and special about sharing moments like this with your kids. Expect things to go wrong. Expect your kids to complain. Expect that you won't always complete the hike. But have fun regardless.
Happy Hiking!
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