Baby Carriers – Backpacks And Backcountry Hiking
The sun’s out and the weather is fine for backcountry hiking. Why don’t you bring your little one along in one of those sturdy baby carrier backpacks and let her enjoy the outdoors while you have fun too?
A Parent’s Backcountry Hiking Challenge
Backcountry hiking is a nice way to enjoy the summer and it’s an adventure the whole family will enjoy. With young children in tow, you have to slow your pace and take snack breaks in-between and if you have to take your five or six month old along, forget the front baby carrier because your child is now too heavy for long-distance travel that way; you’ll likely suffer back pain.
With a buggy, it will be difficult to maneuver the slips and slopes along the trails. Instead of enjoying the scenery you will be spending time balancing the buggy and checking the baby after each sudden twist, turn, and thump. What a damper. One of those child carrier backpacks will make your life easier on the backcountry trails.
The Solution
Baby carrier backpacks make parents’ backcountry hiking easier and your child can get a good view of the scenery; these backpacks are recommended for kids five- to six-months-old or older because they need to have strong enough neck muscles and the ability to sit up, pretty as you please, to get a good view of the countryside. It is a different experience alright when baby sees an adult view of the world, instead of the view of knees and shrubs they get from buggy rides.
For hiking or a leisurely stroll in the park, or even a walk about town, you do not want to be encumbered with the buggy or stroller. Once your child can sit up on her own, you need a versatile baby carrier backpack, in which your child can sit comfortably, and keep your hands free. These sturdier carriers do not sacrifice anything when it comes to comfort for both parent and child, especially for longer walks.
More Advantages
Some soft baby carriers are designed for longer use, but can still be uncomfortable. Rigid framed backpack carriers assure your baby’s security and comfort and are outfitted to make hiking a pleasure. Some varieties of backpack carriers can be transformed to a chair. It boasts good suspension, padded shoulder straps with on the fly adjustment points, and a padded waist belt. The waist belt is significant because you support the weight with your hips and legs not your shoulders.
You should be able to find many useful features such as pockets where you can pop in baby stuff, water proofed sun and rain guards to protect your child in case there’s a change in the weather, high backs and sides to shield his from branches and twigs, stirrups to keep his feet comfortable not hanging, a safety harness, and lashings for extra gear.
A collapsible frame for compact storage also works as a retractable kickstand to hold the carrier upright while on the ground, even with baby inside. Select one with toy loops; your child can grab these anytime or amuse himself with the bouncing toys while you trek the trails. Some of these backpacks come with a detachable bag for necessities – wipes, diapers and change of clothing during the hike. You can easily sneak in a candy bar for yourself.
With your hands free and your little one settled comfortably inside a baby carrier backpack, you and he will immensely enjoy your backcountry hiking, excursions to the mall and those strolls around the neighborhood.
Shannon Staples specializes in Baby Carriers and has written several articles discussing babywearing safety, how to choose the best one for you, and the pros and cons of Baby Carriers Backpacks, Baby Carriers Slings, and the ever popular Baby Wrap. You have full permission to reprint this article provided this box is kept unchanged.
