How to Take Your First Steps Outside with a New Baby

A woman’s body is an incredible thing. We're able to grow and nurture another human being while also sustaining our own health. That ability comes at a price as our bodies go through remarkable changes for 9 months leading up to the grand finale of delivering a tiny person. As wonderful as it is, recovering from such a task can be slow and discouraging at times. I learned this the hard way a few months ago when the birth of my second child didn’t exactly go as planned. I went into the hospital with symptoms of back labor, hoping to try for a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After C-Section). When the labor wasn’t progressing and my baby was showing signs of distress, I opted for a second C-section. I went in there thinking it would be business as usual with some added recovery time, just like my first C-section. But boy was I wrong. My bladder had adhered to my uterus following my first C-section, making it very difficult to work around to get to my baby. I ended up with a tear in my bladder and constant bleeding that required 4.5 liters of blood transfusions and blood products. In other words, they had to replace almost my entire body volume of blood. It made for a scary situation for everyone involved. Getting Back out There Needless to say, my recovery was harder than anticipated. By the time I was cleared by my doctor to hit the trails again, my once confident hiking demeaner had turned to nervous caution. Not only was I still recovering and building my muscles back up, but I had a second tiny person to account for on the trail. Recovering from such a tremendous experience is rough, and many women face similar circumstances with unexpectedly hard labors and recoveries. So how do we get over the fear and get back out on the trails? Check out these tips and advice from our Hike it Baby community to get back into nature after having a baby. Start Slow I started out going on exclusively toddler-paced hikes because I knew they would take many breaks so I could adjust the carrier, nurse, stop for myself, sit down and they wouldn’t go too far. – Ruth, Lebanon-Hershey, PA Remember to go easy. Ligaments around the pelvis can get very sore in just a short time. – Erin, Capital Region, NY Be gentle with yourself. You’re going through a big transition just like baby. You probably aren’t as fast. You probably don’t have your old stamina. That’s fine. They’ll come back. Your joints are softer than they were pre-pregnancy and they may stay that way for a while. You will need more water and likely more calories, so plan accordingly. After my first, I climbed a mountain at 6 days postpartum. I was proud of myself for “getting back” so quickly, but I got hurt and it made my bleeding worse. Not my best idea. After my second, I was still back on the trail within a week, but I chose an easy toddler-led walk instead. – Nicole, Mountain Home, ID Don’t feel like you have to rush to get back out on the trails. Put you and your body first. Baby will be fine, but often we try to get back on the trail before our bodies are truly ready and do more pelvic floor damage than good. Try to follow up with a pelvic floor physical therapist prior to hitting the trails again just to make sure everything is alright. – Keira, Lexington, KY Be Prepared My biggest advice: Plan to leave early, so you have time to nurse and get the newborn settled into the carrier. – Annie, Ann Arbor, MI Prepare for possible diaper changes while out on the trail, along with snacks and water if you are a nursing mom. We tend to forget some of these things between babies. – Erin, Capital Region, NY Start slow! My first “hike” after baby 3 was a half-mile boardwalk at little kid pace. Also, learning how to nurse/bottle feed while babywearing is hugely helpful. – Melissa, Hampton Roads, VA Bring a Friend or Join a Group Have a friend who can hold you accountable! Start easy and slow and make sure you have a good carrier you are comfortable wearing. Make sure to listen to your body and your baby. Get your other kids involved too. – Samantha, Calvert, St. Mary’s and Charles County, MD Make sure you have support on your first couple hikes; that way you have extra hands to help you. And don’t be ashamed to ask for help. – Keira, Lexington, KY Be prepared for anything and everything. Don't ever feel bad to ask for help. Those first few hikes with two kiddos were really hard. But guess what? Another mama will always love to grab some baby snuggles so you can help your toddler use the potty or get a much-needed snack. The beauty of HiB is we have each other. Also, I arrived at hikes 20-30 mins earlier in the early days with two so I could nurse, change diapers, etc. That way, I wasn't worrying I was holding our group up. – Lauran, Greenville, SC Give yourself a break It's OK to cry. I cried EVERY TIME I left the house when my youngest was born. I'd get in the car and it seemed like every time we would leave the house, he would have a blow-out or needed to nurse, or he would just cry the entire way to the trailhead/grocery store. I was overwhelmed. Once I got on the trail, he'd fall asleep and I'd sort out my feelings as I'd meditate – one foot in front of the other. That ease and simplicity put things into perspective for me. Nature gives me clarity, so it was so helpful to just get out there. – Annie, Ann Arbor, MI Never quit after a bad hike. – Lauran, Greenville, SC It was easy for me to dwell on the days I didn't get out as failures, so setting myself the mantra that the minutes and miles outside are successes and the inconveniences and hiccups along the way are learning opportunities. I've found it to be such good training for big siblings, too – how to be patient, not to let frustrating situations ruin a day, how to problem solve. One of my best moments was hiking with a friend and I felt like we'd done nothing but stop and go for me to get situated, change a diaper, etc. My newborn was fussing to be fed and before I even told them I needed to stop, her son pointed to a fallen tree and said, "Mom, that looks like a good seat for Emily to feed the baby." Warmed my heart so much. I also asked my friends to take lots pictures of me and the baby while out. It's so encouraging to see the little moments that can be forgotten when you're tired and not sure you want to try to get out again. – Emily, Peoria, IL Just do it My biggest piece of advice is to just do it! There will always be "what ifs" standing in your way. But the truth is your baby will never be lighter, sleepier and lower maintenance than they are right this second. So take advantage of this precious time! – Vanessa, San Diego, CA Almost 4 months ago we welcomed a baby girl into our family of two toddler boys. I have found this postpartum time to be the easiest for me. This goes against what most everyone else is saying. For me, getting back to "life as usual" really helped me feel like myself again. We took about two weeks of resting at home, but getting back out there and doing our usual activities has helped me feel good, while keeping life consistent for the boys. – Jaclyn, Holland, MI What other tips or advice do you have for hitting the trails again after having a baby? Let us know in the comments below! Read more: How to have a strong hiking core post-baby Hiking after a Cesarean birth Hiking with a newborn Photos courtesy of Rebecca Hosley and Lauran Hender.

“I want to go home!” whined my almost 3-year-old as he sat down in a huff on the trail. My usually adventurous little dude had lost his desire to explore, and I couldn’t blame him. It was a hot, humid summer morning in upstate New York, and we were only about a half-mile into our hike. I realized then that I had made a number of mistakes when planning this adventure: 1) I chose a trail that had little shade and no water, 2) We started the hike later than expected and it got hot FAST, and 3) There wasn't enough water. I decided to forgo the rest of the hike, strapped my kiddo on my back in a carrier, and quickly made my way back to the air-conditioned car. I needed to re-think and better prepare for hiking in summer and the weather it brings! Whether you are hiking, camping, playing at the beach or taking in a gorgeous sunset, summer is a wonderful time of year for families to enjoy outdoor fun in the sun. However, as temperatures increase, it can be hard to enjoy the outdoors with the constant “it’s too hot!” complaints coming from our tiniest explorers. Whether you have a baby in a carrier or an older child, here are some tips and tricks from our Hike it Baby community for keeping your kiddos cool on the trail in summer. Location and timing are everything We started doing shorter toddler walking/carrier hikes to alpine lakes where we can take a nice break to cool down! – Shari, Reno-Tahoe, NV I have a 1.5-year-old who is mostly in the carrier. We go early in the morning to beat the bugs and heat, and typically go for a trail with a water source. This time of year, we stay away from the beaches because of tourists, so we cool off in streams and freshwater ponds. – Lauren, Rhode Island We go in the morning and try for shaded trails or trails near a splash pad for the kids to get wet after. I also want to add that kids who wake up at the crack of dawn helps. LOL – Tracy, Louisville, KY Water parks and shorter hikes that begin or end somewhere with A/C, such as a coffee shop. – Jeannie, Kansas City, MO We include water of some sort in most of our hot-weather hikes. Hikes that don't include a water element start earlier. I like to be done or onto the water portion by 10:30 a.m. We wear loose-fitting natural fibers and hats. And of course, we pack plenty of water. We usually fill our water bladder with ice on hot days. – Courtney, Charleston/Lowcountry, SC Peppermint oil on the back of the neck! Hikes near creeks or shaded places. We also tend to hike earlier in the morning, but we are from the land of the midnight sun. So it’s hot all day! – Juliana, Fairbanks, AK Carrier tricks When putting the kids in soft carriers, I tend to strip them down to just shorts (and sunscreen). That way they have fewer layers. Mine get super hot easily and this seems to help. In strollers (if they let me), a muslin blanket helps shade them and keep bugs out. – Tracey, Anchorage, AK A towel wrapped in an ice pack between baby and me while I wear her. – Martha, Annapolis, MD For my son, I 86 the pants and shoes and utilize the sunshade on our pack. I carry a water bladder that we share to keep us hydrated and him entertained. – Lauren, Rhode Island My second child was born in May and she went hiking a lot her first 6 months. I could not have lived without our Luv Bug UPF towel. It is thin and light, has a hood, and is UPF 50+. I'd have baby in a onesie, put her in our wrap, put the towel hood over her head, tie the side corners around my waist, and then tuck the bottom corner under the carrier. Her entire body was protected from the sun and we were both comfy! – Vanessa, San Diego, CA I’d use the Osprey sun shade so she didn’t have to wear a hat.– Sandy, South King County, WA The mesh Lillebaby toddler carrier has helped keep us cool on long hikes. – Cherise, Eugene, OR For carriers, I stick to single layer carries in a cotton or linen woven wrap and ring slings, and my husband uses a Kinderpack with koolknit. While babywearing in the heat, especially with younger babies, dressing them in one less layer of clothing than yourself (often just a diaper) and frequent breaks are the best way to prevent over heating. – Courtney, Charleston/Lowcountry, SC Clothing and accessories to keep you cool Two favorites: misters and umbrellas. I bought this professional hair mister on Amazon. It provides continuous fine mist for 3 seconds each spray. I've found some pretty cool pump misters on lanyards at the county fair; there’s so many misters you can’t just have one. Evapotranspiration baby. Also a rain umbrella shades you and baby WAY better than the hat they will pull off. – Christine, Reno-Tahoe, NV We have been using a Luv Bug towel with a hood. SPF 50 makes me feel like he's protected on the beach and in the sun. When we hike in full sun, we toss it over him. If you get it wet first, it adds a layer of cooling moisture. It's a swimsuit-like material so it's very lightweight. – Kyla, Vancouver, WA Frogg Togg neck coolers, a portable fan that can clip on either stroller, frame carrier and even SSCs. If I can find breathable sunshirts, I try to use those. I keep myself as cool as possible so I’m not sweating on them. I sometimes wear a sun shirt that is very breathable meant for horseback riding. – Keira, Lexington, KY Hats, popsicles, Frogg Toggs! – Mindy, Myrtle Beach/Conway, SC I've been known to soak the hat before putting it on to keep my 3-year-old cool. Also, use bandanas you can get wet and wear around your neck. It's not heat-related exactly but I also prefer using a zinc stick sunscreen on my kids' faces (mine too). I've found it runs less with sweat than other options even if they do look like Casper when I put it on. – Jeannie, Kansas City, MO Cold snacks End with getting ice cream! – Juliana, Fairbanks, AK Cold, juicy fruits to snack on. – Martha, Annapolis, MD Frozen yogurt tubes are our go-to summer snack. While on the trail they melt a bit but still end up being a cool snack. – Jennifer, Houston, TX Frozen grapes! – Lacey, Kanai Peninsula, AK Be prepared I’d carry 3+ liters of water for a day hike, 2 liters in a bladder and the other in a water bottle. Leave a couple hydroflasks in the car full of ice water for a refreshing drink when you get back to the trailhead! Hike to lakes so you can all cool off when you have lunch and bring extra socks for yourself, putting sweaty wool socks back on is terrible. – Sandy, South King County, WA We like to freeze small Gatorade bottles and take them with us to enjoy in the middle of the hike or at the top of a peak. They are super refreshing! We also try to keep a small cooler with colder drinks and snacks in the car to enjoy a picnic after the hike. Be sure to know the signs of heat exhaustion and how to treat it just in case. – Becca, Kistsap Peninsula, WA How do you keep your little explorers cool on the trail in summer? Let us know in the comments below! Read more: Benefits and Tips for Enjoying Water Play this Summer 10 Fun Ways to Keep Cool this Summer How to pack trail snacks for hiking in summer Photos by Kyla Phillips and Arika Bauer. ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. 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