Walking with a toddler or a baby carrier

Walking with the smallest walkers

A baby in a carrier or a toddler on their own two feet changes a walk completely. The distance shrinks, the pace slows, and the list of things to carry grows. But the rewards are real: babies often sleep beautifully in a carrier, and toddlers are fascinated by everything a trail offers, from puddles and pine cones to ducks and bridges. The key is to plan a walk around the child, not around the summit.

Choosing the right route

For babies and toddlers, the best routes are short, flat and full of easy exits. Look for:

• Loops with shortcuts, so you can head back at any point.
• Toilets, cafés and shelter along the way or at the end.
• Something to see often: water, animals, boats, trains.
• A surface that suits your kit: paved or firm paths for a buggy, anything gentle for a carrier.

Good examples from the Waymark library:

• The Stanley Park Seawall in Vancouver is a flat loop of roughly nine kilometres around the edge of the park, with beaches and benches all the way. You can walk any part of it and turn back.
• The Toronto Islands are reached by a short ferry ride and have no private cars, with a lakeshore boardwalk, beaches and an amusement park on Centre Island.
• The Yosemite Valley floor is flat, and shuttle buses make it easy to walk only a short section.
• The Agamon Hula circuit in northern Israel is a flat gravel path where you can also rent a golf cart or ride the tractor-drawn wagon if little legs get tired.

Buggy or carrier?

A buggy suits paved, flat routes such as seawalls, city parks and boardwalks. An all-terrain buggy with larger wheels copes with gravel and firm tracks. Steps, roots and narrow paths make buggies hard work.

A carrier opens up more routes. Soft carriers suit babies and short walks; framed hiking carriers suit toddlers on longer walks, with a sunshade and storage. Always follow the manufacturer’s age and weight guidance, and check that the child’s face is visible and their airway clear.

With a carrier, remember that you are carrying extra weight, your balance changes, and you cannot see your feet as well. Choose routes with good footing, use walking poles on descents, and avoid exposed edges.

Plan for the child’s day

• Nap time. Many babies sleep well in a carrier. Time the walk so that the nap falls in the middle.
• Feeding. Plan feeds and snacks into the day. A quiet bench with a view makes a good stop.
• Pace. A toddler walking on their own may cover only a kilometre or two. Let them walk the interesting parts and ride the rest.
• Turnaround time. Decide when you will turn back, and keep to it. Ending happy matters more than the destination.

Sun, cold and weather

Babies and toddlers cannot regulate their temperature as well as adults, and they cannot tell you when they are too hot or too cold.

• Sun. The NHS advises keeping babies under 6 months out of direct sunlight, and using sunscreen of at least SPF 30 on children. Add a sunhat and a carrier sunshade, and plan walks in shade or in the cooler parts of the day.
• Cold. A child in a carrier is not moving and gets cold much faster than the adult carrying them. Dress them in more layers than you wear, with a hat, mittens and warm socks, and check their hands and neck often.
• Rain. A carrier rain cover and a waterproof suit for a walking toddler keep a wet day fun.
• Heat. Avoid hot exposed routes. See our guide to hiking in the heat.

What to pack

Start with the Ten Essentials, the system recommended by the US National Park Service, and add the child’s kit:

• Nappies, wipes and a bag to carry rubbish out
• Milk, formula or food, and water for the child
• Snacks the child actually likes
• A spare set of clothes, or two for a toddler who loves puddles
• A sunhat, a warm hat, and layers
• A small first-aid kit with children’s medicines
• A favourite small toy or book
• A light mat or blanket for stops

Pack the heavy items in the adult’s pack, and keep the things you need often within reach. If two adults are walking, split the load so that the person with the carrier carries less.

Making it fun

• Give the walk a story. Looking for a waterfall, a lighthouse or a duck pond gives a toddler a reason to keep going.
• Collect things. Leaves, pine cones and stones, where collecting is allowed.
• Sing and count. Bridges, boats, birds or steps.
• Let them lead. For a short stretch, let a toddler choose the way at junctions.
• Celebrate the end. A snack, a play area or a paddle at the beach.

Safety notes

• Keep toddlers close near water, cliffs and roads. Many boardwalks, such as those at Plitvice Lakes, have no handrail.
• At geothermal sites such as the Upper Geyser Basin, stay on the boardwalk and hold hands at all times.
• Tell someone your route and expected return, as you would on any walk.

After the walk

End the day while everyone is still happy. A short walk that finishes with a playground or a picnic is remembered better than a long one that ends in tears. Change wet clothes straight away, offer a drink and a snack, and talk about what you saw. The next walk will be easier if this one ended well.

For more ideas, see our guide to family-friendly walks and our day hike packing list.