Hiking with Toddlers – How to Protect from Ticks and More

Nature has so much to offer kids. There are countless learning opportunities from finding shapes to climbing rocks (great for gross motor skills). All this achieved through play! Hiking is a perfect outdoor activity to get toddlers into nature and exploring. It also wears them out, which is a total bonus! Even my toddler who has endless amounts of energy is exhausted after a good hike.

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Tips for Hiking with a Toddler

Hiking with a toddler is different than hiking alone or with a baby. Toddlers like to explore, climb on and over everything in sight, and sometimes complain. The most important tip for hiking with a toddler is to keep your expectations low! Don’t get upset if you don’t make it to the waterfall you wanted to see. Hiking with a toddler, you have to work with what they give you. It’s more about the journey than the destination. For even more fun, do an outdoor scavenger hunt on your hike!

That being said, my son does amazingly well. At 3 years old, he hiked 2.5 miles up his first mountain (1100 feet up Storm King Mountain in New York). He has been hiking with us since he was 6 months old, riding in our Deuter Kid Comfort hiking pack. His love for nature and the outdoors is tremendous and I attribute that to the fact that we have spent time outside letting him explore almost every day of his life.

How to be Prepared For Hiking

Just like hiking with a baby, you need to be prepared when hiking with a toddler. That means having lots of snacks and water for them. It means protecting them from the sun and insects. Being safe while hiking with a toddler is crucial.

Water

Staying hydrated during exercise is important. While hiking, the last thing you want to do is haul a lot of gear with you, or fumble around to find water when thirsty. To avoid this, you can teach your toddler to drink from a bite valve. That way you only need to have your hiking pack with a water bladder that you can share. These have a hose that sticks out of the pack for easy access and a bite valve to drink for while avoiding leaks. I taught my son the skill of drinking from a bite valve by getting him a Camelbak insulated bottle to practice at home. So when we hit the trails, he was able to drink from the bite valve and I didn’t have to carry an extra water bottle.

Protecting from Insects (Especially Ticks)

Another really important thing with toddlers is to protect them from ticks. I live in an area with a lot of ticks and Lyme disease so it’s crucial that he is protected. Toddlers will explore during hikes, brushing up against tall grasses and running through leaves and other tick-infested areas. No matter what, that can not be avoided. So how do you protect them?

Dressing for Hiking

Proper clothing is key. That means long pants and sleeves. If it’s a hot day, linen or other light clothing, like a rash guard will help protect them and keep them cool. Make sure clothes are white, or at least light in color so that ticks will stand out against the clothing and can be spotted easily. I also like to tuck the bottom of my toddler’s pants into his socks for that extra bit of protection.

Proper Hiking Shoes

Just like for yourself, a toddler should have proper footwear. That means ankle support and waterproofing. This is important for an exploring toddler that wants to climb, play in the mud, and jump in puddles. Good shoes will give you the peace of mind to let them play without worrying about them twisting an ankle or getting their feet wet. I highly recommend Timberland Whiteledge WaterPROof Hiking Boot for exactly those reasons.

Use Bug Spray

I usually use a deep wood bug spray for the best protection. This spray will also protect against mosquitoes and other biting insects, which is just as important. I spray my son right before we start out on the trail and bring a small bottle with us just in case.

Treat Hiking Clothing and Shoes with Permethrin

Permethrin is a tick repellent that you can treat clothing and shoes with. This is a great option if you have specific clothes that you use for hiking. It’s important to have multiple layers of protection from ticks, and if you really don’t want to use DEET bug spray, this is a great alternative. However, only bug spray will protect against other biting insects.

Final Tick Protection

As a final step, before getting back into the car, use a lint roller to pick up any ticks that might be crawling on their clothes. This is a great little hack to use for both toddlers and yourself.

Don’t Forget to Check after Hiking!

When you get home, you still need to do a tick check. As soon as you walk in the door, take all your toddler’s clothes off (put them in the wash) and check them, especially behind the knees, elbows, ears and in their hair.

Don’t Forget the Sun!

Sun protection is also just as important. The last thing you want is a toddler with a sunburn. That means sunscreen and a good sun hat with SPF treatment. We used the Sunday Afternoon Hat when our son was a baby and it continues to fit even now (talk about a great investment!) It protects the head and neck and lasts so long it is totally worth the investment. Dressing them in a long sleeve rash guard shirt with UPF treatment is another way to protect them.

On to the Fun!

Now that you know how to protect your toddler while hiking, grab your hiking pack and get outside! Be prepared to walk slow and explore with your toddler. If they get tired or start complaining about walking, put them in your pack so they can take a break and take a ride. That’s your chance to cover some ground if you want. With the peace of mind that your toddler is safe and protected, you can enjoy yourself that much more outside.

Hiking with a toddler is the most rewarding thing since you get to see nature and the world through their eyes. Enjoy a nice lunch with them on a rock somewhere in the middle of the woods or on top of a mountain, soaking in the fresh air and sounds of nature. Nurture their love for nature, get some exercise and go hiking with your toddler!