A decade ago when I had my first child, many people cautioned that becoming a parent meant taking a break from my favorite outdoor adventures. But the thought of staying indoors with a baby made me more nauseous than morning sickness.

Luckily, my husband was just as determined as me to traipse about in nature with our infant in tow. By the time our son was 10 months old, he’d been camping, sailing, rafting, backpacking, biking, and cross­-country skiing.

When his sister joined our family a few years later, we took her camping and mushroom-foraging just three weeks after she was born.

Not only did our babies survive these trips, they thrived.

For our family and others that crave being outside, adventuring with a baby actually feels easier than staying at home.

Granted, it’s challenging to plan and pack on the front-end, and near impossible to stick to strict sleep schedules. But once we’re out in nature, it feels simple. Babies love to babble to brooks, watch trees sway and touch the rocks.

Plus, outdoor gear creates hours of entertainment for infants and toddlers. Our son played with zippers, water bottles or tent poles, while our daughter dug in the sand. Both babies slept best beside the rush of rivers.

The best part about adventuring outside from the get-go with our kids? It made my husband and I better parents, since we are happiest while exploring outside.

Why You Should Bring Babies On Outdoor Adventures

Kids only get heavier. Take your children backpacking, camping, hiking or boating while their weight is nominal. It helps you go farther and move faster.

Babies don’t talk. No one asks, “Are we there yet?” except you. Complaining is less likely. Sure, crying is its own (painful) language, but peaceful journeys are more likely when surrounded by calm woods and quiet water.

Less gear is required. Babies don’t even need shoes, much less their own fishing rod, bike or kayak. All they need is breast or bottle, and your warm body and smiling face.

Naps are travel-friendly. It’s tough to resist the rocking motion of your mama or papa walking you to sleep. Wearing your baby in a front- or backpack gives you trekking time while the little one sleeps. On boats, babies are lulled by the motion of the water under the bow.

Break them (and you!) in early. By the time your baby is walking and talking, think how easy the trips will become! Your wee one will be able to help out and won’t be scared of sleeping in tents or riding through rapids. And if you have family adventuring systems in place when they’re newborns, you’ll be exponentially more likely to get out and explore when the kids are older, as opposed to trying to get back in the swing of things after several years off the outdoor circuit.

3 Trips To Take Outside With Your Baby This Summer

1. Float in a boat. Sometimes, it’s easier to let the current do the work and the boat do the carrying when you want to get outside. Find a nearby river that offers beaches for fun rest stops. Strap your wee one into an infant life vest , and untie the bowlines! If you have a canoe or raft, try piling in some camping gear for an overnight float.

2. Trek along streams. Trails near waterways tend to be mellow, since they follow gentler grades. Rather than ascending peaks or winding through mountains and valleys, pick a baby-friendly path that meanders along a river or creek and give yourself plenty of play time to fish, swim, and enjoy the scenery along the way.

3. Bike on trails. Kid carriers come in all shapes and sizes for the traveling parent, including bike trailers that keep babies safe and are easy to tow. You can ride through parks or on forest trails with your helmeted, seat­-belted babe taking in the view. If you live near wilderness or public land, toss your camping gear in the trailer alongside your tot, and the family will be nestled in the woods roasting marshmallows in no time.

6 Tips For Adventuring With A Baby

  1. Start small. Try short one-mile day hikes to test out your baby carrier before embarking on a five-mile journey. Canoe on a pond for an hour with your little one before setting off on a multi-day river trip. Rent a cabin in the woods instead of setting up a tent.
  2. Expect it to be different . . . and difficult. Set your expectations low in terms of epic adventures, but high on the memorable-moments scale.
  3. Plan for diaper duty. Bring extra plastic bags to contain disposables or consider cloth diapers, since you can dry out and use the sun’s UV light to sanitize peed-in inserts in the sun.
  4. Pack less than you think you need. This may not seem intuitive, but all a baby needs is enough clothes to stay warm (not clean—they will get dirty). Toys are heavy and unnecessary when nature provides free, abundant entertainment.
  5. Be safe. Check in with your instincts and use common sense in the great outdoors. And bring along a small med kit that includes nontoxic bug repellent, sunblock and a fever-reducer, just in case.
  6. Take breaks often. Rest regularly for you and for baby to eat and drink. Stop to smell the roses or watch the clouds—and congratulate yourself often for getting outside!