Backpacking With A Baby [3 Months]: What You Need To Know

6 min readOct 21, 2023

Babies + the outdoors just might be my favorite combo ever. We went on our first backpacking trip with Noah at 3 months at Redwoods National Park. While we had gone on many hikes with him prior [our first hike was at 6 weeks old!], we knew that backpacking with a baby would definitely be a challenge. To our surprise, it went *relatively* smoothly… + best of all, our hearts were bursting after the trip. We felt so grateful to be able to be immersed in nature with our son.

Chances are, if you’re reading this — you are already into backpacking. So, if you’re considering backpacking with your baby: GO FOR IT!

Disclaimer: Always, always consult your pediatrician with questions + concerns when it comes to hiking/backpacking with a baby. Especially when it comes to elevation + temperature + length of hike. I’d recommend asking their advice based on your baby’s age + their lung capacity + overall development. Every baby is different, so it’s important for you to get all the necessary information on your baby, so that you can make the best decision for your family!

10 Tips For Backpacking With A Baby:

#1] Consider the trail elements: Elevation? Temperature? Length? How many days? We loved backpacking Redwoods National Park because it was mostly flat, totally shaded, + it was an “out + back” trail — so we could choose our length. We ended up walking in 4–5 miles to set up camp for both nights, + then just did longer day trips with Noah! The temperature was between 55–75 degrees the entire time, which is perfect for backpacking, especially with a baby.

#2] Start small: We did a 2 night + 3 day backpacking trip [which was perfect for us!]… but start with 1 night + 2 day if that will help you feel more confident! Do plenty of day hikes with your baby prior to committing to a backpacking trip, too. We had originally wanted our first backpacking trip to be Rae Lakes Loop since Isaac is on the board of Sequoia National Parks… but after looking at the elevation + length of the trip, we knew that had the potential to be too much for Noah [+ us lol]. We would rather have an enjoyable, easier backpacking trip, than risking discomfort.

#3] Feeding your baby: We wanted to backpack when I was still exclusively breastfeeding + we hadn’t introduced solids yet. I know that won’t be everyone’s experience… but that was ours! Now that he eats solids, it’s awesome because a lot the camp meals we like [oatmeal + Patagonia Provisions] are very much baby friendly. Lots of dehydrated fruit, too!

#4] Front carrier vs backpack carrier? Since Noah was only 3 months old, we used a front carrier for Noah. We really like the Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier Free for hiking. It was also nice having him in the front, because then both Isaac + I could carry packs on our back. Now that Noah is 9 months old + can comfortably use a backpack carrier — we will have one person carry Noah + the other carry a very large backpack [aka Isaac ; )].

#5] Wee Woolies is THE BEST baby/kid’s apparel for backpacking. Seriously, look no further.

#6] Sleeping in the tent: We co-sleep at home, so we are used to sleeping with our baby. Noah slept in my sleeping bag. However, I know that they have separate sleeping bags for kids — we’ll go that route once he’s a bit bigger. I’d recommend doing what you are used to at home… if they wear a sleep sack, go that route! Just be aware of the temperate drop at night of course.

What did we do for naps? At 3 months old, Noah simply slept in the carrier while we hiked — which was so nice + easy! Now that he’s older + rarely sleeps on the go, we would need to take him back to the campsite + nap in the tent.

#7] If you breastfeed, be cognizant of what *you* eat. As I’m sure you know, baby’s digestive systems can be very sensitive! I learned this the hard way eating broccolini when Noah was 2 weeks old ; ). I eliminated all beans + cruciferous vegetables postpartum. It had been so long since Noah was fussy after something I ate, so it totally slipped my mind… *until* Noah was so upset after dinner one night. I was so confused + wondered what was wrong. Then I realized — omg, our dinner had CHICKPEAS in it! The poor guy was uncomfortable all night + we learned our lesson!

#8] How many diapers to bring? If you are a cloth diaper family, you’re amazing + you definitely have an advantage in this department. For everyone else, you’ll be packing out the diapers of course — so we were more mindful on less frequent changes. We brought 6 per day + used the brand Coterie — which have always been super absorbent for us. We’ve heard about people actually drying out diapers [since they can get SO heavy with pee] + we’d definitely try this out for future backpacking trips. Since his poop is also way more “formed” now, we’d bury it. At 3 months old, we didn’t do either — we just carried the diapers out!

#9] Nature is unpredictable. Be prepared! Prior to having Noah with us, we’d “wing it” a lot more on trips. Bring a first aid kid + make sure to protect your baby from sun. Noah wasn’t using sunscreen at the time, so he always wore full arm + leg outfits, as well as a hat! Redwoods National Park was also shaded most of the time, which was a huge perk.

#10] Savor every second watching your baby experience nature. I will never ever forgot the moment Noah saw stars for the first time. Since it got pretty cold, we went to bed early when the sky was still a bit light out. When we got up in the middle of the night to breastfeed, it was pitch black with a night full of stars. His eyes opened up wide + he could tell something was different… he kept moving his neck back + forth over + over again, looking at the sky. It was one of my favorite experiences with him to date. Nature truly is the best… it’s so grounding + peaceful + magical — good for mama + dada, + good for baby!

ALSO: This probably goes without saying, but — if you’ve never backpacked before, we would not recommend backpacking with your baby solo. There are plenty of guided/group backpacking trips where you’ll have an expert leading you. Check out your local REI store, as they are always putting on backpacking trips! Once you’ve done a few guided trips, you’ll feel comfortable going with your baby solo.