How to tandem babywear while hiking

Whether your own family is growing, you have twins or you’re helping out a friend by watching their child, adding another heartbeat to your hiking routine can be a challenge. But rather than stressing about it, know you have options for getting out on a fresh-air adventure with everyone. On stroller-friendly trails, a double all-terrain stroller – or wearing one child and pushing one (or two) children – is a great option. But in the cases where you want to get farther out into nature, you’ll want to tandem carry. If you’ve only ever worn one child at a time, wearing two at once will be an adjustment. There are lots of things to consider: Age of your children, mobility level, how they’ll want their snacks and last, but most important, your own comfort. We’re here to tell you that it’s totally doable and can be a lot of fun, so here are some helpful tips on how to tandem babywear your smallest hikers more efficiently! Photo by Kim Ives Tandem Babywearing Tips 1. Carriers Yes, that’s carriers. Plural. It makes sense: two children, two carriers. There are a few notable exceptions like the TwinGo, which is designed to carry two children. Otherwise, plan on one carrier for each child. The type of carrier is up to you, but the most popular way to wear two children at once are using either soft-structured carriers like the Onya Baby or woven wraps. We’ve seen people mix and match on the trail and, ultimately, it’s up to you. But if you’re new to carrying two, consider a soft-structured carrier simply for ease of using a buckle on and off. 2. Loading Them Up The “standard” rule of thumb is one kiddo on the back and one on front. Typically, the heavier child will go on the back and the lighter on the front. You’ll want to load the back child first to avoid jostling the smaller front-carried baby. And, if both kiddos are the same age/size, you’ll want to ensure that the smaller child is old enough to ride on your back (typically 6 months or so with good head control, but, again, contact your local babywearing expert if you need assistance with determining this). Once the child on the back is securely in place, add your front child. Tip: If you have an older child in back who likes to get up and down, an option is to strap that child in second for convenience. Natalie Kendrach includes a tip on how to do it successfully when you're alone with no one around to help: I personally prefer putting the baby on first so that I have the toddler’s carrier on top (for easy up and down). I put the carrier hood in my teeth to support the baby’s head when doing that method. That allows me to use the ‘Superman’ toss to get my toddler on my back. But when others are there, they just lift her to my back. 3. Get Help Some ideas for getting the kiddos on board include using the back of an SUV or a picnic table to get loaded. But there's no substitute for a friend’s help, so if you're hiking with friends, wait until you have them nearby in case you need assistance whether that’s holding a child, keeping watch on an escape artist or helping with knots or buckles. 4. Clothing and Gear You have an extra body with extra body heat, so you’ll want to keep that in mind in your own layers, potentially wearing one less layer. If it’s summer, you’ll have twice the amount of straps on your shoulders, so you may want to consider a tee shirt instead of a sleeveless top. Also, if you use cooling towels, you’ll want to have an extra on hand! For your kids, you’ll want to utilize standard layering/clothing considerations. If in winter, you’ll want to dress your children in appropriate winter layers (more on this here). If in summer, wicking material will be your – and their – best friend. Hiking poles  –  If wearing one child throws off your stability and balance, then two will do so equally. Hiking poles are a great idea anytime you’re hiking with kids, but especially when you’re carrying tandem. Quality shoes  – Having great shoes is always important when getting out, but again, especially so when tandem carrying. See this article for tips on finding the right shoes. Photo courtesy of Natalie Kendrach 5. Snacks & Water If you have ever done anything with a toddler, you know that snacks are critical. In fact, many of us would consider it an emergency to not have snacks at the ready. With this in mind, consider how you’re going to carry snacks and other important things like a phone and car keys. (See how high snacks rank?) Remember, you’ll have limited access to your pockets. Water is also top priority, as you’ll want to keep yourself AND the kids hydrated. Here are options for carrying snacks and water: The carrier itself Your carrier may have pockets designed for storage. Just make sure the items you need the most access to are in the front carrier so you can more easily get to them. Otherwise, that friend that helped you load up will need to get them out of the back carrier. Attached to the carrier Using a carabiner, you can attach a snack cup to your carrier so your kiddo can help themselves. However, if you have two snackers, you may want to be in control so one doesn’t end up with fewer snacks. In my experience, it’s tough to have too many carabiners out hiking. This isn’t quite as easy for water, but it can be done! Another option for attaching to the carrier is a pouch like the Onya Hipster pouch. Think of it like a waist pack that slides on the carrier strap instead of another strap around your waist. It's big enough to hold the essentials without being clunky and in the way. Waist pack A waist pack, the new hip way to say “fanny pack,” is a great way to carry extras. One of the best ways to wear them is underneath the back child, almost as a seat below the carrier. You can load these up with snacks and other essentials, and it doesn’t (theoretically) add much to your load. Some waist packs are also hydration packs. (Pro tip: if you have a child with new teeth and they chew through the valve you use to get water, purchase extra valves. In bulk.) Mesh cinch backpack These are awesome for wearing OVER the back carrier. The layering order for this is going to be back child/carrier first, then the mesh pack OVER the back of that carrier, then your front child in their carrier. You can load up this pack with snacks, other essentials and even a hydration bladder. The only challenge with a backpack is access. You'll need to stop to get items from the backpack, or ask a friend to help. 6. A Dry Run Last, but not least, a dry run is something you’ll want to consider. Try gearing up and loading up everything from snacks to kids in a comfortable environment, ideally your own home. That way you can get a solid feel for how it all pulls together, where you might need some help, and what is going really well. In the end, we just want to see you on a trail and hope you and your family have a great time! Read More Tandem Babywearing on the Trail - Tips and Tricks 10 Tips for Hiking with Toddler Twins We’d love to hear your experiences! Share your tandem carrying tips, tricks and questions in the comments below. Disclaimer: We are not babywearing experts, but we’ve done a lot of hiking with kids. These are some top tips we’ve discovered from lots of hiking with lots of families over the years!  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. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.  

Winter is upon us, and as much as this weather makes us want to hibernate and never leave the house again, at some point, we have to venture out in the cold. And that might mean bringing baby with us, too. Babywearing is a great way to keep babies safe, dry, and warm in winter weather. Here's everything you need to know about layering when babywearing in the cold. Basics of Layering The most important thing you need to do is to maintain a normal body temperature for both baby and you. For the same reason you must put your own oxygen mask on first in a plane emergency, you need to have all your faculties to properly care (or wear) a child. So take care of yourself and make sure you are bundled up before you get baby ready. In the winter, both the cold and sweat are your enemies. Too cold and you risk health issues like hypothermia, frostbite, extreme dry eye pain, even trench foot.  Too many layers can cause you or your baby to overheat, leading to sweating (your body’s natural cooling-off mechanism). Once the sweat touches the cold air, you'll begin to cool down even faster, speeding up the cold risks mentioned above. The key to keeping both you and baby warm is layering. Wearing layers help trap in heat, keep the sweat away, and can be removed/added as needed to keep you both at the optimal temperature. Here is a wonderful infographic from an Antarctic travel site. In a nutshell, you and baby need a base layer to keep you from sweating, an insulation layer to keep you warm, and a waterproof layer to keep you dry and cover all your extremities. The layers can vary depending on the weather outside. For example, a raincoat would be perfect for a typically cool, drizzly Portland winter day but not warm enough for snow at Timberline. Here is an infographic from an outdoor sports retailer on layering for different temperatures. Now that you get the basic layering idea, you may be wondering how to apply this to your baby. The most important thing to remember when wearing in the cold is that the carrier counts as a layer. And, if you are using a wrap, multiple pass carries count as multiple layers. You need to adjust your layering accordingly. Less clothing or a different carrier may be necessary to keep a normal body temperature. For example, if it’s cool and rainy, a base layer, jacket, and a waterproof SSC is a good combination. If it’s snowing and windy,  base, insulating, outer, hats/gloves and a thick woven wrap in a double hammock would be a great option. Below are some examples of layering for a baby in different winter weather types. Cool When it’s above freezing, but not warm by any means. ​Or maybe it is freezing, but you aren’t going to be outside long; for example, running into the store. First photo: Base layer of a thicker long sleeve onesie and thick pants. Wool pants are a great choice. Second photo: Add warm gloves and socks. Third photo: Warm, but not bulky coat. Fleece and wool work well. Add a hat if no hood. Fourth: Carrier, no need for multiple passes. For a quick babywearing up, try a ring sling if you're just taking your baby out of the car seat and into a store. Total: 2 clothing layers, plus extremities covered, and one carrier layer. Cold When it’s cold, closer to freezing, and no precipitation. Making sure extremities are well covered will keep baby warm. First photo: Base layer of wool socks and a long-sleeve onesie. Second photo: Warmer layer, I did overalls, but a shirt and pants would be great as well. Wool is a great fiber for this layer. Third photo: Leg warmers/more socks over feet and legs to keep ankles from being exposed. Fourth photo: Outer layer of a fleece one-piece suit. Make sure it is on the bigger side so it doesn’t pull on baby’s feet in the spread-squat position. ​Fifth photo: Carrier, with multiple passes, as needed for warmth. Total: 3 clothing layers, extremities covered, and 1-3 carrier layers. Colder When it very cold or just above freezing, layers under a snowsuit are a great option. First photo: Base layer of a thicker onesie. Second photo: Warm pants and a long-sleeve shirt. Wool is a great fiber for this layer! Third photo: Leggings or long socks and gloves. Fourth photo: Warm, waterproof one-piece suit. Hand and feet covers. Make sure it’s a little on the bigger side for baby to move freely in the spread-squat position. Fifth photo: Carrier with multiple passes. Total: 3 clothing layers, plus extremities covered, and 2-3 carrier layers. Below freezing or snowing: When it’s below freezing and/or snowing. An extra insulation layer keeps baby warmer and a waterproof layer keeps you dry. First photo: Base layer long shirt, long pants, and socks. Second photo: Thermal shirt, warm pants, and thick socks. Wool is a great fiber for this layer. Third photo: Wool or fleece jacket. Fourth photo: Waterproof jacket, hat, boots (or covered feet for non-walking child), and gloves.  Waterproof pants are also a great addition if your child will be out of the carrier to walk. Fifth photo: Carrier that you don’t mind getting damp. A waterproof SSC is a great option, especially if your toddler might be getting out to walk occasionally. A woven wrap with multiple passes will add layers of warmth. Total: 4 layers of clothing, plus extremities covered, and 3 carrier layers. Now that you've learned how to layer for the cold, stay warm and wear those babies! Read more: Hard-framed carrier: improve the quality of your hike 5 Comfy and cozy winter carriers for babywearing How to carry supplies when hiking with a soft-structured carrier 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. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.