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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hiking with baby and toddler

97 replies

Dreamingsleeper · 06/07/2021 21:06

We’ve been invited to participate in a hiking ‘challenge’ for my DH’s mum’s 65th birthday. It’s a mountain she’s always wanted to climb and they’re making a weekend of it. However she’s shown us the route and it’s about 9 miles with lots of ups and downs and she estimates it’ll take 5 hours. Pre-children, my husband and I would’ve found this absolutely fine but I’m thinking that this is way too far for a 10 month old and a 2 year old. I’d have to wear the baby in a sling and I already struggle to carry him for long periods because he’s a big boy (in the loveliest way!). My toddler would walk for maybe 30 minutes before tiring and want to be carried in a backpack before complaining that she was uncomfortable for the next 4 hours. Then factoring in that we’d have to carry enough food / water for 4 people for 5 hours and no toilet for potty-training toddler…I’m just thinking it’s not doable? My DH is keen to give it a go but I have visions of being stranded on a mountain with baby and toddler in simultaneous meltdown with no food and water whilst putting on a brave face for the in-laws. Am I being too negative?!

Would it be unreasonable to chicken out and take the kids for a short walk and hot chocolate instead?! I don’t want to disappoint the family but I’m already breaking out in a cold sweat at the thought of it.

OP posts:
randomsabreuse · 06/07/2021 22:31

We've done a fair amount of hiking with our 6 year old and 2 year old. 2 year old goes up hill in the backpack carrier then gets to come down "easy" steps holding hands and leaping. We've done a few easy Munros but 5 hours for 9 miles sounds like a long walk in/optimistic timescale. We usually stick to no more than 7 miles and avoid flat boring walk ins...

Wynston · 06/07/2021 22:31

@burritofan summed it up!!!
Thank you that made me belly laugh!! X

Original poster
Dreamingsleeper · 06/07/2021 22:33

To be fair, she asked the whole wider family. Both my SILs’ families are doing it but they have much older children. I don’t think she really thought we’d go for it but probably wanted to be polite and not exclude us. It’s supposed to be a big celebration for her - she’s lost a lot of weight recently and come through some health issues so I think she’s just elated at the thought of doing something empowering for herself and having all the family there to witness it. I wish we could do it with her and support her but she’ll probably have a better time without screaming toddlers there!

OP posts:
wellerhugs5 · 06/07/2021 22:33

@burritofan

It takes us about nine hours to do the 100-yard walk to the park because the toddler needs to look at a stick or lie down on the pavement or talk to a cat. You’ll be up there for days. You’ll have to eat the sling and poo on rocks. You’ll be on the news.
Grin
SleepingStandingUp · 06/07/2021 22:35

His Mom, he can do the climb. You take the kids for a walk, and nap and meet him later.

NatriumChloride · 06/07/2021 22:38

@burritofan

It takes us about nine hours to do the 100-yard walk to the park because the toddler needs to look at a stick or lie down on the pavement or talk to a cat. You’ll be up there for days. You’ll have to eat the sling and poo on rocks. You’ll be on the news.
I can’t stop laughing at this comment! Spot on!
Nanny0gg · 06/07/2021 22:44

@burritofan

It takes us about nine hours to do the 100-yard walk to the park because the toddler needs to look at a stick or lie down on the pavement or talk to a cat. You’ll be up there for days. You’ll have to eat the sling and poo on rocks. You’ll be on the news.
😂😂😂
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 06/07/2021 22:45

Leave the kids with someone from your side of the family/friends and go make the most of the day.

rantymcrantface66 · 07/07/2021 00:18

There are people who hike up mountains with babies and toddlers but I absolutely would not be one of them. Ive only just started hiking longer hill routes with dc now and they are 8 and 11. (Still wary of the 8 year old) arrange to meet them at the bottom where you can sit and sip wine awaiting their return

RocheLobe · 07/07/2021 00:26

We did some hiking last year with 2yo and younger baby but it was much less ambitious than that! We restricted to two hours at a slow pace. Apart from anything else there’s the faff of nappy changes etc

RocheLobe · 07/07/2021 00:28

Depending on logistics I might do the first bit and turn back, or meet them coming back down and then walk back with them

Rachie1973 · 07/07/2021 00:30

@burritofan

It takes us about nine hours to do the 100-yard walk to the park because the toddler needs to look at a stick or lie down on the pavement or talk to a cat. You’ll be up there for days. You’ll have to eat the sling and poo on rocks. You’ll be on the news.
Lol this is my life
ilovepixie · 07/07/2021 00:32

@burritofan

It takes us about nine hours to do the 100-yard walk to the park because the toddler needs to look at a stick or lie down on the pavement or talk to a cat. You’ll be up there for days. You’ll have to eat the sling and poo on rocks. You’ll be on the news.
😂😂
JovialNickname · 07/07/2021 03:16

Are you clinically insane? No don't do this

Gothichouse40 · 07/07/2021 03:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HeirloomTomato · 07/07/2021 03:36

2 hours would be the max for kids that age. They will only sit so long in a carrier. My DS was high energy and loved hiking but at 2 even he could only go about 2 miles before hitting burnout and needing to be carried but then hating being carried and wanting to walk but then being too tired to walk so just crying-walking his way along at the end of every hike. We’d end up exasperated that he wouldn’t let us carry him and looking like cruel heartless parents to every one who passed us out Blush

With a baby too? Nope.

If you’re in a group anyway, why not let your DH take the kids while you do the hike alone with your DM and family?

GingerScallop · 07/07/2021 03:36

@burritofan 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Am in love with you

PrincessNutella · 07/07/2021 03:36

I used to hike with my kids when they were young, but with other couples who also had young children, so everyone on the hike was basically on the same page. They were sympathetic about dawdling, and helpful when babies needed changing and other slowdowns and emergencies. In my experience, the fit and unencombered (sp?) act like real pains on a hike like the one you describe. Besides, if it is hilly, there might be scrambles that are actually dangerous to attempt with a baby in a backback and a toddler.

alexdgr8 · 07/07/2021 04:01

it sounds inherently dangerous to me.
definitely no.

Cavalierqueen · 07/07/2021 04:04

I would rather shit in my hands and clap

sashh · 07/07/2021 04:10

I think this needs to be the new SAS training.

Get two small children to the top of a mountain, happy, fed and dry. If you can do that you qualify.

RocheLobe · 07/07/2021 07:02

@Gothichouse40

Please do not take young children/babies/toddlers up a mountain. My husband is a very experienced hillwalker/outdoorsman. He had to tell a person to turn around and go back down a mountain as they were carrying a young child up a mountain. The child was blue with the cold and this was in summer. The person could not see the child as they were carrying them on their back. Since the child is being carried and not moving under their own steam, they will become cold sitting/ carried very quickly. The weather can change so fast. My husband did not take our children hillwalking until 13/14 year old. You also have to think about if YOU fall or get injured, how does a baby/toddler get help. Please just go for a walk and a hot chocolate with your children and let the other adults go.
At no point has the OP suggested taking a child alone. Your husband coming across one foolish parent does not mean the rest of us don’t know how to do this safely. (My husband is a qualified mountain leader FWIW).
Camomila · 07/07/2021 07:35

Are MOL and FIL fit in enough that they could take equal turns carrying the DC? Thats the only way I'd consider it.

Dustyhedge · 07/07/2021 07:41

Sounds hideous tbh. I only ever really managed an hour in the sling with my babies once they hit 10m. Our school run walk is about 15 mins grown up pace, 20 mins at 4yo pace through fields and woodland. Tried it with my 2yo a month ago and it took 40 and I ended up carrying her half the way. That was hideous enough that I won’t do it for a while without the buggy. There is no way I’d try and take her up a mountain.

Gothichouse40 · 07/07/2021 08:17

Rochellobe, why the hostility? No matter how 'expert' people may be accidents happen. The mountains are no place for babies, toddlers or very young children. However, since my post( which was only advisory) seems to give you such great offence since you are such an expert. I will happily ask for it's removal. People take babies/young children up mountains, it's a bad idea. However, you obviously know so much better than I. There is no 'safe' way for adults on the mountains, you just look at the rescue figures for this year. Accidents and sometimes sadly fatal accidents happen all the time. Even to expert climbers/walkers with many years experience. So no we never took our children till their early teens. I was not implying anything about the OP at all, that was a conclusion you jumped too. I was giving an example of what could happen. I now withdraw from this thread before anyone else jumps down my throat.