Hydration For Kids
One crucial aspect of hiking and enjoying time outside during the summer is staying hydrated. As a parent it’s important that we stay conscious of our children and the amount of liquids they are consuming. WebMD describes how kids are different than us adults when it comes to hydration, “Parents… should know that active children do not adjust to hot temperatures as well as adults. Their body surface, as a proportion of their overall weight, is much greater than an adult’s. So they produce more heat during physical activity and they sweat less than adults. This reduces their ability to get rid of body heat.”
One of my children will drink anything on the planet if it has some kind of color additive in it. But when it comes to clean and clear water he won’t swallow unless I’m hovering over him like a hawk. He has gotten better with time though and I think that has to do with the way we’ve learned to present it to him. We let him pick out his own water bottle from the store and then had him decorate it with stickers. That little bit of independence seemed to make him more excited to drink from his very own water bottle. Now when we go on hikes or to his baseball games he’s more willing to stop frequently and take a couple swallows.
We went and explored Goblin Valley in South East Utah this last summer. It is an amazing place that makes you feel as if you’re on another planet, with mushroom shaped sandstone scattering the landscape.
We were visiting in August! If you don’t already know it’s unbelievably hot there during this time of year. We decided to go during the cooler part of the day but it was still roasting. This was our setup…
It’s a good rule of thumb to take 16 floz. of water for each hour you plan to be outside in the heat. And that’s just per person. So as a family of five we had to organize ourselves a bit. We took our Kelty Kids pack that we carry our youngest child in. There is a built-in hydration reservoir on the pack which holds 70 floz. On this particular day we filled that reservoir and then we took another daypack, our favorite Lowe Alpine, which held two 32 oz. Nalgene water bottles, a Powerade, a first aid kit and snacks. So that was enough for us to stay out for about two hours. Also, waiting for us back at the car, we had two gallons of water. We try to always keep two gallons available in case of emergencies.
Watch for these signs of dehydration - dry mouth, tongue and lips, no tears when crying, sunken eyes and grayish skin, decreased urination, feeling lightheaded or dizzy, headache, fatigue, muscle cramps.
Other helpful hints
- Plan activities during the cooler part of the day.
- Have your children wear clothing made of a good wicking fabric that keeps them cool and doesn’t trap the heat.
- Kids can get the liquids they need from other things like popsicles, juice and fruit. Have them available for quick access.
Do you have any tips concerning hydration for kids?
Kelty Duo Bin
Yesterday we went up our nearest canyon and had some rock-climbing and campfire fun with some friends. We each brought our own food to prepare over the cook stove and fire. As I grabbed my two limp grocery sacks filled with a conglomerate of food items I remembered why I wanted to purchase the Kelty Duo Bin. Later as I was cooking our dinner and the contents of the bags were spilling out onto the dirt, my previous thought sank in a little deeper…”we really need to get that Ketly Duo Bin”.
What is the Kelty Duo Bin? And “why” you may ask, do I want one so badly? Well I’ll tell you.
The Kelty Duo Bin was created to help keep camp food organized and make preparing food in the outdoors easier. It allows you to store dry and cold food items in the same unit. It also has an expandable wind resistant workspace you can use when you pull the two compartments apart. Which is always nice when your only other option is …well dirt! It’s freestanding and stackable so throwing it in the back of the car isn’t a problem. Here’s a recent review I found that’s entitled “a must have for every family”. Be sure to scroll down and click on customer reviews.
I have the Kelty Duo Bin available at the Nature For Kids Outdoor Store but I have to tell you, I found the best price at Kittery Trading Post. It’s nearly $20 cheaper and free shipping.
In my opinion it’s a must have when trying to feed a hungry family that’s been playing outside all day together. And it’s a unique gift idea for those who appreciate a yummy meal prepared outdoors. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge…My birthdays coming up Honey 
Tell Nature For Kids what piece of outdoor equipment you can’t live without.
Kelty Child Carrier
One of our readers here at Nature For Kids, Kris from Utah, did a nice write up about his new Kelty FC 3.0 child carrier. He graciously let me use the review as a post today. Take a look…
I skipped out of work early a few weeks ago to take Rosie out on her inaugural hike in our brand new Kelty FC 3.0.
We only hiked for a few miles, but Rosie was entertained the entire time by the two travel toys I hooked onto the backpack’s toy loops. The included sun shade (which is optional on other Kelty FC models) kept the bright sun off her little head, and we lubed her up with plenty of baby sunblock to protect her exposed skin. 
Despite the warmish weather we opted to put her in a sweat shirt to keep the sun off her arms. In the future I’ll buy a lighter weight cotton jacket for her to wear.
I was impressed by the backpack, it was easy to get Rosie strapped down and secure. The waist strap is very padded, and the sliding back panel ensures that both my wife, Lissa, and I get a perfect fit despite our different torso lengths. Since we were going on such a short hike I didn’t load much gear into the pack (just the baby and a few diapers), but it seems like it will have plenty of cargo space, and I think I’ll be able to tie a sleeping bag and sleeping pad onto the frame kickstand for overnight hikes. The child carrier is also adjustable, so when Rosie gets bigger I’ll be able to lower the seat so that she still fits into the pack. The only drawback is that the mesh bottle holders are behind the seat area, which makes them impossible to reach without taking off the pack.
The carrier came with a mirror that tucks away into the right shoulder strap, perfect for checking on Rosie when she’s uncharacteristically quiet or noisy.
Photos taken by Lissa.
Thanks Kris and Lissa! I know you’ll probably have more to say about your pack after using it throughout the summer, so we’ll check in with you then. Your daughter is well on her way to becoming a Nature Kid.
Check out Kris and Lissa’s other great adventure pictures .
Send in snapshots of your Nature Kid to shawna@natureforkids.net and we’ll post them on the Your Adventure Page! Or if you have a review to share about kids outdoor equipment send them in and we’ll get them posted.
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Spring Sundburn
Spring sunburns are like driving your car in the first snowstorm of the winter. You’re a little rusty and forget what it’s all about. Stop, Stop, STOP! Why am I not STOPPING?! Owe, Owe, OWE! Why are my arms BURNING?!
I took our youngest out for a hike this afternoon and came home with lobster arms. Luckily she was mostly protected by the shade hood of her Kelty Kids Explorer backpack. But her arms still got a little pink. Next time we go outside for some fun I’m going to make a more conscious effort to put myself in her shoes. How is she feeling? Is she thirsty, hot, or sore?
Everyone out there in Mother Nature land, learn from my mistakes. I’m applying the SPF 45 on me and the kids next time and you should too. For my kids’ faces I like to use the sunscreen that looks like a glue stick. It’s super easy to apply and it doesn’t get in their eyes.
Well, I’m getting the summer itch now. I’m seriously going to go down into our basement to dig through the kids’ summer gear; wide brimmed hats, shorts, flip-flops and swimsuits. Hooray…it’s almost here!
Quick Nature For Kids Fact : childhood sunburns can increase your child’s risk of developing skin cancer as an adult. Check out this link for more information on sun damage and prevention.
Filed under education, hiking | Comment (0)
Packing Breastfed Babies
For the first post of Nature For Kids I’m going to break the ice by touching on an awkward subject…breastfeeding! I’ve always breastfed my babies up to 12 months of age. To me, it is the optimum way to feed a baby. All the nutrients needed, at a perfect temperature and accessible whenever necessary…making it especially convenient when packing the little rascals around in the wilderness.
While my husband hiked the South Teton about 5 years ago I was wandering the streets of Jackson Hole, WY, with our, then 8 month old, baby. Having exhausted my allotted spending money in the fun outdoor shops that line the streets, I decided to hike the local ski hill, Snow King. After filling up my Nalgene water bottle and adding a few snacks from the car, I put my son in our Kelty Kids backpack (which I probably will be referring to in many future posts…because it simply ROCKS!) and headed up the mountain. Once I reached the peak I noticed there was a man unexpectedly playing the bagpipes. So I thought I would take a seat and listen to the music, looking over the Jackson Hole valley…while nursing my son, discreetly of course. It was an awesome experience that will stick with me forever.
I’d like to add that it might be wise for a nursing mom to invest in a compact camp chair. We have a Crazy Creek and it is perfect for clipping on to a backpack with a carabiner and then whipping it open whenever you need a seat to breastfeed. I’ve used ours on several occasions, on the beach, at the top of a mountain, even just around a campfire.
Overall I would recommend breastfeeding for any mother who wants to stay in the outdoor loop.
For those of you who bottle feed I’ll pass along a few tips I’ve seen as well. When my sister-in-law is on the move I’ve seen her put a measured amount of powdered formula in a bottle. When she needs it she simply adds water from a water bottle and shakes it up. It’s more compact than toting around a whole canister of formula and it’s nice and neat.I know there are mothers out there who take their babies outside, unfortunately we’re in the minority, so leave some comments or other ideas on this subject so that we may inspire other mom’s to take part in Nature For kids
backpack, child carrier, baby backpack, breastfeeding, outdoors, adventure, mom
