Earth Day!
To help you celebrate Earth Day I thought I’d reccommend a good read. If your browsing Nature For Kids I’m sure you’ve probably already heard of it, but just in case here it is…
“Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv
Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder
I recently purchased the updated and expanded version which came out today in honor of Earth Day. Louv has brought to light the serious issue of how kids are spending their recreation and leisure time indoors, specifically near electrical outlets. Overall it has made me more determined than ever to not let outdoor play end with my children’s generation. I’ve added this book to my page on Nature Books. Richard’s website is also on my blogroll to the right if you want to learn more about it.
If you’ve already read the book please leave a comment about what you thought about it.
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. I would also recommend purchasing a nursing cover like those over at Lil Papoose.com. They provide modesty and comfort when nursing on the go.
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
