Top tips for walking with your baby in the rain

Don’t let rain stop play! Here’s how to plan a wet-weather walk and get out in that most British of weathers. 

Planning:

Shift your mindset 

Rain is just water. Your skin dries, and even if you get soaked through to your knickers, it'll give you something to laugh about. As long as you keep your baby warm and dry, you’ll be fine. Remember, rain is often warmer than plain cold weather!

Keep it short and sweet

Even 15 minutes around your neighbourhood or local park will feel invigorating. Your local well-trodden routes will look and feel different in the rain.

Choose your route wisely

It’s a good idea to pick a route that feels doable and safe – either somewhere you’ve been before, or somewhere recommended by someone you trust. 

Grab a friend

A walking buddy is always great on a rainy day – you're both more likely to get out of the house. And you get to share in the sense of achievement. 

What to wear and take with you:

Waterproof yourself

• Waterproof jacket over warm layers

• Wellies, boots or trainers with good grip, tied securely as the floor might be slippery and balance can be off if baby-carrying on slopes 

• Umbrella

• Waterproof trousers – not essential (especially not for quick wanders) but you’ll feel pretty indestructible with them. Great if you’re hiking with a baby backpack with its own waterproof cover

Waterproof your baby

• Make sure baby is layered up and their extremities are covered. If baby-carrying, layers are better than a big snowsuit as you can add/remove as needed to regulate their temperature and ensure a proper carrier fit

• Keep baby dry obviously, but young babies may not need their own waterproofs if they’re staying sheltered in a carrier/pushchair, and this avoids overheating in non-breathable waterproofs

• If baby-wearing, use a baby-carrier waterproof cover, wrap them in your waterproof coat if big enough (or if your partner is larger then borrow theirs!), or wrap a smaller waterproof jacket around their carrier so the hood can be brought up over their head, and tie/tuck the jacket arms in so it stays on snuggly 

• If using a pushchair, grab its rain cover, although for quick drizzly walks just the hood pulled over and foot cosy on should be fine

What else?

• Pack a spare carrier bag to sit, feed or change your baby

• If your bag isn’t waterproof, line it with a plastic bag to ensure its contents stay dry

• Nappy changes in the rain are easier than you think! Find a sheltered tree or position your umbrella on the floor over baby, lay them on a plastic bag or your waterproof, and voila! They’ll think it’s the most interesting change they’ve had! 

• If you're not using waterproof trousers then it’s a good idea to take spare trousers/socks to change into

Most of all, just have a go. Once you let go of the initial feeling of ‘what am I doing?!’ you’ll be amazed at how beautiful and calming being out in the rain is. Slow down and appreciate your senses. 

And when you get in, shake yourself off, put your comfies on and get the kettle on. Enjoy that cuppa from the comfort of your sofa, knowing you just did something really good for yourself. You could even treat yourself to a biscuit – you deserve it!

Now you’re prepared, find your local Blaze Trails group and sign up to their next walk.

8 top tips for baby carrier walking

Getting out for the first time with your baby in a sling or carrier can feel daunting, but it has so many benefits for you and your baby and will give you a huge sense of freedom. 

Here are our top 8 tips for you and baby to get the most out of your sling walks:

1. Choose the right sling for you

The possibilities are endless, so do your research and find one that fits your needs. You can also try some out at your local sling library.

2. Invest in some good footwear

Forget the Louboutins! Comfy, sturdy and supportive shoes with good grip are a must for walking with baby. You definitely don’t want to be slipping over when carrying such precious cargo.

3. Wear layers

Opt for thin thermal base layers for you, and something over you and baby if it’s cold. Avoid snowsuits for baby as they prevent your little one from sitting properly in the sling. Cover their extremities and choose thin layers you can add or take away.

4. Posture

Babies are heavy, so try and protect your back by keeping upright. Consider walking poles for off-road walks, which will take the pressure off your joints and prevent slips if you’re in the mud.

5. Remember T.I.C.K.S

T.I.C.K.S stands for Tight, In view, Close enough to kiss, Keep chin off chest, Support their back (and yours). This is important if you’re carrying baby in a sling on your front.

6. Embrace outdoor feeding

Boobs, bottles or snacks, feeding baby outside is a great experience for you both. Don’t feel worried about this, make sure you have what you need for unexpected hunger before you set off.

7. If in doubt, pack it! 

If you’re heading out for a longer walk, pack for nappy changes, unexpected weather conditions and hunger. Some slings and baby carriers have handy storage pockets, otherwise use a supportive rucksack.

8. Enjoy it! 

The first time can be daunting and may not go to plan. But you can start small and build yourself up to longer walks. Just take your time and enjoy the closeness with your baby.

Now you’ve read our tips, why not sign up to a sling walk with one of our walking groups?

The 5 best baby walks in Sussex

If you’re fortunate enough to live in beautiful Sussex, you really are spoilt for choice when it comes to baby walks, with something to suit all ages, abilities and moods. There’s ambling countryside walks, walks through the deep dark forests and bracing coastal walks. There’s no chance of getting bored by the same old scenery.

It was so hard to whittle down, but here are our 5 favourite baby walks in Sussex…

Ardingly Reservoir 

Ardingly Reservoir is a beautiful local nature reserve in Mid Sussex and there are various walking paths from the main car park, either along the eastern shore of the lake, or off towards the Grade II listed Ouse Valley Viaduct.

There are plenty of benches along the lake which are great for picnics, or as a spot to rest whilst taking in the view.  

A great walk with little ones is a short scenic loop of about 2.6km, which takes you along the side of the lake and up into a field for a higher view of the lake before circling back to the lake with a beautiful view of the viaduct from afar.

Devil’s Dyke

Devil’s Dyke is a stunning spot on the South Downs with dedicated walking tails by the National Trust. From here, you can enjoy extensive views of the Sussex countryside.  

We love this spot for children as you can either choose to park lower down and walk up, taking one of many paths that lead you to the top, or use the main car park right at the top for a stunning view and a little leg friendly meander on the paths from there.  

Devil’s Dyke is a popular spot for paragliding, so you can spend time watching them take flight and circle around above you.

Ashdown Forest – Millbrook Circular

We’re lucky to have the Ashdown Forest – home of Winnie the Pooh – on our doorstep and are spoilt for choice when it comes to walks. The Millbrook Circular is a good one, as it’s a manageable 2.7km loop, which is accessible all year round.  

The route takes in the Nutley Windmill, as well as a pond, streams and some great views of the forest. In the summer months, there are often sheep and cattle grazing on the route, which the kids love.

The Cuckoo Trail

Popular with cyclists, this picturesque 11-mile trail runs from Heathfield to Polegate and takes the route of the former Cuckoo Line railway track. It’s great for a pushchair walk, and safe for older ones to ride their bikes along. There are plenty of things to spot along the way, including bridges and sculptures, and there are a number of picnic benches where you can stop for some lunch or just to rest little legs.

Seaford promenade

The seafront in Seaford is great, as it has a wide paved path, making it perfect for a stroll with a pushchair and for older ones to ride their bikes or scooters. The beauty of the promenade is that you can make the walk as long or short as you want to. We tend to park in the Buckle car park and walk along to Seaford Head, stopping for an ice cream before walking back. 

Do you have a favourite Sussex walk? Let us know.

5 top tips for trekking with toddlers

There comes a time when your baby is – well – not such a baby any more!

There are lots of reasons why you might start to transition from baby carrying to exploring with little legs.

Maybe they’re getting antsy in the carrier and wanting to walk, or you’re fed up of carrying such a heavy load, or it’s time for them to pass their slot in the sling on to a new sibling….

As with all transitions, there’s no one way to do this right. Those of us who have been through it have collected some tips which may help you – feel free to try them out and let us know what works for you!

It’s going to be slow

Be prepared for this fact: your normal routes will take much longer! You’ll need frequent stops for snacks and to admire all the things your toddler notices along the way.

It’s great to see the world through our children’s eyes and to stop and admire every stone or leaf or tuft of grass, but it can also be cold and frustrating!

Make time for your walks together and try not to have a hard deadline that you’re rushing to.

Build up stamina

In the same way you would for yourself, build up your little one’s stamina by increasing the distance they walk every week or so.

For example, if you’re normally carrying them for a 5k walk, let them walk for 500m to a kilometre themselves to start with, depending on their confidence. Slowly build up the distance, and – as with all milestones  – don’t expect improvement to be linear.

Incentives

We never realised how important these were before having a toddler.

Doing a treasure hunt or playing eye spy can be a great way of enjoying the walk together and to incentivise them to get to the next thing.

Mine loves trains, so walking to the train station is a great incentive because he knows there’s something exciting at the end. Likewise the park, Grandpa’s house, a favourite hill or bench, even the shops!

Snacks

Once you’ve got to your desired destination it can be trickier to incentivise your little one to get home again.

Snacks can play an important role here – they’re a good distraction and a boost of energy. In fact, toddlers use so much energy while they’re walking that they need constant refuelling.

If they’re getting fed up and want carrying, sometimes a short break with a banana or half a sandwich will do the trick.

Shoes

Your toddler’s regular shoes are the best thing for them to walk in to start with, as they’ll have been fitted properly and should be nice and comfortable. But in the winter this isn’t always practical and you may opt for wellies instead.

Just be aware that not all wellies are particularly comfortable and supportive for walking longer distances. When your little one is a more established walker, you might want to invest in a pair of walking boots.

And most importantly…

ENJOY IT!

Some of our Blaze Trails groups offer toddler walks, so do keep an eye out for those – sometimes the best encouragement is for our little ones to see lots of other children doing the same thing!