7 top tips for cold weather walking

With the cold weather setting in up and down the country, it’s important to keep warm and safe when out walking with your little ones. Our very own Laura, who loves hiking with her family in Cumbria and runs The Hiking Household, has some top tips.

1.      Layer up

Dress in plenty of layers. Remember, you can always take layers off if you get too warm, but you can’t add layers that you don’t have if you get too cold.

2.      Cover hands and ears

There’s nothing worse than cold hands and ears! And a child who gets cold will never enjoy the walk! Gloves, mittens, hats and even balaclavas – we have it all when we head out.

3.      Check their shoes

Warm toes are a must! Wellies aren’t always the cosiest – my kids wear Warm Wellies, which are fab and keep toes really warm. However, most wellies don’t offer much warmth, so perhaps look at investing in some warm, woolly socks.

4.      Using a carrier/sling in cold weather

If you can, do your coat up over your baby so they’re close, as they'll get the benefit of your body heat. You could use your normal coat with a zip-in panel, leave it open with a carrier cover or a spare fleece/coat tied around the carrier, or wear an oversized/baby-wearing coat to enclose you both. However, avoid putting your baby in a snowsuit if you’re carrying them, as they can overheat. 

5.      Prepare your route well

Consider the weather when picking your route. Perhaps use a route that you know your family will find easy and enjoyable. Remember, these winter months get cold and dark very fast! The importance for these cold weather walks isn’t to cover a large distance, it’s to get outside and enjoy the fresh winter air.

6.      Check the weather forecast

This is particularly important if you’re taking your family on a hike. The weather can change drastically within seconds on the fells. Don’t forget to look at the wind chill, as well as the weather forecast. Also take care if you or your family have certain medical conditions. The crisp air can often aggregate my son’s asthma, so we’re always a lot more vigilant when the air changes.

7.      Keep warm once you’ve completed your walk

This is something I’m notoriously bad for. When you stop walking, you may feel warm, but you’ll soon lose your heat. So, always carry a warm flask of something with you and remember to have plenty of warm layers ready for you in the car. One of my children’s favourite winter walk pastimes is to stop halfway and enjoy a hot chocolate with marshmallows!

What are your top tips for walking in cold weather? Let us know.

Top tips for looking after your walking shoes

We’re loving getting out for our autumn stomps here at Blaze Trails HQ - the rich colours and crisp smells are so invigorating!

But is anyone else getting in from a muddy walk and wondering what to do about their trusty hiking boots?

Our wonderful partners Merrell have shared their top tips for looking after your walking shoes. And they should know!

How to take care of your walking boots/shoes

Caring for your boots/shoes properly will mean they’ll perform better and last longer. A vital part of this is cleaning and reproofing them.

• CLEANING - Surface dirt such as mud and grit can be cleaned off with a shoe brush, an old toothbrush or nail brush, a little warm water and if needed, a sponge/soft cloth. This should take care of the dirt and is fine to do once in a while.

• WASHING - Don’t wash your shoes in a washing machine. Remove the sock-liner or insole and wash it separately. This will help the inside of your shoes stay fresher. Laces can be washed and/or replaced. A number of brands have washing sprays/’dabbers’ that can also be used to get off all the debris i.e. Nikwax, Grangers etc.

• DRYING - Don’t place your shoes/boots near a heating device such as a heater, radiator or in an airing cupboard. Direct heat will alter their shape. Open out the shoe and then stuff the inside with kitchen paper or newspaper. Leave them to dry overnight and the paper will absorb the water.

• REPROOFING - Whenever you clean a waterproof product it’s important to reproof it. A Merrell product with a waterproof membrane - whether Gore-Tex or M-Select Dry - will remain waterproof no matter what. However, reproofing is still very important as it looks after the outer material, and therefore, you should reproof every time you clean your shoes as this will wipe away any remnants of a Durable Water Repellency (DWR coating). The outer on any footwear is there to give structure to a product and to protect the waterproof membrane. If you don’t reproof the product and the outer degrades then it won’t be able to do its job of looking after the membrane and giving structure to the product.

Do you have any hacks that you use to keep your gear in good shape and ready for anything? Let us know!

Bottle feeding outdoors: Top tips for feeding on a walk

When I first realised I wasn’t going to be able to breastfeed, one of my initial worries was about going out walking with my baby. I’d imagined going out for long walks and stopping to feed whenever I needed to, without having to take anything with me.  

As it turned out, bottle feeding was definitely not a barrier to getting out walking, and at times it definitely had its benefits! 

Blaze Trails asked its community for top tips for bottle feeding on the go, and we’ve collated them for you here...

Pack your kit

Practically, you do have to carry a bit with you, which can vary depending on how long you plan to be out for, and what the conditions are like. It also depends a lot on your baby and their feeding regime. 

The most popular method from our community was to take a flask of hot water, a sterilised bottle and pre-measured formula powder. This can take a long time to cool down to a drinkable temperature, so it’s a good idea to take some cooled boiled water along too. 

Temperature control

Temperature is a big factor to consider and can cause an unnecessary headache, but it doesn’t have to. 

I eventually found a good rhythm, where for longer walks I’d go with one bottle made up ready for the first feed, and make up the next one at the first stop so it had cooled down enough for the second feed. It sounds more complicated than it was!

One of our favourite tips, from Gina, is about getting your baby used to having milk at different temperatures, so you don’t have to worry about how warm it is when you’re out walking. 

For shorter walks where I might just need one or two feeds, I generally made up bottles, cooled them down in the fridge and took them in a cool bag with a load of ice packs, which a lot of our community do too. The NHS advice is that if you do this, bottles should be used within 4 hours, and at room temperature within 2 hours, which could easily be enough for a local walk. 

Pack some ready-to-feed formula bottles

Another popular faff-free idea from our community is to use ready-to-feed formula in bottles. They’re super-convenient and depending on how fussy your little one is, you could simply pour it into a sterilised bottle and give it to baby at room temperature, or warm it up in the cafe when you stop for a well-earned cup of tea and slice of cake. 

Feeding with baby in a sling/carrier

I also sometimes bottle fed on the go when my baby was facing inwards in the sling, which was both convenient and fun as we could chat away and make eye contact! When I first did this I was a little self-conscious and had to remind myself that it’s also possible to breastfeed on the go with a bit of practice - just watch your step! 

You got this

There were a few responses to our Instagram post about feeling confident about bottle feeding, which is something a lot of bottle-feeding and mix-feeding parents feel anyway (wherever they are). This was certainly something on my mind when I first went out walking with my baby. In reality this was unfounded – no one really cares how you feed your baby and everyone is happy to see a baby out for a walk. Or at least, that’s how it seemed to me! 

For some reason I thought I’d be the only parent bottle feeding when I founded our branch of Blaze Trails, but I was completely wrong. There were people breastfeeding, bottle feeding and mix-feeding. And some older little ones who were weaned altogether. 

Enjoy the freedom

Perhaps a general perk to bottle feeding rather than walking specifically, but it does mean that you might have a chance to go for a baby-free walk and leave someone else at home feeding the baby, or send them on a Blaze Trails walk without you!

JOIN YOUR LOCAL BLAZE TRAILS WALKING GROUP

Whether you’re bottle feeding or breastfeeding, you’ll be in good company on a Blaze Trails walk. There’s no need to feel nervous or worried about holding the others up, our walks take as long as they take because when babies need feeding, you need to feed them – by bottle or boob! It’s likely that the other group members will welcome a rest too, and it’s a good time for a proper chat and a chance to catch your breath. 

Find your local group here, or start your own!

Most importantly...just get out there and do it!

What are your tips for bottle feeding outdoors? Let us know!

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.