A Look Back: Backpacking with Baby

shutterstock_190361984By Kit Richards, Tahoe City, California

Originally published in July/August 1971 La Leche League News

Editor’s Note: The first issue of La Leche League News, the bimonthly publication for members, was published in 1958. The name changed to New Beginnings in 1985. New Beginnings continued to publish until 2014 when it switched to its current blog format at www.lllusa.org/blog/.

My husband, Bob, and I have always enjoyed backpacking into fairly remote places. When we found out that we were expecting our first child we wondered if we would ever be able to go into the back country again. We decided during my pregnancy that we would not let our baby change our ways completely; rather we would include our new little one.

We agreed that the best thing in the world would be for me to breastfeed. I had all the support I needed from my loving husband, whose comment was always, “Since it is nature’s way, it must be the best way.” What a joy and great help he is to me.

We had told friends and relatives that we planned to backpack with Laura her first summer. There were many doubtful expressions, and sometimes we even wondered about it ourselves. But before she was 10 weeks old we decided to try it. We live in the mountains, so didn’t have to travel far to start our hike; in fact, we didn’t even start out until we had had a quiet, unrushed breakfast at home. After a 20-minute drive, a change of disposable diapers, and a snack from mother for the baby, we were on the trail. I carried Laura in front in a baby sling and my gear and our new backpacking tent, which I insisted on taking to protect Laura from biting insects. Even our dog had a pack in which to carry all her dog food.

shutterstock_264536090After a short four-mile hike, with one “baby stop” we reached Hidden Lake, our destination for the night. The tent was quickly put up and the sleeping bags unrolled for a bed where I could easily and comfortably feed the baby. I had brought the foam mattress from the bassinet for Laura to sleep on. The corner of the tent and our packs formed the sides of her bed. Her “routine” was no different than usual, and she slept well.

We all woke up to a wonderful sunny, fresh-air morning. After breakfast we left the tent and hiked two miles to another lake to do some fishing. I found a nice shady place to feed Laura and keep her happy. Slowly we worked our way back to the tent, and Bob and I took turns swimming to refresh ourselves for the hike out.

Laura loved being held, and she was fascinated by all the trees and mountains moving as we walked. It was wonderful to be able to include her in our enjoyment. We could never have done this if I weren’t nursing her. The extra weight of bottles and formula and the necessary precautions needed for artificial feeding would have kept us home.

I am so thankful over and over again that I am breastfeeding, and we are a closer family from the start because of it.