Climbing with Baby/Mobile Baby/Toddler

Aside from having a crew to alternate child care and climbing, what additional things do you bring to the crag/boulders with a baby/mobile baby/toddler in tow?

There is a decade+ old forum post about this, but are there new tools or tips to manage little ones at various stages of needs/mobility while getting some outdoor climbing done?

Looking to get a good setup before the kid comes in March. We already roped a friend or 4 into the idea of cragging with kid, now we just need the right gear.

Babies are pretty easy, it's when they start moving that things become more challenging...

A lightweight pop up tent is helpful for napping. We got a BD pipe dream pack, which is nice to create a soft surface. 

However really the crux of the issue is where you're going and who you're with. Other parents will likely be your best bet, as they're in the same boat as you, so it's usually pretty easy to link up for group outings. 

Benadryl

Solid advice. Already ordered the pipe dream and looking at pop up. Our closest climbing couple friends are two months behind us gestationally, which is convenient.

As for the Benadryl comment…only if they have an urgent medical need for it…

The fix and follow is an interesting idea and the crag closest to us has easy top access.

keep the tips coming.

Our pack-n-play's storage bag had two shoulder straps, so whoever carried that had an easier time. There was just barely enough room in there for a lightweight hammock. The Poco+ is big enough to carry sport climbing gear and baby gear. Before the kid is big enough to ride in the Poco, soft front-carriers are very backpack compatible.

We also got in the habit of using a fairly small diaper bag, so when it came time to cram it's contents into the Poco, it was an easy fit.

But the real key is to have a third person and to manage your expectations. Everything takes longer, so start small until you really understand your time dilation.

For a young baby, I hope the breastfeeding establishes easily for mom/baby, otherwise you’d have to lug all the feeding-related items.

Once they are eating solid foods, packing the right snacks (and lots of them) becomes key. You would need a variety of things they like to eat, and ideally a bunch of stuff that they can eat on their own, but that takes a significant time to eat, so it becomes entertainment/distraction, if needed. Non-food entertainment also, obviously. Ideally something that doesn’t make obnoxious noises, lol.

The time dilation effect can’t be overstated, especially with the first baby. Getting out of the house even for something as mundane as grocery shopping would feel hard, until you get the hang of it.

There is also a big unknown of your baby’s temperament. Obviously babies eventually get used to whatever your regular routine is, this is not climbing-specific, but some babies do it with minimal fuss, and some take a heavy toll on your mental health, while you figure out what works.

You can make all the preparations in the world, and then discover that your baby is just not going along with the program, and the climbing trip is so stressful for everyone involved that it is not worth it. Hope for the best, and deal with what comes as it comes. 

I am in the same boat as you and baby due in march, but I have been reviving the forgotten climbing areas to make them baby and kid compatible. Don't have to worry about crowds if they don't know all the bolts have been replaced.

Don Frijoles wrote:

You're smart to plan ahead. With the right setup, your life, and your climbing, won't change much at all.

except for the first month...and the month after that.....and the one after that....

curt86iroc wrote:

except for the first month...and the month after that.....and the one after that....

I did put a climbing wall in my living room last fall to hopefully curb decreases in performance when I can occasionally go touch real rocks with a child.

Post limit edit: Mom is itching to lose the 40 lbs weight vest and get back on Cookie Monster

Don Frijoles wrote:

You're smart to plan ahead. With the right setup, your life, and your climbing, won't change much at all.

It’s all about the mom, she’s a huge variable, then there’s the baby’s temperament, and cost (not just $) of childcare. Other than those wild card factors, your life and your climbing won’t change much at all.

It only lasts a decade or three

Back in the day when my kid were little I had a baby jogger to put kidos in and the jogger held small ice chest and climbing gear and as mentioned the petzl body harness with a tether to make things safe and I always brought snacks, games and toys to make fun time for the little greebo’s lol and went to places with easy access happy climbing Mike A.

Remember all those crags with easy approaches and flat bases that must be perfect for kids? Turns out that those bases are all way steeper than you remember, there's drop-offs everywhere, boulder piles for them to fall into, cactus, rockfall, etc.

it’s pretty easy, the trick is to get fat and quit climbing. 

Aside from the Benadryl, I feel like I have been pretty successful at being active outdoors with small children. Granted I wasn’t climbing when they were small, but each of them had camped before they were six months old. Now they are 9, 11, and 13 and are capable in any outdoor situation. They all climb at least 5.9 and can lead easy stuff safely.
Your life will change, but as long as you make them part of what is important to you, it will be important to them. It is ok for kids to cry. It is ok to tell them no. They will get hurt, it’s ok. Don’t be reckless, but don’t be afraid either. Let them see what a healthy risk tolerance looks like. Make plans, but keep them general and be adaptive. Instead of planning on climbing in a specific area on specific routes, plan on being outside for the day. That way you won’t be disappointed and frustrated when you can’t do exactly what you planned on. You’ll stay happy and that will make it easier for them to be happy. 

• Pre mobile kid we used a snuggle nest by baby delight bassinet and created a shade structure with a light blanket (double as changing area) folds so can throw diapers, wipes and a couple toys in there. edelrid makes a fantastic kid harness for relatively inexpensive and tying them off to that once they are mobile seems to work pretty well. Ergo 360 was chill to belay/breastfeed in. As stated the osprey poco plus was literally the beta. Plan cragging somewhat around nap time. Having extra hands is really dreamy but not impossible with just 2. You could also get one of those kidco pea pod tents they zip and have a comfy bottom. Good for camping too. I wish we had ours when she started crawling because it's a safe space they can't get out of but doubles as shade and gives you hands free. 

John Clark wrote:

Aside from having a crew to alternate child care and climbing, what additional things do you bring to the crag/boulders with a baby/mobile baby/toddler in tow?

There is a decade+ old forum post about this, but are there new tools or tips to manage little ones at various stages of needs/mobility while getting some outdoor climbing done?

Looking to get a good setup before the kid comes in March. We already roped a friend or 4 into the idea of cragging with kid, now we just need the right gear.

We currently have a 10 month old so are a year ahead of you. I'll echo what others have said in that it is much easier before they start crawling. Now that she is mobile, it is essentially a full time job of one person to keep them entertained and watch them while doing anything. I honestly can't imagine cragging at the moment without the help of a third person. You may get lucky and have a child that naps all the time but don't expect it. If I'm going with my family it is a bouldering trip. The logistics are just a lot easier and you aren't actually climbing 90% of the time anyway. For cragging, it helps to have a supportive wife that let's you get out :) Embrace half-days so you can still be a part of your family on days that you do go out. I'm up in Truckee so if you are interested in more parent-partners let me know. 

Lena chita wrote:

There is also a big unknown of your baby’s temperament. Obviously babies eventually get used to whatever your regular routine is, this is not climbing-specific, but some babies do it with minimal fuss, and some take a heavy toll on your mental health, while you figure out what works.

You can make all the preparations in the world, and then discover that your baby is just not going along with the program, and the climbing trip is so stressful for everyone involved that it is not worth it. Hope for the best, and deal with what comes as it comes. 

This^

My little one has been coming with us cragging since she was a few weeks old. We’ve had good and bad days, but the best so far, especially earlier as a baby, came with bouldering.

My two cents, pack well and be very organized with your baby’s toys and other material needs, because you will find yourself spending a lot of time just getting out of the house, and carrying a lot of shit at the crag.

last, my little one is now 4 and a great cragging companion

You can do everything with kids, the 1st big step is to manage your own expectations. I brought my kids hiking, mountain biking, climbing, backcountry skiing, backpacking, hunting…

1.  Carefully choose the location. Until your setup is perfectly dialed, always go to places you know.
2. Plan around the kids meal time and nap time. You can disrupt their schedule, but you will pay for it at some point.
3. Keep a ratio of min 1 adult/kid. (Kids are a danger to themself and they are fast!)
4. Snacks, snacks, snacks, toys, snacks, toys…
5. Start small and make it fun. But ALWAYS have a plan B. You want to go climb, maybe your kid doesn’t that day. 
6. You know all the MP posts about crag dogs, now think that you could replace the word dog by kid. Jokes aside, keep in mind that eventually your kid will go through some phases, just plan accordingly and all kids are different.
7. Band aids, Benadryl, sunscreen and always a change of clothes.
8. Always get the buy in from your significant other. I learned the hard way with the 1st kid, but I would have been much harder without my wife putting some boundaries to my optimism…
   have fun!

Is there concern about rockfall, crag dogs, dope smoke, crux-out curse screaming, rap music, crashing drones, crying-baby haters, or the other craggy dangers of route base babies?