u/DiapersAndDayhikes

Honestly I thought I was prepared for exclusive pumping… but the night schedule is something else 😅 I can't seem to get a full night's sleep these days, leaving me feeling exhausted during the day. I’m curious how other EP moms are handling this especially for those who need to go out for working in the morning.

We finally took our newborn daughter on the Del Valle Lake Trail with my husband, and honestly… it went way better than I expected! Figured I’d share a few things that worked for us in case anyone else is thinking about doing a short hike with a tiny baby 👇

Timing matters A LOT for anyone who has a small baby. With a small baby, the whole thing took us at least ~2 hours (and we weren’t even rushing). I highly recommend eating something light before OR bring breakfast with you in case you feel worn out. Get there before 10am because the weather is nicer and baby is usually in a better mood. Our flow was: hike → drive to Milpitas → quick lunch → home for afternoon nap 💤 Baby didn’t get overtired, which equals no meltdown (for her… or us lol).

We also prepared gear that saved us. We bring child carrier backpack (hands free = life saver 🙌), milk storage bottle (keeps pumped milk cold), portable bottle warmer, diapers (more than you think you need… trust me). What I usually do is feeding her directly in the car when we arrive, then later use the stored milk and warm it up when she’s hungry again. Worked surprisingly smoothly!

It felt really special doing something “normal” again as a family, instead of just surviving at home on repeat.
Fresh air, a little movement, and watching her just chill in the carrier… kinda magical 🥹 I know she won’t remember this, but I like to think being out in nature is good for her (and definitely for us lol). Next time, I’m going to try hiking with her on my own — this is women’s strength 💪✨

We finally took our newborn daughter on the Del Valle Lake Trail with my husband, and honestly… it went way better than I expected! Figured I’d share a few things that worked for us in case anyone else is thinking about doing a short hike with a tiny baby 👇

Timing matters A LOT for anyone who has a small baby. With a small baby, the whole thing took us at least ~2 hours (and we weren’t even rushing). I highly recommend eating something light before OR bring breakfast with you in case you feel worn out. Get there before 10am because the weather is nicer and baby is usually in a better mood. Our flow was: hike → drive to Milpitas → quick lunch → home for afternoon nap 💤 Baby didn’t get overtired, which equals no meltdown (for her… or us lol).

We also prepared gear that saved us. We bring child carrier backpack (hands free = life saver 🙌), milk storage bottle (keeps pumped milk cold), portable bottle warmer, diapers (more than you think you need… trust me). What I usually do is feeding her directly in the car when we arrive, then later use the stored milk and warm it up when she’s hungry again. Worked surprisingly smoothly!

It felt really special doing something “normal” again as a family, instead of just surviving at home on repeat.
Fresh air, a little movement, and watching her just chill in the carrier… kinda magical 🥹 I know she won’t remember this, but I like to think being out in nature is good for her (and definitely for us lol). Next time, I’m going to try hiking with her on my own — this is women’s strength 💪✨

We finally took our newborn daughter on the Del Valle Lake Trail with my husband, and honestly… it went way better than I expected! Figured I’d share a few things that worked for us in case anyone else is thinking about doing a short hike with a tiny baby 👇

Timing matters A LOT for anyone who has a small baby. With a small baby, the whole thing took us at least ~2 hours (and we weren’t even rushing). I highly recommend eating something light before OR bring breakfast with you in case you feel worn out. Get there before 10am because the weather is nicer and baby is usually in a better mood. Our flow was: hike → drive to Milpitas → quick lunch → home for afternoon nap 💤 Baby didn’t get overtired, which equals no meltdown (for her… or us lol).

We also prepared gear that saved us. We bring child carrier backpack (hands free = life saver 🙌), milk storage bottle (keeps pumped milk cold), portable bottle warmer, diapers (more than you think you need… trust me). What I usually do is feeding her directly in the car when we arrive, then later use the stored milk and warm it up when she’s hungry again. Worked surprisingly smoothly!

It felt really special doing something “normal” again as a family, instead of just surviving at home on repeat.
Fresh air, a little movement, and watching her just chill in the carrier… kinda magical 🥹 I know she won’t remember this, but I like to think being out in nature is good for her (and definitely for us lol). Next time, I’m going to try hiking with her on my own — this is women’s strength 💪✨