Traveling Family Spotlight: The Adventures in Parenthood Project
Meet Meghan! She and her husband love to hike and climb around their *gorgeous* town of Banf, Alberta, Canada. They strive to continue this love and pass it on to their baby daughter. Their enthusiasm for the outdoors goes beyond pleasure as they both also work in the field and have contributed much writing and photography. Having a baby is a whole other world though, and lately Meghan has been adding her knowledge to the fairly untouched-upon subject of living an outdoor life with children and babies. This family is a little different than many of the traveling families we have featured before. They don't necessarily travel full time or for long periods but instead spend a great deal of time in the wilderness of the Canadian Rockies. Hopefully Megan's tips can help other parents enjoy the outdoors more often with their children.
- When and how did you learn about babywearing? Did you know you would wear your baby before she was born?
- As an outdoor enthusiast how does it feel to be able to bring your daughter with you? Do you feel like you bring her with you more than you would if you didn't have a carrier?
It is incredibly liberating, whether I want to hike a trail or buy some groceries. I do use a Chariot stroller for long walks around town and running some errands. But having the means to carry my daughter opened up many possibilities for me, and definitely helped me get out more, doing the things I love. In terms of the outdoors, it is a win-win for each of us. I can get a hike in while she has the chance to nap or look around in the carrier. We both have the chance to get some fresh air - this makes us very happy! I should also mention that carrying her on hikes was a great way to get some fitness back after having the baby.
- Is there anything that you didn't bargain for, that is harder or impossible to do with your daughter? How have you overcome challenges?
It might sound funny, but pushing a stroller around I get a good feeling for what it must be like to be in a wheelchair. The access is absolutely terrible: very few buildings where I live have ramps, elevators are in awkward locations, and aisles are narrow. I also live in a mountain town with only a few paved paths. Now I have a mental picture of everywhere I'm going, and I run through it when I'm deciding whether to take my daughter out in the stroller or the baby carrier. Most often I opt to wear my baby, and this has helped me overcome these everyday challenges.
- What would you tell adventurous couples thinking about starting a family?
- What are your favorite tips for getting outside or traveling with a baby.
- What's you favorite thing to do while babywearing?
- How do you plan to continue the outdoor life with your daughter as she gets older and can hike and climb herself? Is there a place you can't wait to show her or a thing you really want to do with her?
Find out more about Meghan and her family: