Baby on Board

Run and climb and swim and play—maintain your wilderness mojo through pregnancy and beyond.

By Avital Andrews

March 4, 2014

Diapers make martyrs of parents seeking a traceless sojourn in nature. The reusable cotton gPants by GDIAPERS come in a range of sizes and colors, from Good Morning Sunshine to Genius Blue, and can be lined with either washable or disposable inserts. Since you'll be humping that fetid haul back anyway, might as well go with the washable cloth. $18 for a pair of gPants, $33 for a set of six cloth inserts.

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Keep baby hydrated with a stainless steel bottle that can withstand a tumble down the trail. On the off chance that KLEAN KANTEEN's lead-, phthalate-, and BPA-free Baby Bottle doesn't survive a trek over a river or through a wood, there's a lifetime warranty. Choose the five-ounce, slow-flow bottle ($19) for babies up to six months or the nine-ounce, medium-flow one ($21) for those seven months and up.

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You can go straight from your sleeping bag to walking the backcountry when you're wearing the Fold Over Belly Maternity Yoga Pants by DESTINATION MATERNITY. These stretchy leggings save you from wrestling into a whole new outfit (and let you pack lighter). While the jersey-knit pants are fine for indoor athletics too, a yoga studio will never compare with the woods. $25

Lori Eanes
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Baby or no, playing outside is infinitely more comfortable with a good sports bra. The Fiona by MOVING COMFORT fastens in the back so you don't have to wrench it over your sweaty shoulders and head. Its adjustable straps also unfasten in front, making it easy to nurse your infant when she starts howling halfway through your hike. $46

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Slip the Toddler Rockbrook CNX water shoes by KEEN on your aquatic progeny's feet so she can bound into the stream without a fuss. The flexible rubber soles feature a multidirectional lug pattern to keep the tiny kicks from slipping when things get slick. $45

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Think of your offspring as an aid to your resistance training as you push the 26-pound BOB Sport Utility Stroller off-road. The padded handlebar and attached wrist straps spare your palms and forgive a sweaty grip, while the nubby wheels yield a smoother, steady ride. With the canopy's viewing window, you might glimpse plump fingers grasping skyward in delight. $379

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Maybe baby wants to see the world, or maybe he needs a shoulder where he can rest his wee, drooly jowls. The ERGOBABY Organic Baby Carrier lets you strap on your little guy whichever way best suits the moment—across your back, on your belly, or over your hip. An attached hood blocks the sun, and the carrier itself can be chucked in the washer after a long, slobbery trip. $135

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Pregnancy need not keep you from dangling off a cliff. The full-body MOUNTAIN MAMA BY MAD ROCK Climbing Harness for Pregnancy has X-shape straps across the back to keep your belly and your baby safe. Padded leg loops let you hang comfortably in each trimester. $120

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The ingredients in the Organic Baby Bug Repellent from LAFES seem more suited to incense sticks than insect deterrent: water plus essential oils of geranium, cedarwood, eucalyptus, lemon, lavender, and sweet almond. Which means it's not only safer than DEET—it also smells better. The four-ounce plastic bottle is, of course, BPA-free. $9 

Lori Eanes
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