Formula-Feeding in the Backcountry
On the morning that we were to be discharged from the Canmore Hospital to bring our newborn son home, we ended up tailgating his ambulance to the Calgary Foothills. Indy spent his first few days of life in the NICU, surrounded by nurses and doctors who worked hard to address his respiratory distress. My husband and I spent his first few days of life taking turns to visit him (due to Covid-19 protocols), fidgeting our way around all the tubing to cuddle him.
In my mind, that initial separation kick-started a rocky breastfeeding relationship between Indy and I. While I was home in Canmore trying to figure out engorgement, tenderness and pumping, he was being formula-fed at the NICU in Calgary. Even after he was discharged, I had the sense that my milk supply never quite caught up!
Initially, I felt confined to our home. There, I had access to purified water, bottles and formula, and I could secretly top him up at the end of a nursing session without anyone judging me. Even when I started pondering the idea of camping with our newborn, all the tips offered online seemed to highlight the need to be breastfeeding for convenience sake. Having found no piece of advice on formula-feeding in the backcountry, I became disillusioned.
Eventually though, I learned to give myself grace. I learned to view the positives on the feeding journey we were on: His growth. His energy. My peace of mind. My freedom. What’s more? I learned that you most certainly can go into the backcountry with a formula-fed baby. Here’s how we did it:
Count how many bottles and formula scoops your baby has within a time period.
If your plan is to go hiking, track how much your baby usually drinks within the time period of your hike. Likewise, if your plan is to go camping or backpacking, make note of how much your baby usually drinks throughout the day, night and following day. Once you have made note of this, you will have a rough idea of how many bottles and how much formula you will need to pack, making sure you bring a little extra just in case!
Pre-portion formula into a ziploc bag.
Lessen the weight by packing the amount of formula scoops you will need into a ziploc bag, rather than bringing the entire container. Make sure you securely seal the ziploc bag, and perhaps even double-bag it for good measure. Don’t forget to pack your scooper!
Pack purified water & sterilize bottles at your campsite or hut.
If your baby is younger than 3 months of age, it is recommended that water be boiled and cooled, and that bottles be washed and sterilized between uses. You can pack a bottle of pre-boiled water specifically for your baby. Additionally, you can wash your bottles in soapy water and sterilize them by submerging them in a pot of boiling water for 2+ minutes at your campsite or hut. Simply do not forget to pack your camping pot, stove and lighter, or to make sure that your hut provides that.
Warm up water at home before your winter adventures.
If you will be heading out hiking, snowshoeing or xc-skiing on a winter day with your baby, pour warm water into a well-sealed thermos that will maintain its temperature. Transfer the warm water over to your baby’s bottle when the time comes for a feed.
Stock up on purified water, bottles and formula in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
Keep extra stashed in your car just in case! You never know when it might come in handy.
When Indy was three months old, we took him on an overnight hike into the Conrad Kain hut in Bugaboo Provincial Park. He was still feeding 4oz bottles of formula every 3 hours throughout the day, and once throughout the night. We packed formula and a couple of bottles (which we washed and sanitized on rotation at the hut), and it only took up a bit of space in our backpacks. It was 100% do-able, and we had such an incredible time!
