Why We Get Outside... cause sometimes it feels like so much work

I pictured this dreamy, cinematic moment: baby snuggled into the carrier, me soaking in a gorgeous view, feeling instantly restored.

Reality check: the first few times were chaos. Leaving the house with a baby or two is simply not fun. Bottles, diapers, a change of clothes, snacks, wipes… and that constant feeling you forgot the one thing you’ll definitely need. And then the blowout happens and you realize you did, in fact, forget something.

But it gets easier. Slowly, you learn what you actually need, what you don’t, and how to keep it simple. Park walks became our training ground. Then the trails started to feel possible again. Now it’s part of our routine and the payoff is real.

We all love the Instagram moments: the beautiful backdrops, the baby cuddles, the proof that we made it out there. But my favorite moments are usually smaller. It’s when I’m staring at my feet, just putting one foot in front of the other, and my toddler in the back carrier looks out and says one of the few words he knows: “ohhh woooooow.” It snaps me back into the present. I look up and see the trail from his new human perspective. Or it’s the even earlier moments, during walking breaks, when I’d stare at his face as he stared at leaves fluttering and catching the light. He was mesmerized, and I was too.

That’s why we keep going outside, even when it feels like an ordeal. The effort is real… but so are the benefits.

The Benefits of Getting Outside (for babies, toddlers, and you)

1. Sensory + motor development (babies & toddlers)
    Outdoor spaces offer richer input, different sounds, textures, temperatures, and terrain. That variety supports sensory development and invites movement: reaching, tracking, cruising, climbing, balancing, and all the “practice” kids don’t even realize they’re doing.
   

2. More movement (toddlers and you, too)
    Kids almost always move more outside than inside. Outdoor time usually means more active play and less sitting, which supports coordination, strength, and overall health and it gets you moving too, even on the days you wouldn’t choose a workout.
   

3. Eye health (older kids, and habits start early)
    More outdoor time is linked with a lower risk of becoming near-sighted (myopia)—when kids can see up close, but far away looks blurry. The strongest evidence is in school-age kids, but building the “we go outside” habit early is still a win.
   

4. Attention reset (toddlers/preschoolers—and you)
   Fast-paced screen content is designed to grab attention quickly, and experiments suggest it can temporarily tax preschoolers’ executive function. In contrast, nature tends to hold attention in a gentler way (“soft fascination”) which may help attention recovery and stress regulation.

5. Nervous system reset (you—and it spills over to them)
   Nature exposure is linked with lower stress and better mental wellbeing in adults. And when you’re calmer and more regulated, your kids feel it, outings go a little smoother, patience lasts a little longer, and everyone comes home with a fuller cup.