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Hello sunshine, I’ve missed you so. How about these last couple of days? I love how the triumphant return of blue skies, chirping birds, and temperatures above 50 so reliably inspires such giddiness in most everyone. It’s spring: Time for cleaning, driving with the windows cracked, and walks. This year the timing couldn’t be more impeccable — cutting teeth and learning to crawl is leaving my little one with a short fuse, so being able to get some fresh air has cut off many a meltdown at the pass (both hers and mine).
If just the sight of the bright outdoors isn’t tempting enough to get you and your baby out and about, consider this: Vitamin D. A necessary nutrient for infant bone growth, Vitamin D can be found naturally in two places — sunlight and cod liver oil. Of the two, what sounds more appealing to you? All it takes is a little bit of daily exposure for baby to get their quota. And Vitamin D helps ward against depression, which is why you may notice you feel happier during spring and summer months.
Now that you’re ready to go truck through some spring mud, let me take this opportunity to once again extol the virtues of baby-wearing. I cannot say enough good things about this simple practice — wraps and slings are a practical and natural way to bond with and calm baby. Whether you use a ring sling, Moby wrap, Ergo, Mei Tai, or any of the other dozens available, you’ll find it’s a most wonderful and easy way to enjoy the outdoors (or get some chores done around the house) — no cumbersome stroller to maneuver over rough terrain (or wonky sidewalks), and the proximity is comforting for baby, meaning they spend less time fussing and more time learning.
So, with boots and baby on, where do you go? Here are some beautiful, scenic places to go strolling in the Valley if your own neighborhood route is starting to get old:
