We just car camp with the massive REI Kingdom tent and assemble the pack and play in it for nap time and bed time. Fuck camping with no naps. That is bullshit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerome
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We just car camp with the massive REI Kingdom tent and assemble the pack and play in it for nap time and bed time. Fuck camping with no naps. That is bullshit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerome
Anything is possible.
That said: fuck backpacking with an infant/toddler.
:nonono2:
Do it. Attachment 223267
I agree that it depends a lot on your child. When mine would get antsy in her pack, we would stop, take her out and fart around a bit. We would always have a snack for her to munch on while she was in the pack. Did she have melt downs? of course, often times she would sleep upright in her pack after a good wail. Plus it seemed to keep the bears away. We kept her entertained on hikes with singing, playing with leaves and bugs or rocks or whatever seems interesting. Patience, being ok with not going fast, and gear to keep the family warm, dry and fed are key. This photo was taken in the beartooth absaroka wilderness, about 5 miles in and the first day of a four night stay on a chain of lakes. The rangers were a little surprised to see us back there.
If your not having fun its not worth it.
LOL!Quote:
Originally Posted by skaredshtles
My wife and I overnight a few times with 2 small kids. 1 could walk, so only 1 was a true infant in a child carrier. The sleep piece is difficult. The little toddler was 28-30 pounds and we carried him extremely easily in an Osprey we were using. Yes, he has slept in it a handful of times on the trail. Yes, he has thrown fits. Sun can be an issue. But yes, it's possible. Don't trick yourself into thinking that the backpacking will be the main course. The kid will be the main course--the voyage will be an occasional perk! :-)
Trip Update: SUCCESS!!!!!
I had a weekend with just my kid and I so I took him to hike from Wrights Lake to the western side of Desolation Wilderness. We hiked in about 4 miles to a sweet little lake campsite.
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Nice work!
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I realize you have all the shit laid out on the bed of the truck, but I am still baffled by how you fit it all in and on the kid carrier pack. I'll be damned if I can figure out how to get more than sunscreen, a sandwich, and a bottle of water in mine.
I've been all car-camping for the past couple years. I'm looking forward to some easy backpacking next year.
right on 20 years from now you will spend more time looking at these photos than anything you did prior to your son.
Nice! I've had good luck car (truck) camping with my 2.5 year old this summer. We've gotten four trips in so far. First one was a little rough sleep-wise, but numbers 2-4 she has slept great (knock on wood).
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Yeah, it's all about cam straps and attaching everything to the frame. I had the giant double sleeping bag under the kid, and a new bikepacking 20L bag (never used for bikepacking) and a Camp superlight backpack strapped to the back. I tried better weight distribution with the heavy stuff under the kid, and sleeping bag out back, but the weight pushed on my kids legs, so I had to revert to the forward lean. I'm pretty sure the pack was around 50 lbs, and the kid is 30 lbs. so it's not lightweight at all. In fact, my 10 year old 5.10 river shoes blew out about a mile in. The old foam decided to quit under the 275lb load.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sirshredalot
Sleeping isn't really all that great overnight, especially since we were fighting over the teddy/cat as a pillow, and the kid ended up everywhere, including the head of the sleeping bag, the bottom of the sleeping bag. But we still managed to be totally awake for the hike out and the strider ride to the lake, and lake swim.
Sounds great, man. Way to get it done.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerome
Next year, my oldest will be able to walkfor a mile or two. That leaves one adult to carry a regular backpacking pack and one to carry the child pack. I think we will get it done if we pack right.
Enjoy it now. My daughter is in the in between stage of too big for the kid carrier pack and too little to walk miles without a million distractions or wanting to be carried.
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It makes me feel warm and fuzzy that you packed in that teddy bear.
That's a lucky kid.
Impressive work. I have not backpacked in years but hope to with my kid sometime soon.
That's his security blanket. He's such an easy kid, at least right now, but there are a few things that make everything go smoothly. And Meow is one of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by mtngirl79
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Took the five month out for her first backpack. Short 2.5 mile river hike in Olympic National Park. Bringing the hammock and a tarp for shade was money. She even fell asleep in the hammock by herself for a two hour nap. Just like home in the swing.
Haha, cute picture! Way to get out there!
If mom's delivering the nutrition you've got meals and drink covered for the baby. Honestly, as long as it isn't too hot or too cold a baby would be easier to carry than a 3 year old and their food and gear.. which would be inevitable on anything beyond car camping.
Love seeing all the kid stoke! And nice work getting out Gerome.
The worst part about backpacking with babies....is carrying out the dirty diapers. Bring a dry bag.
We've gone every year since they were 9 months old. Start, and don't stop. And yeah, forget the pack n play - save that for car camping. Bring some twist ties for the tent zippers while the munchkin(s) go to sleep. They're usually so blasted that they sleep great. Usually. It was definitely worse under 3 years old.
At ages 9 mos and 21 mos, we carried them in. At 33 months, they hiked. The last few years, we've hiked in about as many miles as they are years old, then set up base camp, and do day hikes. We've graduated to actual backpacking (camping only 1 night at each spot). They love it. Fack, who doesn't love backpacking! Oh yeah, the only time we ever give our kids sugary food is when backpacking, hiking, biking, or skiing -- so yeah, they reallllllly love hiking haha
From our first time out:
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Oh yeah, for sleeping the first couple years, we just bundled them up in tons of clothes, brought a light fleece blanket to cover them up. We didn't have sleeping bags for them, and they wouldn't have stayed in them anyway! In the Sierra, we usually bring a 4-season, 3-man tent from the 90s, and the girls sleep on foam pads with us on either side. It's tightish, but warmer that way.
Now they have their own super bulky sleeping bags.
Carrying stylo: I had one on front, all of my gear and wife's gear, and our food/cook gear. Wife carried the other kid in the Kelty, and all of their stuff. Here's my rig:
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Holy shit sherpa!
We bought expensive bags for the kids when we went back to backpacking. My 8 year old is rocking a Western Mountaineering bag because weight is a drag on family fun and it will last her for years.
When they are babies/tiny standard issue puffies that you probably have with you anyway work awesome and are pretty much the gold standard for baby sleeping bags.
Yeah when ours was younger we just dressed her up in her ski/snow clothes + fleece onesie for tent camping. We just bought her an REI kids bag now that she's almost three and wants to sleep in a bag like me.
That's awesome. Maybe a dumb question, but did you have your kid wear thermal layers under the fleece?Quote:
Originally Posted by Cravenmorhead
I've car camped with an infant. Biggest problem for me was keeping up with the changing/feeding schedule when it got cold and dark out. I don't think I'd want to backpack with an infant. My 3.5 year old is just barely getting to the point where i'd consider a short backpacking trip.
I disagree that being a newborn is too young. My daughter was born the middle of May last year (c-section), and we did her first trip when she was 7 weeks old. We picked a campground that was in bailing distance to our house (about an hour) so that if at 2 am the first night we were done with it, we could get up and leave and come back for our stuff the next day if need be.
All and all, she did great! We stayed the whole weekend( though we did hurry back to town Sunday cause we were down to one diaper). The two pieces of equipment I would suggest are a Pea Pod tent (or something similar) for them to sleep in and a bug shirt to go over your babe for when you're carrying them.
Bottom line: if you're willing/comfortable going camping with a newborn, give it a go, but be ready to pack it in if things don't go well and willing to try it again. Have fun!
You talking backpacking or car camping?Quote:
Originally Posted by m8c1dc
We went backpacking again last weekend using the Kelty Kids backpack. Attaching the camping gear this time went so much better after realizing that I had the kid backpack set up incorrectly. We went on a family trip to Bend last month and on a 7 mile day hike, I figured out several straps and adjustments that needed to be made that completely corrected my posture with the backpack on. Last weekend, I was no longer leaning forward while carrying the kid and kit. Plus my wife actually made the trip this time too. I really have to make an active effort to get backpacking at least once a month for the rest of summer and fall because it is a blast to camp with the kid. Even if we only have a two person tent.
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oh boy, sideways photos. Oh well.....
Nice job. Enjoy it. Toughest thing for me was when my daughter got too big for the carrier and is still too little to hike miles.
At 4 now we can only do 1-2 mile hikes before she hits a wall.
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Awesome shots! Little ones don't stay babies for long. We nicknamed my stepson Sherpa Hollywood this year.
When my wife and I had a baby, we decided to continue traveling. It was harder, but possible. We didn’t want to give up the usual way of life.
We think that even if our child never remembers the trip, it’ll see photos and hear stories someday.
If you dare to do this, prepare well for the journey. Don’t forget diapers. Buy a comfortable backpack, take enough food. Don’t forget about children clothes, you’ll have to change it often. Think about what your baby needs for sleep.
And most importantly, be positive, in any case , this trip will be unforgettable :)
Wow ^
Dumbest post ever. Dummy.
Can I add; “when it gets hungry, don’t forget to feed it”
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Hiking with a baby is definitely possible. You will make more memories this way. But of course, it will be a little harder with a baby and a huge backpack. Make sure you have the comfiest backpack with excellent weight distribution. Also, you need to carry some extra stuff for your baby as well.