ATTN parents!! I need some serious child care advise for Trikefest

[350Xhilaration]

cris200x...BS.

Kids are one of the greatest things in life. I'd like to spend more with my three for sure.

But, taking them on a 15 or so hour trip to a place with semi primitive conditions...not a chance.

Kick back, enjoy the Florida sun (and AC) and hang with momma and the boy. No missed naps, no worrying about what to do with him (or not do with him).

I'd like to see ya there, but I can't imagine a road trip like that with any of my three...

Good luck whatever you decide. You're the dad. You get to make the call. (if the momma says you get to make the call )

[firehart]

Are you going to meet some other friends with small children there? Maybe you can work out a deal where you can just watch each other's children while the other goes out. Say an hour for each outing.

[200xcellent]

Lonesome, I told my girlfriend about your situation and she said she would be more than happy to watch him on/off so you could kick it and ride some. She loves babies and it would give her something to do since she wont be riding much. Just an offer, wont be offended if you decline the way todays world is.

[TimSr]

Every kid is different, and you know yours better than anyone here. This has been my experience. As most know, Ive been raising TimJr since he was a baby, and he grew up with the camping and riding, and the long trips. He was 6 months old on his first camping trip, and we have never slowed down since. Sure, I never got to ride at all in those days, but we went, and hung out, and camped. Or Id take short rides if someone was available, but not being able to ride didnt bother me all that much. I saw the bigger picture and realized it was trainng. By the time he was two, Id gotten him a bicycle helmet that fit, and began cruising the easy trails, with him in front of me on my TRX250 utility. By the time he was 4, he had ridden his little Zinger all over Wellsville. I just hitched it to my utility and towed it whenever we came to a rough spot. Now, at 11, he is just another "adult" rider, only better than half of them. He is more comfortable sleeping in a truck than in his bed. Kids become accustomed to the environment in which they are raised. He was always fine on long drives, and slept most of the time. I always made sure he had a couple of toys handy, his diecast 4 wheelers, and lots of healthy bite size snacks, and plnety to drink available. As for the noise of bikes and ATV's, it was like a soothing music to him, and always put him right to sleep rather than keep him awake!
He never got acclamated to sitting in an air conditioned house during the hot months, and he grew up playing in dirt and mud. I just made sure we had some shade available when we camped, and he always actively played, when he wasnt sleeping. I made no special quarters or setup. We slept in the van, and he had his own little sleeping bag, and he had his own lawn chair, and his own little plastic 3 wheeler (which he put right into a mudhole and fell over 10 minutes after we got there there, and thought it was cool).
If it were TimJr at 18 months, I wouldnt have to think twice. We'd be there, but that in no way means other kids will handle it as well.
If he is not used to camping, and not used to long drives, it probably wont work out so well. I would suggest you start taking him camping several times before then, close to home, and see how he handles it, since you get a much earlier spring than we do up here. Also, if he is in a cool airconditioned home most of the time, he probably will be harder to comfort if its hot.
My webpage in the link in my signature has some pictures from some of those early days of camping. God only knows how many hours of video tape I have!

[Meat-BoX]

Tim Jr. Sounds like he was brought up Ripe to be the next great MX Racing Star.

[LonesomeTriZ]

Thank you every one for your imput. I can see all of have by boy's best interest in mind.

Tim, I am righ tthere with you. You have decribed what we have done with my son since his birth. i have a butt load of photographs on my other computer (which is down) that would illistrate that. Here are a few samples of what we have done so far with him:

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/s...t=rumble+dixie

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/s...t=rumble+dixie

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/s...t=rumble+dixie


As far as the baby sitting option, I would not mind your girlfriend watching him. He is a very freindly and sociable baby. She may not want to give him back. I just do not want to be a burdon on any body. My intentions were not to trouble any one else with my responsibility. If she wants to, that is cool with me as long as it is no trouble what so ever.

[girlsride2]

I am not a parent but I learned this trick as a young girl playing in softball tournaments. The great thing is that this works for anyone at any age, try this out. A day or two before your trip soak several(this will help to make sure you can alternate) hand towls and place them in plastic ziplock bags. Place in fridge or freezer (your choice) a child this small; probably fridge.

During your trip leave these down inside cooler/cooler water when it melts. Pull these out during those really hot times and drape them around the back of his neck. You may want to wait a couple of minutes if you think they will be too cold for him. Doing this will help to keep internal body heat down some to prevent heat exhaustion. This works great for anyone of any age.

Alternative method: keep a seperate small cooler for just these towls put ice over them. As the ice melts it will create cold wet towels for you again & again. Hope you find this info at least somewhat helpful.

[LonesomeTriZ]

That is a good idea!. Thanks.

[girlsride2]

No problem, hope others use it to their advantage as well.

[Howdy]

If it helps at all, I plan on having a fridge there. It's a small camper fridge, but it might help out here.
Howdy

[LonesomeTriZ]

That would help if I could keep a drink or two in there for him.

[350Xhilaration]

I can bring a fridge as well. Small camper fridge I use at work by my desk when we're not using it for camping.

Glad you thought of that Howdy...I know Speedbump will have the motorhome with a fridge also.

[LonesomeTriZ]

Don't go to any trouble. If you all happen to bring a fridge and have room I would appreciate it if I could keep a drink or two in there for my boy. By the way, how far away from the gate is a store? I may have to make daily runs to get milk and what ever.

[Jeffro33]

I use cold towels on my neck all the time working construction during the summer time. It works great. The only part that I don't like is first thing in the morning they are like ice cubes on my neck but I have no problem with that by lunch time.

[Howdy]

Don't go to any trouble. If you all happen to bring a fridge and have room I would appreciate it if I could keep a drink or two in there for my boy. By the way, how far away from the gate is a store? I may have to make daily runs to get milk and what ever.

The closest store is about 2 miles away. Plans are for me to have my kids there and we are sure to have at least a 1/2 gallon to a Gallon of milk ( 2% ) on hand. This is why I am bringing the fridge.
Howdy