How Early is too early

it just doesn't matter - anyway at that stage they will be still breastfeeding so no extra food to worry about.......wait until they need food and entertaining - then it gets into trailer time. against advice we took our 4 kids (all under 5) for a 2 week trip overseas and we all survived........so listen to others and then ignore the tales of doom and gloom and get out there and have fun. rgds

My babies went camping (and I mean really basic camping) at 5 weeks and it was easy. They still want to come camping with us 30 years later!

We did a lot of travelling with the kids when they were babies. I think it's up to you. If you're comfortable with it, then do it. Why stay home, being miserable when all the kids really need is the love and care that they can get wherever they are with you.

Happy travels,

Viv

Yep, as above, ASAP!

Mate,

It is funny you should mention this as my Wife is 26 weeks pregnant at the moment. On our first visit to the Obstetrician I asked him about when would it be fine/safe to take a baby 4wding. He basically said that all are going to be different depending on muscle development in there neck muscles and due to the bouncing around you can do damage early......So my question was then what would be a safe time? His reply was there shouldn't be any problem after 3 months, muscles would have developed strong enough to withstand the bouncing around...This was the only concern he show wrt babies and 4wding.......I hope this helps.....

Hey Guys

The sooner you get the young ones in the bush, then into the nice clean dirt the better is say.

We had Boof head camping at 6 weeks, we never rapt him up in cotton wool, the immune system works better this way, he rarely has a sick day.

Never let your kids to dictate your life, just let your kids fit into your life style, then every one has fun.

When we were kids we went camping every weekend, we could always take a friend, now we live in Kakadu the young fella will have the same experience, in fact we just got back from fishing an hour ago.

Cheers Steve.

We go camping with friends whose kids have been bush pretty much from the first few months. All good!

As above, as soon as you (and especially mum) feel comfortable.

We took our young bloke on his first camping trip at 4 months to a caravan/bush type park in dwellingup, just so we had some peice of mind regarding the facilities if things didnt work out.

Next was a xmas trip bush camping near the coast. needless to say he enjoyed himself immensly (loves getting dirty in the black dirt!) and had plenty of surrogate aunties and uncles to give him a cuddle when needed.

Easter just gone was a big one for him (8months) and I think he got a bit more enjoyment out of it, being more developed. Mind you, mum had a few troubles trying to keep him clean in the goldiefields red dirt!

One thing we learnt from our easter trip, is that the older they get, the more gear you need, and with number two on the way, we will be shopping for a trailer very soon.

As far as 4wding goes, we had the same advice from our obstetrician as previously posted. I would suggest 'breaking them in'. Also there are plenty of great neck braces available. Most are inflatable, and are available with toys attached. Our young bloke has one with an alien on it, and he LOVES IT-always gets a smile.

mmmmmmm mine maybe still a little young at 4 days and just out of special care and wife just out of icu......but tis an interesting topic

I wouldn't take a small baby into a desert. If they get sick, they can go off really quick. Leave the desert until they are at least a year or two old.

Only other thing is that you have to watch them like hawks near water.

yep, mine went camping in a tent at a very tender age. Just be careful of DINGOES they do all sorts of terrifying things to babies you know.

Hi Jacked Off,

I agree with most of the above posts. I'll add that maybe up to 3 months, not only the desert, but places infested with mozzies or sandflies are a bad choice too. Suspect water sources. Not all babies can be breast-fed for numerous reasons and if that is the case, sterilizing etc is needed.

Our youngest had 'issues' with his first bumpy sand track at 4 months; burst into tears. Just a phase though; that you will never know until you take them for 'the drive'.

we had a four day trip at five weeks old with ours and in a few weeks head of to the kimberlies for 8 weeks at which time she will be 4 1/2 months. we looked at what friends of ours have done with their firstborn (canning at 6 months old) and to see how comfortable he is with touring (now four years old with a lot of australia under his belt already) shows the benefits of doing it early if you can handle it. Kids are very adaptable to their environments( not all kids grow up in the city with playstations), and a lot of country kids do big miles and camping from a very tender age. you'll never know if you never go!! cheers

"I have had a few people ask me how young is too young to take your babies on trips?"

How young is too young will depend on the age u are when you have the baby, some say that 12 is too young to have a baby but genetically some women are able, so I would say as soon as you are comfortable having a baby then you should be able to take them camping.

Really its a matter of planning, always been a fan of breast feeding, and you wont have to take milk for the cuppa either...........and its always fresh, your wife will have to get up a little earlier if you want to have weeties tho.

Gday,

Quote: "Personally I feel that if 4WDing and camping are a part of your life then you should get them started as soon as you feel comfortable"

You said it!
Are you comfortable with it?
There is only one...or maybe two....people who can make that decision.
If you think YOU are up to it, do it, as long as you know what your doing it can only be good for Bub.
My son was out bush (only 2 or 3 nights) at a young age (weeks rather than months) in 40+ degrees, wet towels over his porta cot and we were the silly ones, he was as cool as in his little fly free evaporative and we were sitting out side swatting flies and sweating!

Only you will know how old is old enough as all kids (and parents) react differenly to different cicumstances.

Cheers

Gday,

We took our baby bush camping at 12 weeks old and had no problems at all. The bub came 4wdriving, hiking and fishing on the beach and seemed to be very content. When the 4wdriving got a little rough we would pack soft blankets around her head to support her little neck with mum also in the back for extra support ,and basically just took it pretty easy.

We head off around Australia in a couple of months and our baby will be about 10 months old and we cant wait. We have always said that the "baby has to fit in with us and not us around the baby". We are pretty confident she will have a great trip as she will be exposed to so many different things....oceans, gorges, dirt, animals, 4wdriving, camping, fishing etc. Our little one will also be sailing the Kimberlies with us for 2 weeks on a catamaran out in the Berkely River....Lot better than being couped up at home !!!

A lot of people think we are crazy for doing the big lap with a baby however we think the opposite. I dont see how it is crazy when I get to quit work, spend 6-12 full months with my little one and explore our great country.

Funny how the birth of a child changes your perspective on life and whats truly important !

Birdy

I had my young bloke on a trip at 2 weeks, my first Daughter at about 4 weeks and we went camping at Christmas just gone with 2nd Daughter at 5 weeks.

Must say all three had no problems at birth and were all given a clean bill of health. I rekon its up to the parents to make the decision when they are comfortable.

Toytruck

my crew started tenting from about the age of two. They are now 12 and 10 . They complain when we havent been out for a while. Now that we use a caravan/annexe instead of tents there is a waiting list of kids to come with them.
The friends are always trying to talk their parents into getting a van to join us whenever we go away.One has succumbed to the pressure so far.Much to their delight.

The family bonding on these trips is fantastic. You learn so much about and from your kids that you dont pick up on when stuck in the rat race.

Get 'em into it as soon as you're comfortable with it.