@MarkM
I don’t doubt that you and your parents successfully managed the situations you were in. But, my son has an infant and a toddler the logistic differences between one and two guardians when we baby sit them are literally, mind boggling if safety is any concern when you go outside the home.
The husband being there on some trips HAS NOTHING to do with my and Kevin’s opinions. It isn’t even a factor. The times he isn’t is. Hope you don’t think he is swooping in and out during each trip ? That’s the impression I get.
Public, restroom use by mom ? Nap time for infants and toddlers will not coincide when each needs twelve hours plus a day, 2 to 4 hrs at a time, …some vacation.
Why is it then when ever we get a post from a women who may be traveling and or vacationaing alone, we get concern from a majority of the contributors about her safety. Now we have a women with an infant and a toddler alone, and we get things like, you only live once, and, it’s an adventure ?
Who is speaking up for those who can’t speak for themselves and their safety ?
“Your telling me then my good friend @TwinTurbo, toddlers and infants " run the extremes” ? BOTH need constant supervision."
I’m telling you they do NOT require constant supervision at the same level. Are you telling me you’ve never witnessed two siblings that play quietly MOST of the time versus two hellions that run around like wild animals MOST of the time? Seems like you may have only been exposed to the latter…
“Your example is one toddler and TWO guardians I don’t feel is the same or is any other with two parents that “GUYS” keep running out there.”
My parents brought us up to respect both and we never did get too far out of control. There were many instances where eitehr parent went it alone with 3 little boys…
““Storing dirty diapers?!? That’s what gas station and McDonalds garbage cans are for! I’ve driven with the bags tied outside the car for shorter excursions…””
"So that works for taking the camping trips to the MacDonalds parking lots. What about national parks,that must be fun for one person to manage. "
Have you done ANY camping? With Children?? First of all, we have a diaper pail that closes completely and has absolutely no odor unless it is opened to insert more diapers. The bags tie shut and are disposable. Secondly, no park I have ever been to does not have dumpsters for trash.
"So, advocating that infants and toddlers be supervised is raising them in a bubble ? I thought that was just good parenting. "
Who said they weren’t supervised?? Where we differ in what constitutes supervision. Again, it’s not one size fits all. It’s obvious you’ve only been exposed to the “hellion” side of the equation. And not exposing children to the world for fear of “what could happen” when reasonable safeguards are taken is raising them in a bubble IMO. There were all kinds of people who were aghast when we took our baby out on a boat or camping or ice fishing…
@TwinTurbo
How can you disagree with “infants and toddlers need constant supervision” by saying, " they don’t need it at the same level"
It just seems strange that we even have to have this conversation. It obvious to me a young mother traveling alone with an infant and toddler should not consider camping on a $3000 budget and being able to do it in safety.
@dagosa I agree. My wife is a trained medical specialist and very resourceful. But I would not have dreamed of letting her go camping when our kids were that small in a $3000 vehicle.
@Docnick
Maybe it’s my age. When we visit our son with an infant and 1 1/2 year old and I baby sit, I am a week kneed sniffling fool when they return. Of course I was when they left but regardless, I cannot imagine being in that situation away from home for days at a time. It’s a logistic nightmare just going for walks in the park ! One of these ? I might be swayed.
This is 'merica…land of the free and the brave. She wants to camp and she wants to own a lower priced vehicle. I have no issues with her living her dream.
She may encounter a breakdown or two, or none. Let her live.
We allow skiers and snowboarders to go into the back country and rescue them. We have folks climb mountains…we rescue them in need.
I’m sure we will try to attempt to rescue the OP if she needed it. Rock on!!!
Your argument is constantly evolving I have a hard time keeping up!
“@TwinTurbo
How can you disagree with “infants and toddlers need constant supervision” by saying, " they don’t need it at the same level” "
Classic straw man. I’m not disagreeing with the need for supervision. How much effort does it take to supervise an infant? They’re in a seat or playpen sleeping most of the time or in a playpen crawling around. If you are really taxed watching one infant and a toddler, it says alot about your capabilities. I happen to be in my mid-50s and so it’s physically demanding but keeps me in shape. Any given weekend now I have at least a half dozen kids from ages 1-10 running around my place. Mostly neighborhood kids, I only have one. It’s not that hard, for the most part they are good kids. Playsets, trampoline, pool, 15 acres of woods to explore… The younger they are, the easier they are to watch after IMO.
"It just seems strange that we even have to have this conversation. It obvious to me a young mother traveling alone with an infant and toddler should not consider camping on a $3000 budget and being able to do it in safety. "
Now we’re moving off the topic of handling children on road trips and into the issue of the quality of the vehicle. You will never see anywhere where I condoned using a sketchy vehicle. That is something you have dragged into or kept in the back of your mind when addressing me. I was only responding to the assertion you made that a single parent could not safely handle an infant and toddler on a road trip…
Twin "Now we are moving off the topic of handling children and into the issue orf the quality of the vehicle"
It’s obvious you have not read all my posts. I never strayed from OBs original post and her one reply. That always included how she planned to travel. I even brought up the only thing she could afford, perhaps as mentioned, a pop up camper. Read them or OPs original post and comment.
@gdawgs doesn’t get it either.
Let people do what they want when it’s only them is one thing. Letting them do what they want when an infant and toddler are put in jeopardy, is totally different. The law has a lot to say about this difference too. I could not care less about the choices that OP makes for her self if she chose to disregard good advice about traveling alone on a camping trip. And, everyone here would mention her safety if she were single and traveling alone. Somehow, include an infant, and some of you go silent and say nothing. Hard to understand the logic.
@dagosa
i may not get it, but your definition of putting at risk and her’s may be different. If she believes she can care for and be successful at enjoying a trip with the kids in a $3K car…it is and should be her right.
lots of parents are allowed to do things that i wouldn’t condone or approve of, but it is their right.
taking a trip isn’t blatantly wrong or in the worst interest of the kids. Bad is so subjective here.
My wife and I always took our infants and toddlers camping, I was along to drive, set up the tent or tent camper, and fix things that broke.
My wife never needed my assistance with cooking, housekeeping, or taking care of the kids.
My only contribution to these would be building a rock fireplace and a wood fire to cook on.
In those days we didn’t have disposable diapers, but we also didn’t have untrained children past 15-18 months.
We also didn’t carry or take strollers for toddlers, they toddled.
Either I am becoming an old curmudgeon or we are becoming a nation of wimps, afraid of everything. (or both)
So old timer, did you have to take both infants and or toddlers into the rest room stall with you when you had to relieve yourself ? Just one of many logistic questions. No, because the other parent was there to watch them. Two parents does not an argument make when another was along to drive and watch the kids when your wife attended to personal matters too. Until you actually allowed your wife to travel ALONE with those infants and toddlers, and drive and do verything you did while caring for infants, your experience is not relevant. INCLUDING.and fix things that broke ? The extra male parent could not have been that useless. You slight yourself. You’r not an old curmudgeon; but just maybe a little forgetful of what really happens on camping trips.
Wimp is as wimp does,we are already past the point of no return for a lot of the populace,I’m afraid,this is a little different world from 40 yrs back.I’ve seen so much ghastliness,seems like the talking heads and hollywood love to try to throw new ideas out there all the time,this hatefulness seems to be lauded,I wouldnt trust my loved ones out there by themselves in extraordinary circumstances.
As my dearly departed Stepgrandfather said about building things," If you make it too strong,you will never know it,but if its not strong enough,you are bound to have problems", the same holds true for precautions,you can never be to safe,when it concerns your irreplaceable loved ones,better safe then sorry-Kevin
Just a follow up to lend some insight into our style of traveling:
I just spent a week (while 8 month pregnant) driving down the California coast with my toddler. We camped in a Sprinter camper every night (amazing conversion included fridge and stove and comfy queen bed) and I biked every day, towing my son (in the bike trailer he loves) sometimes as far as 20 miles. It was an absolute blast!
My original post was just asking for ideas of vehicles I could get for this type of adventure and I’m still open to thoughts along those lines.
Thanks!
You can have a similar type of vehicle to the Sprinter in a Class B motorhome (van based with a higher roof) Mostly domestic vans (Ford/Chevy) but there was a VW Eurovan based version that is probably outside your budget. A Eurovan or Vanagon Westfalia would do it but require more specialized care.
