gravityman
04-27-2009, 15:55
Seeing more and more on whiteblaze about young kids... Thought this might be of interest...
My son and I did our first backyard camping trip this weekend!
Previous Experience : We've taken him on two backpacking trips so far. Neither turned out well. The first was May 2007 when he was about 5 months old. He just didn't sleep that well in the small (Tarp tent rainshadow) backpacking tent where he could see us. He just couldn't get to sleep if he could see us. We did a lot of car camping where we could put him down in the car camping tent, we hung out around the fire, and he'd fall asleep just fine. We could then get in to the MONSTER tent without disturbing him. However, with a backpacking tent we disturb him, or he can see us through the mesh, and he can't get to sleep. In Mayish 2008 we tried again, but similar results. Back to car camping for summer #2.
For for summer #3, wife is pregnant with number 2 (and final) baby, so it will be a pretty low-key summer anyway. However, we want to keep making sure number 1 stays in touch with camping and hopefully backpacking. So, here goes:
How it went: I was ready for this not to work at all, but wanted to give it a shot. My wife and I had been talking it up for weeks. We also read him books that had some camping in it, and talked about camp fires and 'gooey and yummy" marshmallows. He'd say "Want to go camping. Want to see a BAT. Want to eat gooey and yummy marshmallows. Want to see an owl." So it seemed like he was ready to give this a try.
So, Friday night, I got home around 6 pm. It was a little late for him (usually he's asleep by 6.30) but it was a special night. We set up the tent in the back yard and got the firing going. We cooked our marshmallows, and he enjoyed eating them. Then we headed to bed around 7.15 or so. He kept asking for things, and occasionally I actually had to get them (like I forgot his water sippy and he wanted to read his camping book in the tent).
I was getting nervous as the time rolled on to 8 pm, but he was in good spirits, laughing and talking. Finally at 8.30 he said "Want Daddies pillow" (of course the only pillow since he doesn't usually sleep with one. As soon as I handed it too him he put his head down and started snoring lightly (I kid you not). Yippie! Until I realized I didn't have anything for a pillow. Sigh... but sometimes Dad's just have to sacrifice. About an hour later I finally fell asleep (but I couldn't read because I knew the head light would wake him up).
At 2 am he woke up, "want to sleep next to Daddy." So he cuddled up next to me under my sleeping bag, and he slept pretty good until about 4 am. I didn't 'cause I couldn't move and he was slowly pushing me off. At 4 am he woke up again, generally complaining. He basically push me off my BA aircore pad on to the ground, and he fell back asleep. I had to quietly climb over him on to his prolite and was able to get a few more hours of sleep until he woke me up, leaning over me, saying "Want to hear an Owl" with a big grin on this face.
All in all, pretty successful given our previous experiences. He got to sleep from about 8.30 to 6 am (essentially with the sun). About 2 1/2 hours less than he normally sleeps. He did take a 3 1/2 hour nap the next afternoon! Usually just 1 1/2 hours. I plan on trying it a few more times and then maybe trying a very short and close 'backpacking trip' in June. Of course that will largely be limited to his hiking abilities as Mom is 6+ months pregers now, and by June won't be interested in carrying too much weight in her pack, and I can't carry him + all the gear. Still, it should be fun! Mom didn't join us as she wanted to get some sleep (she assumed it wouldn't work well at all), but we'll see how things progress with the next few tries. I'm sure she'll want to start getting out there too soon enough!
Okay, lame trip report for those not in the kiddo years, but exciting for me!
G
My son and I did our first backyard camping trip this weekend!
Previous Experience : We've taken him on two backpacking trips so far. Neither turned out well. The first was May 2007 when he was about 5 months old. He just didn't sleep that well in the small (Tarp tent rainshadow) backpacking tent where he could see us. He just couldn't get to sleep if he could see us. We did a lot of car camping where we could put him down in the car camping tent, we hung out around the fire, and he'd fall asleep just fine. We could then get in to the MONSTER tent without disturbing him. However, with a backpacking tent we disturb him, or he can see us through the mesh, and he can't get to sleep. In Mayish 2008 we tried again, but similar results. Back to car camping for summer #2.
For for summer #3, wife is pregnant with number 2 (and final) baby, so it will be a pretty low-key summer anyway. However, we want to keep making sure number 1 stays in touch with camping and hopefully backpacking. So, here goes:
How it went: I was ready for this not to work at all, but wanted to give it a shot. My wife and I had been talking it up for weeks. We also read him books that had some camping in it, and talked about camp fires and 'gooey and yummy" marshmallows. He'd say "Want to go camping. Want to see a BAT. Want to eat gooey and yummy marshmallows. Want to see an owl." So it seemed like he was ready to give this a try.
So, Friday night, I got home around 6 pm. It was a little late for him (usually he's asleep by 6.30) but it was a special night. We set up the tent in the back yard and got the firing going. We cooked our marshmallows, and he enjoyed eating them. Then we headed to bed around 7.15 or so. He kept asking for things, and occasionally I actually had to get them (like I forgot his water sippy and he wanted to read his camping book in the tent).
I was getting nervous as the time rolled on to 8 pm, but he was in good spirits, laughing and talking. Finally at 8.30 he said "Want Daddies pillow" (of course the only pillow since he doesn't usually sleep with one. As soon as I handed it too him he put his head down and started snoring lightly (I kid you not). Yippie! Until I realized I didn't have anything for a pillow. Sigh... but sometimes Dad's just have to sacrifice. About an hour later I finally fell asleep (but I couldn't read because I knew the head light would wake him up).
At 2 am he woke up, "want to sleep next to Daddy." So he cuddled up next to me under my sleeping bag, and he slept pretty good until about 4 am. I didn't 'cause I couldn't move and he was slowly pushing me off. At 4 am he woke up again, generally complaining. He basically push me off my BA aircore pad on to the ground, and he fell back asleep. I had to quietly climb over him on to his prolite and was able to get a few more hours of sleep until he woke me up, leaning over me, saying "Want to hear an Owl" with a big grin on this face.
All in all, pretty successful given our previous experiences. He got to sleep from about 8.30 to 6 am (essentially with the sun). About 2 1/2 hours less than he normally sleeps. He did take a 3 1/2 hour nap the next afternoon! Usually just 1 1/2 hours. I plan on trying it a few more times and then maybe trying a very short and close 'backpacking trip' in June. Of course that will largely be limited to his hiking abilities as Mom is 6+ months pregers now, and by June won't be interested in carrying too much weight in her pack, and I can't carry him + all the gear. Still, it should be fun! Mom didn't join us as she wanted to get some sleep (she assumed it wouldn't work well at all), but we'll see how things progress with the next few tries. I'm sure she'll want to start getting out there too soon enough!
Okay, lame trip report for those not in the kiddo years, but exciting for me!
G