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I'm sure you've considered the personality and stamina of your own child but it does take a special person to walk the Camino. One must be very flexible and able to roll with the inevitable challenges, mishaps, aches and pains, fatigue, unpredictable weather, different food, and strange sleeping environments. It's tough for most adults and I would think even tougher for a young child. Not impossible of course but lots of things to consider.
Buen Camino.
I don't think you sound negative--I appreciate your input. Thanks!Maybe because I'm a man; And maybe because I'm North of 60 yrs. old; but I don't see anything enjoyable about an adventure like that. If I were forced to, I could probably make it work. Also the possibility your son could grow resentful about this and it turns into a forced march. Sorry to be so negative, but you need to consider all possibilities. Good luck if you choose to attempt this.
Thanks for your advice. We are actually more flexible with time than I made it sound in my original post, and we walk a lot now, but if we decide to do great Camino, we will certainly have to up our mileage for many days in a row to 10 miles a day to see if he can do it.I would have to agree with @Ahhhs; if you start in either St Jean or Pamplona and take your planned 60 days it still means your child is walking 12-15 km (8 to 10 miles) per day. I know that small children often appear to have unlimited energy but I doubt a 5 year old will have the stamina necessary to accomplish this feat, day after day.
Dogs in Spain can be a problem - and if you have a fear of them; then it is likely your child will associate with that fear. Accommodation is also an issue - small children may not always be welcome in the Albergues (especially the public ones) (imho).
May I suggest you wait until your child is at least 10 and can more easily manage the challenges of the Camino. Cheers
Thanks! I love the idea of an ultralight cart. I will look that up for sure!I admire your stamina! I met a couple with 3 children ages 6months to 5 yo that walked most of the way from Germany. They kept the distance to around 15k. They had an ultralight cart that had 4 tires & a waist belt to wear while pulling. When the 2 0lder kids got tired they jumped on. The father had a modified frame pack for the infant.
All alburgues seemed to welcome them & they shared bunks.
I know as a grandfather seeing children just made my day!
Buen Camino
Keith
Thanks for the input! I hadn't thought of doing luggage transport since I wanted to be as flexible as possible, I didn't want to lock us into anything. E.g. If we get going and only walk for an hour, and my son isn't feeling it, I would try to just order a cab and get to the next albergue. I wonder how that would work with luggage transport? I've never done it before, but that oils be a good option.Please remember you are chosing this for your son so when he is upset or in pain you will have to take on the responsibility for it
Not saying this to judge just saying that it will put extra pressure on you at times
Will he be walking or do you have a transport option for him ?
Would suggest sending your packs ahead to lighten the load for both of you
Personally I would love to walk it with my stepson but it would have to be his decision
Thanks for the suggestions! all three of the food items are things he loves. I'm pretty sure he would like to eat chocolate for 90% of his daily consumption (and I can't blame him)!Bread, cheese and chocolate are my Camino snacks. They are readily available, easy to pack, and oh so good. Haven't anything to contribute beyond snacks. I hike with poles but never had to use them to defend myself and I've never considered hiking with a young child.
The title pretty much says it all, but I have some questions.
I've done the Camino Frances twice in the past 12 years, so I have some knowledge going into this, but I am nervous and excited at the thought of taking my son with me this time. I plan to try to complete the walk in about 60 days. The soonest we can start is about May 10th, so I anticipate walking until about mid-July.
I have read many helpful blogs and threads in this forum about the people that have taken kids, but I also have some more general questions:
-- Snacks: My son eats as much as I do, but he has problems with certain foods. He has a severe allergy to salmon, which I don't expect to be too problematic, but he also struggles with certain textures from past allergies. He won't eat granola bars or nuts, which would be my go-to snacks. Any suggestions for good snacks that I could pick up along the way? I will be carrying the load for both of us, so I tend to want more calorie dense/fatty foods for him instead of, say, oranges.
-- Dogs: On my last trip, I had a couple of uncomfortable dog incidents. Since my son is smaller, I'm scared a dog might go for him. I would rather not carry a stick to fend them off because of the weight issue again. Any recommendations? Would something like a rape whistle work or should I just get a walking stick?
-- Sleeping: I will probably share a bed with him because he will sleep better in albergues when he's close to me. What are the chances that the hospitaleros would give me a two-for-one deal? I don't mind paying more, but I thought it would help me budget if I had an idea.
If you've made it this far, thanks for reading!
You have your push carts and baby buggies and then you have carts that you pull. @MTtoCamino mentioned a 4 wheel model but they also come with just 2 wheels.I admire your stamina! I met a couple with 3 children ages 6months to 5 yo that walked most of the way from Germany. They kept the distance to around 15k. They had an ultralight cart that had 4 tires & a waist belt to wear while pulling.
Keep your hand closed in a fist when letting a dog sniff. He will be less likely to want to bite something that big and if he does your fingers will be better off.Let the dog sniff a hand or foot. Just walk slowly on your way. As soon as the dog realizes you mean it no harm, and are just passing through, you will be fine.
Every time I see this it is fun but like watching my own grand kids it just wears me out!Not crazy at all. We did the francés with our family, then 2,7,10,14,15 year olds. The 2 year old coped beautifully, better than anticipated. I would certainly echo the advice above that kids do crazy stuff, (as do parents!), but all of that is much more public. I remember my son's first Camino tantrum was throwing himself in the snow on the highway walking between Roncesvalles and Zubiri. We did a winter Camino and some moments weren't pleasant, but I dream of returning daily.
Here's a video of my son running across Spain.
For snacks, chocolate is great. We would get through a block every day between us, sometimes 2.
Regarding the beds, experiences varied widely for us. My son slept with my wife every night of the Camino and we would have paid for each of them about half of the time. Some hospitaleros were horrified at the idea that he would pay, others were very straightforward in asking for payment whereas others had no idea what to do, shrugging and asking us what had happened at other albergues.
We had lots of family games when walking, so I think it would be harder doing a Camino with just 1 child. I would also suggest considering contingency planning for injuries/illness.
Also, something my very wise wife said to me on an early day when I wasn't in the best mood with the kids messing about,"You chose your Camino, they didn't, so be understanding if they don't feel like it today."
You have your push carts and baby buggies and then you have carts that you pull. @MTtoCamino mentioned a 4 wheel model but they also come with just 2 wheels.
View attachment 31583
Not something I would personally try to do, but not impossible. I have seen photos of a couple who took their two children with one of these and pulled it. The children were older than five though, and were probably able to pull it at times themselves. Can't see a five year old pulling! lolGood luck pulling a five-year-old!
When I hiked the Camino Frances route last summer I saw people hiking with little kids and even with babies. I wondered why anyone would do this. The Camino is difficult enough -- both physically and mentally -- for a consenting adult. Why not wait until your child is older? And as far as hostels giving you a 2-for-1 deal, why should they? Your child will be using shower and toilet facilities just like you. That costs money.Thanks for the advice! Yes, I've considered his personality. He's pretty easy-going, and we go on daily walks of about 5-8k now, which he really enjoys. And we tent camp twice a month or so as well. But, of course, both of those things are not the same as walking the Camino, and it's hard to know how not being at home would affect him.
Thanks for your advice!
The title pretty much says it all, but I have some questions.
I've done the Camino Frances twice in the past 12 years, so I have some knowledge going into this, but I am nervous and excited at the thought of taking my son with me this time. I plan to try to complete the walk in about 60 days. The soonest we can start is about May 10th, so I anticipate walking until about mid-July.
I have read many helpful blogs and threads in this forum about the people that have taken kids, but I also have some more general questions:
-- Snacks: My son eats as much as I do, but he has problems with certain foods. He has a severe allergy to salmon, which I don't expect to be too problematic, but he also struggles with certain textures from past allergies. He won't eat granola bars or nuts, which would be my go-to snacks. Any suggestions for good snacks that I could pick up along the way? I will be carrying the load for both of us, so I tend to want more calorie dense/fatty foods for him instead of, say, oranges.
-- Dogs: On my last trip, I had a couple of uncomfortable dog incidents. Since my son is smaller, I'm scared a dog might go for him. I would rather not carry a stick to fend them off because of the weight issue again. Any recommendations? Would something like a rape whistle work or should I just get a walking stick?
-- Sleeping: I will probably share a bed with him because he will sleep better in albergues when he's close to me. What are the chances that the hospitaleros would give me a two-for-one deal? I don't mind paying more, but I thought it would help me budget if I had an idea.
If you've made it this far, thanks for reading!
I plan on walking the Camino with my soon to be 6 year old son. He’s rather small maybe 40lbs and 42 inches by September when we'll be walking. I’m trying to decide if a Bob sport utility stroller or a Thule chariot will serve us best. I plan on using it for long level stretches and having my son hike on inclines. So on days we’ll be doing significant climbing I would send stroller or chariot ahead using transport service. Any feedback or suggestions from your experience would be appreciated.
I plan on walking with my 6 year year old son. Any advice would be helpful. How did your Thule stroller hold up? Which model did you use? We’re flats a problem?Hello!! I hiked the Camino Frances last year with my husband and 5 year old son. Best experience ever. Obviously there were some moments that were not so wonderful, but it was amazing. I'm sorry to hear some negative voices in your comment feed. Our son Callan adapted wonderfully. He was able to walk himself about 10-15km per day depending on the day and the terrain, but we also had a Thule stroller that we pushed him in when he was tired so most days we were able to walk around 25km. We did stop often and local people and pilgrims loved him and spoiled him with treats and their conversation. He developed friendships with other pilgrims and would sometimes prefer to walk with them than with his mom and dad. This was perfectly fine with us and we used his absence from the stroller to give our backs a break and threw our backpacks inside it.
Our son played with other children and pilgrims all the time. Whenever we stopped at an albergue, Callan knew the routine and many of the other pilgrims knew him. They all treated him like their adopted son or little brother. I teach French and Spanish at home in Canada and he is in French immersion at school here so it was also an excellent language experience for him. In Zalbaldika, he got to ring the church bells, help make the communal dinner, and other pilgrims taught him to play chess. He loved sleeping on the bunk beds and getting ice cream treats from locals everywhere! He met his best friend, Hugo, from the Netherlands and they walked together all the time. I brought water wings and goggles with us and he would spend hours post-walking swimming in rivers and pools wherever we stopped. He was always eager to catch up with his friends along the way so we could motivate him by saying that Hugo, Kimma, or Jennifer were stopping in the next place so we have to keep going to meet them there. Above all though, we spent the most amazing family time together walking along the way. I wouldn't let other pilgrims discourage you from doing the way with your son. It is an experience that he will never forget. My son always talks about it.
Semper my own live time story is so much contrail to your post. Until I was ten I was always on the go. And I loved it. Important is a loving family not a place at least for me as far I can remember to my memory forming years of three.I don't think you are crazy, e.s. bateman. You are a mother who wants to be a good mother. We all have read your questions - about food and eating, sleeping, and safety issues - and many of the members have offer you good advice.I hope you read all the posts.
It might sound like a good idea to take your 5-years old son with you in a adventure like that one. It is not. He will be away from his home and his known and predictable environment, for 60+ days, moving from one place to another almost every single day, walking for hours no matter the weather..., and I can keep writing. At 5, a child could be partially autonomous, but he cannot handle the challenges of an enterprise like that. And, above all, he will not at all benefit from his and your efforts. Not for his social, emotional or physical development, nor for his culture or intelligence level. You will not enhance bonding, nor increasing his stamina. Not at this age, because his brain is not ready yet. His body might be, even though I strongly doubt it.
I repeat myself, I believe you are a really good mother. So, go, walk your Camino and return to your loved child happier and stronger.
s
Great incentive! ! He’s been trying to negotiate getting a Nintendo for almost a year now. As we get on the airplane to Europe would be the perfect place to present him with one!What I always tell a new mother and you are hardly new at this.
Happy Mama happy Baby. My advise on traveling with kids of any age, they don’t like to be bored. I always when walking made story out of the day and the adventures to come.
They did their part in carrying planning and so on.
I remember When I was five I had a map with pictures on the sights to be seen so I could that point out to my parents.
Scavenger hunts work well too especially if they fill a need. Like you are in charge of the breaks this how far will have to go please spot a bar for us and so on.
Take a Nintendo as a reward or such things. Rest days Kid funday. Or I would love to walk with my kids again alas they are on their own Camino in life. So enjoy with all the hard times that will come on your road. And praise praise praise.
I suggest for you to watch the DVD, 'the Camino, 6 ways to Santiago' (sold in the Forum shop) as one of the pilgrims is a mum walking with her 4 year old son. Watch the extra commentary which goes with the DVD as it goes into more detail about her and the trip with the child.I plan on walking the Camino with my soon to be 6 year old son. He’s rather small maybe 40lbs and 42 inches by September when we'll be walking. I’m trying to decide if a Bob sport utility stroller or a Thule chariot will serve us best. I plan on using it for long level stretches and having my son hike on inclines. So on days we’ll be doing significant climbing I would send stroller or chariot ahead using transport service. Any feedback or suggestions from your experience would be appreciated.
There are also a number of geocaches on the Camino. A kid might enjoy helping hunt for them.What I always tell a new mother and you are hardly new at this.
Happy Mama happy Baby. My advise on traveling with kids of any age, they don’t like to be bored. I always when walking made story out of the day and the adventures to come.
They did their part in carrying planning and so on.
I remember When I was five I had a map with pictures on the sights to be seen so I could that point out to my parents.
Scavenger hunts work well too especially if they fill a need. Like you are in charge of the breaks this how far will have to go please spot a bar for us and so on.
Take a Nintendo as a reward or such things. Rest days Kid funday. Or I would love to walk with my kids again alas they are on their own Camino in life. So enjoy with all the hard times that will come on your road. And praise praise praise.
The app I used was Geocaching Classic. You will need to create an account on geocaching.com. The basic membership is free. If you spring for a premium membership for while you are walking, you will have access to more geocaches.I like that addition to our adventure!! I’ll have to look into it and maybe find an app.
Do you remember which model of Thule you went with and did you use any of Thules accessories to pull stroller?Hello!! I hiked the Camino Frances last year with my husband and 5 year old son. Best experience ever. Obviously there were some moments that were not so wonderful, but it was amazing. I'm sorry to hear some negative voices in your comment feed. Our son Callan adapted wonderfully. He was able to walk himself about 10-15km per day depending on the day and the terrain, but we also had a Thule stroller that we pushed him in when he was tired so most days we were able to walk around 25km. We did stop often and local people and pilgrims loved him and spoiled him with treats and their conversation. He developed friendships with other pilgrims and would sometimes prefer to walk with them than with his mom and dad. This was perfectly fine with us and we used his absence from the stroller to give our backs a break and threw our backpacks inside it.
Our son played with other children and pilgrims all the time. Whenever we stopped at an albergue, Callan knew the routine and many of the other pilgrims knew him. They all treated him like their adopted son or little brother. I teach French and Spanish at home in Canada and he is in French immersion at school here so it was also an excellent language experience for him. In Zalbaldika, he got to ring the church bells, help make the communal dinner, and other pilgrims taught him to play chess. He loved sleeping on the bunk beds and getting ice cream treats from locals everywhere! He met his best friend, Hugo, from the Netherlands and they walked together all the time. I brought water wings and goggles with us and he would spend hours post-walking swimming in rivers and pools wherever we stopped. He was always eager to catch up with his friends along the way so we could motivate him by saying that Hugo, Kimma, or Jennifer were stopping in the next place so we have to keep going to meet them there. Above all though, we spent the most amazing family time together walking along the way. I wouldn't let other pilgrims discourage you from doing the way with your son. It is an experience that he will never forget. My son always talks about it.
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