Camino with toddlers

[EbenV]

We are planning to walk Camino Francé in May & June 2014 all the way to Santiago with our two boys. They will be aged 1 & 3 years old and we plan to do it with two jogging strollers and all our gear. We are planning to complete our pilgrimage in 45 days and switch between Albergues, hostels and hotels.

I am wondering if there are anyone who have done the Camino with toddlers or young children? What advice and suggestions would you have.

Buen Camino
E+H+S+F

 

[Choweth]

Although younger, If you watch the YouTube channel "BeYourPotential" it's about a man, his wife, and their 6 month old son. I though it was wonderful to watch. They have a full video blog on YouTube from SJPDP to Santiago to Finisterre.

The channel: http://m.youtube.com/user/BeYourPotential


{Candace}
http://www.pilgrimontherun.com
-a blog about life, a bucket list, and a future pilgrimage-

 

[na2than]

saw lots of todlers last summer....most were in trailers behind bikes. the idea is the same....but it may be worth looking into.Are the children 1 and 3 now...(2 and 4 by the time they go on camino)
?.Some walking trails are very uneven...the bike routes are often more suitable,any way...good luck

 

[Madidi]

I met a few families walking with young children last September on my Camino but they were only doing short sections with lots of stops. Not sure about about taking taking little ones on the full journey.

Saw a few toddlers on bicycles too: notable one couple with a little one who rode on her fathers bike between his knees. They were on mountain bikes and tackled a lot of the rougher tracks. They were in the queue just ahead of me at the pilgrims office in Santiago!! Amazing feat

The blog Candace refers to above is a must watch for the wonderful Indigo: an amazing baby.

 

[jeff001]

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[Choweth]

I know if I took my 1 and 3 year old (if they are like they are at home) they would behave wonderfully. My 3 year old has terrific manners and they are so quiet. I can take them anywhere. I think it depends on the children. If you know your kids terrorize everything and bounce off the walls, maybe not. Also, there are ways around being strapped in all the time. Applause to anyone who does take their children, i imagine it takes a lot of energy.


{Candace}
http://www.pilgrimontherun.com
-a blog about life, a bucket list, and a future pilgrimage-

 

[Yallah]

I would stick to private accommodations if walking the camino with toddlers. I would think it would be very difficult for young children to sleep well in a dorm and there would be a large potential for them keeping others awake, no matter how well-behaved and quiet they are under normal circumstances.

 

[Choweth]

I say, you never know until you try.


{Candace, Texas, USA)
http://www.pilgrimontherun.com
-a blog about life, a bucket list, and a future pilgrimage-

 

[annakappa]

I would stick to private accommodations if walking the camino with toddlers. I would think it would be very difficult for young children to sleep well in a dorm and there would be a large potential for them keeping others awake, no matter how well-behaved and quiet they are under normal circumstances.

Quite possibly they will be quieter than the snorer symphony! Anne

 

[hecate105]

A couple of books you might want to read - The Great Donkey Walk:
From Spain to Greece by Pilgrim Way and Tracks by
Susan Chitty and Thomas Hinde (3 kids, 2 parents, 2 donkeys, mayhem and a wonderful education/adventure)
The Seven Year Hitch: a family odyssey by David R Grant ( 5 kids, mum went home, they went round the world despite civil war, crime, disease - turned out well-adjusted competent adults...)

Travel at any age broadens your mind and horizons - as a kid it gives you skills to better face life with. I'm sure there will be days you regret it and days you wish you could go on forever, but i am sure you will all benefit from the experience.
And on albergue noise - I don't think toddlers have anything on olympic-snoring, plastic-bag scrunching, light on/off/on/off, door-slamming adults, who leave at 4am!!!
Just make sure you let them out of their strollers for a good run each day and never run out of portable food..... Good luck!

 

[waveprof]

With all due respect, what you are describing sounds like borderline child abuse.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

 

[KinkyOne]

In 2011 I met a mother from Germany with her daughter (accompanied by grandmother and grandfather) "walking" the same way you intend to. For several days we've met on the same places and the girl was sooo sweet and never annoying because of her behavior or crying or something like that. As I remember they used to sleep in CRs or Hostales.

Ultreia!