Traveling with child

[Mamama13]

Any helpful advice for traveling with 6 year old child? We plan to start from St Jean Pied De Port and stay in Orisson. I’m thinking of taking a stroller but not sure it’s needed for this part of the Camino. We plan to use transport service for our packs. Along the route we plan to stay at hotels rather than hostels.

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

may i suggest a sturdy hiking stroller, you will need it on that stage and all the way to santiago.
in my opinion transport services and hotels are a good call
Buen Camino

 

[Via2010]

I do not think that you need a stroller. Kids recover easily after a short break. So if you plan your stages accordingly (+/-15 km with several breaks) and use backpack transport, you should be ok.
When I was six, my parents took me on walks of 20-25 km every weekend. So I think children of that age are able to walk the camino.
I walked part of the Camino Francés with my nephew (then 9 1/2) in spring 2012. He did walk without any complaint up to 28 km, even carrying his own backpack. But he did not like the lack of privacy in the big dormitories. He also preferred hotels.
So enjoy your planning and your camino.

 

[t2andreo]

Consider that for every stride you take, your child must take three or more. This means that he/she will have walked three times as far (in terms of steps) each day.

Based on observation while on Camino, not direct experience, I suggest that you should either plan to have very short days, at least until the child demonstrates an affinity for walking a long distance, OR have a means to transport the child.

A ruggedized hiking stroller with pressurized bicycle type wheels is what I see most often. Some of these will fold and can be carried using shoulder straps.

As you are using mochila transport for your overnight stuff, this should not be too much of a burden.

What you do not want is a child who decides that he/she is not taking another step and goes into a tantrum to enforce that decision. Be prepared...

Hope this helps.

 

[pjacobi]

Take the kid on a 20K hike at home to see how both of you get along. Don't wait to St. Jean to find out!

-Paul

 

[Mamama13]

may i suggest a sturdy hiking stroller, you will need it on that stage and all the way to santiago.
in my opinion transport services and hotels are a good call
Buen Camino

I’m looking the Bob Sport Utility Stroller. Would your recommend any other strollers? Thanks for input!

 

[Mamama13]

I do not think that you need a stroller. Kids recover easily after a short break. So if you plan your stages accordingly (+/-15 km with several breaks) and use backpack transport, you should be ok.
When I was six, my parents took me on walks of 20-25 km every weekend. So I think children of that age are able to walk the camino.
I walked part of the Camino Francés with my nephew (then 9 1/2) in spring 2012. He did walk without any complaint up to 28 km, even carrying his own backpack. But he did not like the lack of privacy in the big dormitories. He also preferred hotels.
So enjoy your planning and your camino.

The distance is short between SJPP and Orisson so he maybe in able to because distance but not sure about the incline. We’re starting to hike to prepare so by September his endurance and stamina should increase. My son is a trooper and quite ambitious but I want to make it as comfortable as possible for him. Thanks for your helpful input.

 

[Mamama13]

Consider that for every stride you take, your child must take three or more. This means that he/she will have walked three times as far (in terms of steps) each day.

Based on observation while on Camino, not direct experience, I suggest that you should either plan to have very short days, at least until the child demonstrates an affinity for walking a long distance, OR have a means to transport the child.

A ruggedized hiking stroller with pressurized bicycle type wheels is what I see most often. Some of these will fold and can be carried using shoulder straps.

As you are using mochila transport for your overnight stuff, this should not be too much of a burden.

What you do not want is a child who decides that he/she is not taking another step and goes into a tantrum to enforce that decision. Be prepared...

Hope this helps.

Yes, very helpful. Thank you. Yes, on the shorter days, hotels and baggage transport service. Stroller for longer stretches. Do you think a stroller is necessary for inclines with shorter distances? I think my son has the temperament and enthusiasm needed but safety is #1 and #2 is a quality experience.

 

[Mamama13]

Take the kid on a 20K hike at home to see how both of you get along. Don't wait to St. Jean to find out!

-Paul

Yes, we are both in training physical and mental thank you.

 

[t2andreo]

The above advice governs. Push your child in training to determine his/her limits and tolerance for discomfort and fatigue. Be guided by that.

However, if you DO come down on the side of some sort of stroller, I have seen folding, spoked wheel, inflatable tire types. Google hiking stroller. The best ones have 16 or 20 inch bicycle tires with air pressure.

If you do this, let half the air out before checking so the tube does not rupture on a low pressure hold. Have a skinny bike pump...

Hope this helps.