Kid Ride 12-12-10

[UtahEdge]

I took my 6 year old boy with me for the first time last year. It scared the crap out of me. Does this pass with time? When its just you if you do something stupid no big deal you only hurt your self but when you are riding double and do something stupid your going to hurt your child too. Infact I think GP saw us last year at double hill hit that bump at the bottom to fast and it shoved my kids face into the handle bar and hit the kill switch and rolled the sled. Of course he was fine but now I am paranoid.

 

[IDspud]

I always make sure to tell them to push back into my legs if they see a bump or we are going down a hill to avoid the face munch. They can relax and enjoy the ride on the way up though. As long as they have a well fit helmet they should come out ok.

It does get more comfortable as you learn your limitations, however, if you ever get to where you don't worry about their safety, please leave them at home.

 

[girlpowder]

I took my 6 year old boy with me for the first time last year. It scared the crap out of me. Does this pass with time? When its just you if you do something stupid no big deal you only hurt your self but when you are riding double and do something stupid your going to hurt your child too. Infact I think GP saw us last year at double hill hit that bump at the bottom to fast and it shoved my kids face into the handle bar and hit the kill switch and rolled the sled. Of course he was fine but now I am paranoid.

I'd be paranoid to. I remember you telling the story but I don't remember seeing this happen. We normally don't take our kids very far riding double. It's just to hard to ride (for me especially). We took them out a 3 winters ago and had some nasty conditions. More technical riding than we anticipated. My knees were shaking early on and the poor kids were scared to death. By the time we made it up a steep climb to the mountain top our son was crying like crazy. Nothing happened on the ride. They were just frightened looking off steep edges, side hilling for no other way out and going straight up only seeing the sky. We choose not to do that sort of ride again with them.

It's fun to take them but I think a nice trail ride to some open meadows is your best bet. It's really hard keeping little ones warm when they don't have hand warmers to hold onto. Short rides are key with the kids.

 

[girlpowder]

That post was getting a little long for me so here is another short story about taking kids riding. Note to self. If you take your kids riding ALWAYS take extra socks, gloves, boots (if you have room) and plenty of hand warmers. Not to mention all their favorite snacks. We went on a ride last year. While taking a break the kids decided to play near a little stream that still had exposed water. Well our daughter falls through the snow up to her thighs in freezing cold water. Soaken wet and we're at least 10-15 miles from the cabin. It was terrible. The hub had extra socks on that he gave to her. I had some big mittens to put on her feet with handwarmers in them. Her boots weren't wearable (full of water). We rushed getting off as much of her wet clothes that we could replace and Ron rushed her to the cabin. We lucked out with the sun being out but it wasn't exactly warm. Another learning experiance. Never leave even on kids rides without lots of extras!!

See lots of memories. lol

Yep, we felt like parents of the year.

 

[sledhead ut]

I constantly stop and ask if all is well just to make sure I don't ruin the experience for them. My daughter just says "what are we stopping for, lets go".

 

[built4dtuff]

I constantly stop and ask if all is well just to make sure I don't ruin the experience for them. My daughter just says "what are we stopping for, lets go".

So true I just wanna make sure the screams are of joy and not of them trying to get my attention.

Took my 5yr old out Sat just me and him and the little fart would stand up when ever I did standing on the foot well hoop on the Pro. He was having a blast. I hit a jump a little too hard and landed a little hard and he mashed his helmet into the bars and I was all "you ok" and he was just screamen do it again. I still remember a couple yrs back of him falling asleep in the front of me....Now he cries like a baby when its time to go home.

Also to the guy who can't wait to take his kid hunting...One of my best days ever was this deer season having my boy right next to me when I took my deer. He also found a nice moose shed that day and I still LMAO when I think what he said to me on the way home that day. "DAD now the moose shed....that's mine....BUT the deer...Thats OURS" Holly crap I laughed at that one!!!

 

[Tree Boss]

The wife works all day mon-fri and i get off work early so I get him all day through the week. She told me last month that she would like to stay home most Saturdays while I go ride so she can spend more time with him. It works out good for us, I watch him all week and she just wants to spend time with him on Saturday instead of going riding.

I'm sure there are people who take 6-7 month old kids out riding but it's just not for me. The places I enjoy going on a sled are to wild for me to hold onto my little boy, and I'm not into riding trails until he is strong enough to hang on to the sled while we ride together.

GP that is some of the best technical advice I have read here on Snowest!! I learned something from you experiences and now I know to take extra everything just to make sure he doesn't get cold. See that's worth my 10 bucks a year right there

 

[girlpowder]

Riding with a 6 or 7 month old wouldn't be any fun. Your set up with the wife is a good one, especially if it works for the two of you. All I can in vision is holding his little head the entire time, steering your sled with one arm and taking it so slow. Nope, you wouldn't have a good time and he wouldn't even know it was happening. There's plenty of time ahead of you for the sledding days with your son.

 

[sledhead ut]

It was different for us because our kids were raised being at the cabin most of the time. GP even rode up to 5 months pregnant so they were naturally soothed by the sound of 4 wheelers and sleds. Literally put them right to sleep. LOL

All I can say is time flies so enjoy every moment.

 

[sandorsnow]

Great posts gp. When I take my boy with me my poor backpack is bursting at the seams. Extra everything, even a baclava, he seems to soak his pretty quick putting it in his mouth and runny nose. I also make sure there's absolutly no skin exposed, for wind burn or frostbite. And even though he's potty trained I still take a diaper and wipes, just in case. I just bought him a new pair of boots that are 3 sizes too big, so his thicker socks fit without being too tight. Last year I found some gloves at Cal Ranch with gators attached, so they go past his elbow and don't fall off. Hope this helps somebody.

 

[1MEX]

That post was getting a little long for me so here is another short story about taking kids riding. Note to self. If you take your kids riding ALWAYS take extra socks, gloves, boots (if you have room) and plenty of hand warmers. Not to mention all their favorite snacks. We went on a ride last year. While taking a break the kids decided to play near a little stream that still had exposed water. Well our daughter falls through the snow up to her thighs in freezing cold water. Soaken wet and we're at least 10-15 miles from the cabin. It was terrible. The hub had extra socks on that he gave to her. I had some big mittens to put on her feet with handwarmers in them. Her boots weren't wearable (full of water). We rushed getting off as much of her wet clothes that we could replace and Ron rushed her to the cabin. We lucked out with the sun being out but it wasn't exactly warm. Another learning experiance. Never leave even on kids rides without lots of extras!!

See lots of memories. lol

Yep, we felt like parents of the year.

Great advice, and don't forget the HOT DOGGS!!!! Fire and hotdogs gets them every time to want to go back....

 

[girlpowder]

Great advice, and don't forget the HOT DOGGS!!!! Fire and hotdogs gets them every time to want to go back....

Thanks Hector.


Good thing your kids like COLD dogs. I've seen the fires you start. LOL!

 

[girlpowder]

Great posts gp. When I take my boy with me my poor backpack is bursting at the seams. Extra everything, even a baclava, he seems to soak his pretty quick putting it in his mouth and runny nose. I also make sure there's absolutly no skin exposed, for wind burn or frostbite. And even though he's potty trained I still take a diaper and wipes, just in case. I just bought him a new pair of boots that are 3 sizes too big, so his thicker socks fit without being too tight. Last year I found some gloves at Cal Ranch with gators attached, so they go past his elbow and don't fall off. Hope this helps somebody.

For sure!!! We got our kids full face helmets for protecting them from the elements of winter. We always have their face and neck covered. I would say hands and feet are the hardest to keep dry and warm on the little ones. There really aren't many options for great gear either. So back ups are the only way to keep them happy. I've had so many layers on our kids before they can barely move. Reminds me of the Christmas Story kid, Randy.
Now that their bigger I have a good moisture wicking base layer with some sweats, a turtle neck and then their outer layer. Good gortex gloves and the best boots I can find. Not an easy task under the age of 10.