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Hanging with Kids
I am planning on going camping this weekend and my 5 year old told me he wants to come along. Have anyone hung with young children? My main concern is him staying warm. It's suppose to be down into the mid-40s.
He'll be in an Eno DN (unless he ends up sleeping with me in my WBBB. Thought of putting a Nalgene with hot water in the hammock with him.
Any thoughts/advice (about keeping warm or anything else) is appreciated.
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Do whatever you'd do to keep yourself warm. As an extra step you could bring a sheet to throw over his ridgeline to act as a makeshift overcover.
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I've camped with a 6 and 7 year old but only in summer. My 7 year old slept right up against me (in her own hammic) to feel secure, so i suggest you do the same. He'll feel secure and you both will be warm.
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Can easily be done. I have taken my 7 your old out through all weather. Rain snow sleet and wind. And that was just one campout. He has gone all summer long including a 10 night stretch in the summer. Kids tend to sleep warmer then adults so just use the same type of stuff you use for your self and she will do fine.
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Depends on the kid. My 8-year-old daughter is a trooper and can handle cold temps. My 6-year-old son, not so much. Bring whatever makes him comfortable, be it a nightlight or stuffed animal or favorite blanket.
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hang next to each other under the same tarp (so the two suspensions on the trees looks like |o| )
so you can check on him and make sure he's still warm. Make sure he's got suitable under insulation.
TH
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Easy squeezy. Little kids = little pads. Add their nice little North Face bags and they are good to go. Mine are both toss 'n turners, EXCEPT for in the hammock! See the "bunk bed" post I freshened above for some pics.
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Works well but...
I've done it a few times with my 8 year old. He is fearless so he slept under his own tarp. Used a closed cell pad for his under insulation and he stayed very warm (temps were only down in the 50's the times we went).
My but statement is because I missed sleeping next to him on the canoe camping trip. Next time I'll have to try the side to side hang. There is something special about crashing out next to your son on a back country trip, talking about the events of the day. Probably the only reason we've gone back to the tent (that and the occasional lack of trees that are conducive to a close together hang).
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We've been in cool weather many times and the kids do fine. Just make sure they have comparable insulation to what you will take for yourself. I like to hang side by side so I can be close (and warm) if they need something. If during the night, I can tell it's gotten colder or windy, I can just reach over and make sure they are still tucked in and toasty.
The link mentioned in an earlier post has lots of good info.
My 3 girls set their all time low (24*) at the FL hang this past January. They had 20* down UQs, Kelty 30* synthetic mummy bags, and slept in their Capilene long johns. I also make them sleep with their jacket/fleece with them inside the bag. It'll be warm to put on in the morning.
Get some of the handwarmer packets and teach him how to open them. Let him sleep with a couple in his hammock. If he does get cool during the night, he can pop open a warmer on his own.
If your plan is to stay multiple nights, have a bailout plan if things go south.
Hope you all have a great weekend. Camping with your kids is great fun.