Adventuring with Babies and Toddlers

Got a young family and wondering how to get started adventuring together? What may at first seem like an impossible dream is much more possible than you think. Friedel and Andrew at http://www.travellingtwo.com/ got me thinking about this when they asked for our tips for a feature they’ve put together about bike touring with a baby.

To be honest I’ve nearly forgotten what it was like to travel with tiny ones, even though our youngest is only 4. The demands of parenthood seem to auto-erase so much. But then I dug around and found some stuff buried in our website that brought back some great memories and reminded me what amazing things you can do.

• Cycle Toddling tells of our first steps adventuring as new parents.
• An Adventurous Pregnancy explains just what’s possible with a bump!
• Gear up for Cycle Toddling shows how we do it by bike.
• Adventures Together is full of inspiring ideas on cycling, sailing, canoeing, eco-touring and road-tripping with young kids.

So dream away; think big, start small, take advice and I reckon almost anything is possible. Yes, almost anything.

If you’re not convinced take a look at this feature about Dario Schworer and his wife Saubine Schworer-Ammaun, a Swiss couple on a mission to travel across the world’s oceans and climb the highest mountain on every continent to promote Earth-friendly ways of life. Now that’s a pretty extraordinary mission on its own, but they’re doing it solely using human power AND while growing a family. They started in 2003 with no children; now, after pedalling, hiking, sailing and climbing through 47 countries in seven years they’ve 3 more in their family team. Yes that’s three kids joined the mission. It’s a mission that’s taken seven years so far and they reckon they may need another seven to finish it off (that’s years not kids, I think). Truly anything is possible.

It makes our family adventures feel like a trip to the playground. So, if you want to adventure as a family, the limit’s not kids but your imagination and determination. Go for it!