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TRAVEL Hints and Tips Post your TIPS to travellers - all the interesting little tidbits you learned on the road about packing, where to get stuff, and how to cope with problems. Please make sure the subject describes the tip clearly!
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 21 Aug 2007
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Question Anyone ever done this
My wife and i recently had a baby girl and we were wondering if anyone has ever taken a small child with them on their travels. (she will be 3 by the time we are ready for our next trip). I was thinking of getting a side car, but wanted to hear from anyone who has traveled with children first before I went and made the purchase. I ride a bmw 1150 and she rides a bmw 650gs
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  #2  
Old 23 Aug 2007
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Thumbs up yes, been done.
A few years back there was a British (English?) couple who were traveling on Meridan Triumphs, and had a baby half way through their trip, in Australia. They fitted an Aussie Dusting chair I think, to the Bonneville and carried on with the baby six months old. Someone might be able to point us to the link of their story as I didn't get to read any more after they left Aussie. Also there was a NZ family with two kids who traveled the Americas: Cooper Family Motorbike Expedition

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Nigel in NZ
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Last edited by Nigel Marx; 23 Aug 2007 at 07:12. Reason: Putting link to the Cooper family.
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  #3  
Old 23 Aug 2007
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Sidecar
Although we didn't do long distance touring then, my wife and I took our son with us in a sidecar when on holliday from when he was half a year old.
We had a BMW with three big Krauser panniers, a big tankbag and a big sidecar. The camping-babybed was folded between the bike and the sidecar. My wife was in the sidecar with the baby.

We travelled from the Netherlands to England, Luxembourg and Belgium this way.
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  #4  
Old 24 Aug 2007
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Just before my son was born (he is 23 now) I thought of attaching a sidecar and traveling with the three of us. After actually raising a child, I feel the idea is foolish at best and quite possibly dangerous to the child's health and well being. If you do it you are putting your wants first... I felt it was my responsibilty to put my child's needs first, and traveling by motorcycle was not a need of his. So I waited 19 years before getting to South America on a bike.
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  #5  
Old 24 Aug 2007
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Feasible
Hi joe i read in a bike mag a french couple travelling to iceland with a Oural side car , the child was not a baby, but they managed.
I also know many example of couple travelling with their boat round the world with infant, i beleive that if you know what you are doing i don't thnk there would be a reason to stop doing things.
I don't think it's being irresponsible, maybe those who don't do it just don't have the gut to do it, can't face the social pressure to things differently.

There is obviously risks, but hey every day life can be risky who know what can happen., car accident illness, etc...What about a life learning experience for your kid
Don't let you put down by what people think just do it

gwel
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Old 24 Aug 2007
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On the ferry from hull to rotterdam recently, there were a few enfields enroute to a continental rally, one of them being a couple with a sidecar containing a very small sprog/baby...
they were obviously clued up, the cot being well supported and restrained, the whole outfit being well set up. looked reasonable to me.
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  #7  
Old 24 Aug 2007
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It definitely matters where you plan to travel, the weather, camping or hotelling, general health of all concerned, time gone. A trip of a month in an area where there are good health and other services is one thing. Adventure motorcycling (as understood on this website) is quite another. I spent 28 years in the child welfare and mental health fields, 39 years motorcycling throughout North and South America and raised a child. I would not do it. When I was young I thought it was a feasible idea-I was wrong, then. Taking a very young child on a boat is not at all comparable to a bike. Unless someone on this board has actually done it in a fashion similar to what you plan, you should ignore other postings. Just because someone read of someone else doing it does not mean it was a great idea. I have read and heard about people doing a multitude of stupid things- does that mean it was good idea? I am all for people taking any risks they want but I think it is selfish and irresponsible to subject a helpless, dependent child to those same or greater risks. If you do it, good luck. You will need it.
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