Snowmobiling with toddlers

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Cat Woman

New member
Hi all! Gosh it is good to be back on here! My husband and I had our first son last year and everything except sleep deprivation, work and being a mom got put to the wayside. Things are getting easier and I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel as far as snowmobiling goes! He is already all about anything that has wheels or a motor. He goes for lawn mower rides, has cut, raked and baled hay in the tractor and rides on the 4 wheeler with me (I know, oh the horror!). I was hoping if I was to get any support about snowmobiling with him it would be from the wonderful members of this site. I know there have been posts in the past about snowmobiling with little ones and I was just looking for any and all advice regarding age, gear, harnesses, etc. What is the youngest anyone has successfully taken their young child on a small trip? I am dying to hit the trails and excited to start sharing our favorite winter sport with him. Thanks all :D
 
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Hoosier

Well-known member
Cat Woman said:
Hi all! Gosh it is good to be back on here! My husband and I had our first son last year and everything except sleep deprivation, work and being a mom got put to the wayside. Things are getting easier and I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel as far as snowmobiling goes! He is already all about anything that has wheels or a motor. He goes for lawn mower rides, has cut, raked and baled hay in the tractor and rides on the 4 wheeler with me (I know, oh the horror!). I was hoping if I was to get any support about snowmobiling with him it would be from the wonderful members of this site. I know there have been posts in the past about snowmobiling with little ones and I was just looking for any and all advice regarding age, gear, harnesses, etc. What is the youngest anyone has successfully taken their young child on a small trip? I am dying to hit the trails and excited to start sharing our favorite winter sport with him. Thanks all :D
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I'd get a babysitter for the next few years at least. You need the break anyway! Kids that age can't support a helmet, will be cold, etc.

My oldest is 6 this year, and last year was the first year I rode around with him (not on any public trails) and he had a blast.
 
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russholio

Well-known member
I think your best bet, especially at this age, would be an enclosed tow-behind. We took our granddaughter for the first time at just shy of 3 years old. She had a helmet, full gear, and we used a harness. Keeping her warm wasn't an issue, but my wife found it tough to try and see around her helmet and worse, she'd fall asleep, her head would plop over and hit the kill switch. At that age we weren't comfortable with letting her sit behind the driver.

We found a used Snowcoach and it's been great. She loves it, no issues with keeping warm (quite often she's kicking clothes off) and if she falls asleep (which she does), no worries!
 
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mxzxrs800

New member
Hoosier said:
I'd get a babysitter for the next few years at least. You need the break anyway! Kids that age can't support a helmet, will be cold, etc.

My oldest is 6 this year, and last year was the first year I rode around with him (not on any public trails) and he had a blast.
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why so late. I bought the the lightest mx helmet I could at a year and a half and started riding her around the neighborhood. 2 and a half I'd take her on 30 mile loops and she loves it. now she's four and is good for a 100 mile day. lots of clothes lots of stops and obviously I only take her out during ideal conditions. I've been riding since the womb so I'd say a year old if he or she is big enough is just fine if you careful.
 
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firefightentaz

Member
We had our oldest(now,19) riding in front at 4. Yes it was hard, him falling asleep, us trying to maintain safe control was....difficult. When our next two came along,we rented a snocoach tow behind. That worked great. So I am tagging along with Russ. For sure the only safe and fun way to go.
 
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Eagle River Mike

Member
My son started riding in front of me shortly after his first birthday. My daughter who is older, didn't start until she was 4. When they are young, they do fall asleep and then are like a wet noodle and hard to hang on to. Just go slow and be extra careful and stay near base camp and don't go when it is very cold out. The following season, he was way more into it and would stay awake longer and I would hear him laughing and screaming in delite and yelling out things he would see along the trail, water towers were always a favorite, thats what makes it worth it. He also thought it was funny to freqeuntly hit the kill swith. My daughter started riding behind me when she was 8 and my son started at 6. No more banging helmets. All my friends would ride with their little kids too and it would be like romper room when we would stop for lunch or dinner. I would carry extra cloths, boots, gloves, toys, and diapers just in case. Plus all the fresh air makes them sleep well at night.
 
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jr37

Well-known member
Start them young and keep it in their blood. Once they get a few breaths of that 2 stroke smoke, they will be hooked for life.

I have been on a sled since my mom was able to hold me up in front of her. 45 years old now, I'm a lifer.
 
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pippy_b

New member
My wife an I took our 3 year old to St Germain this past weekend. We went 45 miles the first day and 60 miles the second day! Needless to say I was a proud daddy. She was awake 90% of the time but did take a snooze after lunch. Get the whole family involved and enjoy!!!! Here are a few pictures.
 

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ezra

Well-known member
Hoosier said:
I'd get a babysitter for the next few years at least. You need the break anyway! Kids that age can't support a helmet, will be cold, etc.

My oldest is 6 this year, and last year was the first year I rode around with him (not on any public trails) and he had a blast.
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6? really I had a 292 at 6 . my bud rides with his almost 2 yr old has some kind of harness the kid is strapped to him in fr . has the big touring wind screen no prob.
 
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Hoosier

Well-known member
ezra said:
6? really I had a 292 at 6 . my bud rides with his almost 2 yr old has some kind of harness the kid is strapped to him in fr . has the big touring wind screen no prob.
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He was 5 last year. Rode with me and on a borrowed 120. We did take him at 4 but the weekend was ruined by a rainstorm. Maybe I would have gone earlier if I lived closer to the snow
 
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snocatmike

New member
We always had the best luck with scarves, we actually tied them around their upper chest under their arms to ourselves, made sure there was no loose ends and never lost a kid, their heads still bob around when they fall asleep, but it does work well and is less costly.
 
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scott_b

Member
I started riding in front of my dad when I was 3. I started my son on very short trips when he was 2, I think that was too young. Helmets become an issue, they can't support the weight of a big helmet and the snow ski helmet I used didn't have wind protection for the face. By 3 my kids have been strong enough for a real full face helmet and were able to enjoy the ride. We were up north between Christmas and New Years, my 6 yr old and I did about 50 miles one day and my 3 yr old did about 20 in a day. Stops for hot chocolate and a candy bar help make it fun.
 
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elf

Well-known member
Our kids started with us at 1 1/2 and 3. They started in the snow coach, we'd put their car seats in and strap them in. we even did a weekend trip with them, left home with a bag of clothes tossed in the snowcoach with the kids, rode all day to a motel, spent the weekend there and then rode home. You should have seen the looks we got when we pulled in there and started unloading. That worked for 2 yrs and then they moved to the sleds with us. Rode in front for a few yrs then my wife got a two up so my daughter coould sit behind her but I kept my son in front of me until he was 9, luckily I am 6'4" and could see over him. Then my daughter was legal to drive her own so my son moved to the wifes sled and now he is on his own so it's all good. At age 3 and 5 our kids were doing 100+ mile days with us, they've been putting on over 1000 miles a yr for the last 7-8 yrs. Just dress them warm, bring lots of dry mittens/gloves, handwarmers, snacks, etc... and they'll have fun. We almost always will start a fire somewhere and cook trailside or lake side. One thing we brought along when they were younger is those cheap roll up tobaggons. We'd stop and go sliding lots of times. Just search for posts from me and you'll see our kids grew up snowmobiling.
 
gogebic_sledder

gogebic_sledder

Member
Did about 5 miles with my two year old son over new years, he was happy to go back to the house. My 7 year old loves going to the Hoop on the sled I think maybe more then me. Gotta start them young.
 
C

Cat Woman

New member
Thanks everyone for the replies. This year I just plan to putt around the yard with him, I even did it last year a time or two when we had a few really nice days and he liked it (pictured below). We finally have snow and we can do that now! I still have his infant carrier that I will use if he still fits into otherwise I'll give the scarf idea a try. My husband and I work full time so unfortunately I feel he spends enough time with the sitter as it is. I can't bring myself to run off for the weekend :(. I like the snowcoach idea. We have seen them on the trails before and thought they were pretty cool. I would just have to find a little friend to stick in there with him! Thanks for sharing the pictures and videos, they are way too cute! He will be almost 3 next season so I think we may try a small trip then. I can't wait. Life is about sharing it with the little ones <3
Liam sledding.jpg
 
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fusion

Guest
I remember off trail riding on fire roads in Iron County with snow spilling in our laps and the 2-3 year old sitting in front of me wearing googles and eyes as wide as saucers.
I laugh just thinking about those times. He still remembers getting the crap scared out of him with me driving down the trails on that 700 Polaris too.
 
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