taking tiny ones caving - helmets...

[pisshead]

Hi all,

At half term we're planning on taking our nephews, niece and a few other under 7s caving. Of course it'll be easy stuff. We're hoping to be able to take the really little ones too (2 x 3 years...also a 9month old who is toddling but could be carried).

We have a few ideas of where to go (easy bits in Giants, or Jug holes), but our main problem is equipment. We thought that a raincoat would be enough and some warm clothes which can get damaged...but what we can't decide on is helmets. What do others do for helmets for tiny little heads...

There are 5 adults to 6 kids so that won't be a problem...

Any ideas?
Thanks
Jen

 

[buddy]

I use to use bike helmets and gaffer tape to hold lights on

 

[kay]

We thought that a raincoat would be enough and some warm clothes which can get damaged...but what we can't decide on is helmets.

Waterproof trousers are good if you can manage them (possibly more important than waterproof top halves) - little kids (and bigger ones) do a lot of slithering in wet mud, and cold wet legs detract from the caving experience.

 

[pisshead]

Thanks guys - would bike helmets get scratched though? Happen to know that my 5 year old nephew would be heartbroken if his ocean-themed helmet got scratched!! can you buy secondhand ones?
Good point about waterproof trousers too...finding them might be tricky...
Keep the ideas coming! thanks for your help!
Jen

 

[kay]

Thanks guys - would bike helmets get scratched though? Happen to know that my 5 year old nephew would be heartbroken if his ocean-themed helmet got scratched!! can you buy secondhand ones?

Could always ask on freecycle (now called Freegle)

Good point about waterproof trousers too...finding them might be tricky...

they don't have to fit that well. You might be able to cut down old pairs. They don't even have to be that waterproof, just enough to keep the worst off so infants don't end up totally soaked.

 

[adz]

I find most caving helmets fit my 5 and 6 year olds IF you adjust the cradle to minimum and put a woolly hat on em first.

Bike helmets are OK for walking passage I guess and I don't think my little boy ever really bashes his head as he is so small! We used bike helmets on them for ages but if you are lowering them down any small pitches or stuff best to have a climbing / caving lid for any (god forbid) side impact or anything.

Clothing wise mine wear wetsuits with overalls over, but then the caves we go in are quite wet usually. If you have any waterproof all in one things that fit them they are good but really just old clothes are fine

Carleswark is good (bit wet but easy) if you do the gin entrance to eyam dale shaft and back. I suppose some of your group will be too little to do eyam dale shaft and out gin entrance but You can lower kids down if you have enough competent adults  - One at top lowering, one in the middle constriction to aid their progress through and one at the bottom to catch, de-kit ect. Care if you have someone at the middle constriction as there doesn't seem to be any belay points so....
We rigged a two to one pulley so hauling if needed would be easier.

Have fun

 

[Burt]

"sell" it to them well - at that age you can either turn them on to an adventure sport or really put them off, so make sure they know as much as poss about it beforehand . Also have a couple of escape plans if they suddenly find they dont like it 30 minutes underground!

 

[mrodoc]

Thanks guys - would bike helmets get scratched though? Happen to know that my 5 year old nephew would be heartbroken if his ocean-themed helmet got scratched!! can you buy secondhand ones?

Could always ask on freecycle (now called Freegle)

It's still Freecycle in Chard!  used the old miners' fibre helmets I had when my kids went caving at that age. But then I also let them use carbide lamps - they thought they were cool (hot?)! No problems. Unfortunately not many knocking around nowadays. What about canoeing helmets? Kid's waterproof trousers should not be a problem - we had some and they were fine. In fact come to think of it if you look at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=669819063#!/photo.php?pid=779231&id=772704810&ref=fbx_album you will find a picture of the kids in Coole Cave in County Clare around that age.

 

[pisshead]

thanks everyone Freecycle and charity shops it is

 

[nickwilliams]

Jen,

I have some child size oversuits you can borrow. I also have a couple of JB helmets which seem to go down to a fairly small size. They are a bit heavy though.

Nick.

 

[manrabbit]

I've found that skateboard helmets are much more stable on the head that cycle helmets, they also cover the side of the head better. They also tend to have a flatter front which makes fitting a light to then easier.

I've also picked several kids wetsuits from ebay for 99p, parents buy them for the beach and then the kids grow out of them before the next summer holidays, the kids suit tend to be 2/3 mm thick so get a size larger than they need and put a fleece on under them. My two boys have worn this system many times in dry and wet caves and got on well with it.

 

[bren]

i took my 2yr old and 5yr old into some caves above settle - i sold it to them as a dinosaur hunt and got my older son to plant a toy dinosaur in there.they loved it.point is kids aren't intrested in the aspects of caving most adults are so its a good way to keep their intrest in the less exciting sections whatever they like use that to hold the intrest.. Take a camera too they'll love to show off where they've been at play group or to grandma etc  - and you'll have a sense of pride knowing youre not sitting down in front of the television like most young uns.

 

[Rachel]

When my daughter was tiny, rather than putting a light on her (bike) helmet, I lengthened the strap on a zoom as far as it would go and she wore it diagonally across her body. That way, the weight was on her shoulders rather than head.

I also found that a generous supply of chocolate buttons helped enhance her enjoyment!

Rachel

 

[pisshead]

wow - thanks everyone for you replies. Nick - can I take you up on that offer? I'm sure I'll be in your neck of the woods soon. They're embarking on this adventure late october.

I think we'll be able to sort something out for all of them one way or another.
Thanks
Jen

 

[bscreen]

I have 2 old caving helmets which i got with a load of 2nd hand gear; don't know what make/model they are, but do know they seem too small for any normal adults head. Will dig them out of the attic see if they will fit my neighbors 3 y.o. tomorrow 

Ben

 

[pisshead]

thanks Ben

 

[Amy]

I'm guessing you dont have REI there, but in the US from what I've seen the choice for kids caving is the Petzl Picchu

It's made for young kids (like, 3-10 yrs old)

 

[pisshead]

thanks so much Ben and Nick Big pile of caving equipment in our living room ready to try on when they arrive