Survival Mom

Everybody goes through the checklist as they prepare to go on a trail.  A simple trail can go bad quickly and you don’t want to be caught unprepared. But how do you do it with kids on the trail without packing the whole house?  Many people have asked me this in the past. Having my 3 children out on a trail with me is probably one of the best outdoor activities I can do with my famil. I’ll admit, it takes a lot of work to prepare the minimal, yet crutial items in case you run into a catastrophe on the trail.

A busted rear differential? No, not that type of catastrophe.  I’m talking about running out of diapers on a 12 hour trail. Take it from me, for as many times I’ve been out on the trail with 3 children, now 7,5, and 3; I’ve come across quite a few emergencies. We did the Triple in Moab, Utah and prepared for the 12 hour day it’s supposed to be. Unfortunately, we gave the baby too much Gatorade (I’ll touch on that subject in a little bit), and went through 2x more diapers than I had planned for. Ten hours into the trail and on the very last diaper, I waited until the diaper could burst with a pin prick.  One of the hardest decisions to make, I pondered about what I had in our vehicle that would make for a good diaper to last for 2 more hours.  While everyone was approaching and getting through the Golden Crack I busted out my MacGyver Mom skills and grabbed a bandana, a couple of pieces of paper towel, a maxi pad, and duct tape and in a matter of a few minutes I whipped together a diaper.  We still tell this story and laugh about it. At the time it wasn’t all that funny but looking back, it shows how a simple emergency can be handled quickly with things just lying around in your FJ. (Editor: See Page ?? for great FJ Storage ideas), Granted, you may be a maxi pad short.

Following a few guidelines that are simple, practical and not hard to accomplish can get you through the unexpected. One thing I do not recommend is giving a child Gatorade out on the trail.  Even though it sounds like a good idea to give your child electrolytes while out in the desert, you’ll regret it when it comes out the other end. Carrying more water than you need is always a good idea. You never know when you might need to wash your hands or clean a boo-boo, I’ve often considered carrying our collapsible water tub/sink. Even though having a store bought first aid kit is a good idea, after having a child, you have a pretty good idea of the things you need and the things you don’t. Having a personalized first aid kit and knowing where you put the contents makes for a quicker response. In our first aid kit we carry tweezers, (after a cactus experience) hand sanitizer, band aids, bandage tape, baby Tylenol (or what ever pain reliever/fever reducer you prefer), balmex, (that’s good for diaper rashes or a chapped face) a snake bite kit, (something we have never used but may come in handy considering where we travel) and maxi pads, just to list a few. I know guys, for the single men or fathers out there, maxi pads are something that probably isn’t going to be floating around in your FJ. Nor do you want it floating in your truck if you’re looking to date, but it is probably one of the most useful things to have. They are absorbent and can be used for many applications, whether it’s a profusely bleeding wound or soaking up spilled liquids so keep it in mind. We also try to keep bandanas in the car so we have a source of cover for our necks or heads if we’re out in the hot sun for too long.

We tend to carry foods that are not too quick to expire but easy to pack, like chips, granola bars, or any other types of snacks your kids may like. Even though it’s always a good idea to bring a lunch even if it is a short trail, it’s always great to have these types of foods in the vehicle in case your caught on the trail with a break down. Bring some non-refrigerated drinks like Capri Sun, they always seem to be a hit and a nice treat after a hot day. Always pack an extra set of clothes, there’s nothing worse than sitting in wet or dirty clothes.  We also try to bring extra blankets even if it’s the hottest day out, you never know if you’ll get stuck out later in the evening after it’s cooled off. Blankets also make for a comfortable pillow or head support if the child is an infant. These are a few things I have thought of off the top of my head, and each family has different needs. Be mindful of the elements and your surroundings, always plan for the  worse scenario, expect the best and enjoy the outdoors with your family!

Hand made diaper, consists of bandana, 2 pieces of paper towel, maxi pad, and duct tape.  Considering the size of the child you’ll have to fold the bandana accordingly. Fold the bandana to make a triangle, place the two pieces of paper towel down in the middle and affix the paper towels (if you feel it’s necessary) with some duct tape on the outer corners. Next grab a piece of duct tape, loop it and put it on the back side of the maxi pad and adhere it to the paper towels to keep it in place.  Once that is done lay the child on the diaper, with the lower middle section of the triangle cover the baby and make sure the maxi pad is in the right place to absorb any elimination. Grab the two sides of the bandanas triangle and tie them over the middle section of the bandana. Once it is in place duct tape it in front to keep the whole diaper secured.