[This was written in 2007 after we'd been caching with our 2 yr old for a little over a year]
We’ve been caching since April, just after our son turned two.
Now, with 200+ finds, only 40-ish of those were without the toddler.
The biggest thing we’ve learned is that the boy is boss. When he’s hungry, eat. When he’s tired, let him sleep. If he’s done, we’re done. Bring lots of snacks and drinks. Don’t fall into the “one last cache” trap and stay out too long.
Patience is key. Be willing to give up looking for a cache that’s taking too long and the toddler is getting bored.
Keep it interesting for them. Let them open the Lock-n-lock. Let them look through the swag. Let them keep swag (make sure you’ve got a good selection of trade items, and wipes to clean off the newly acquired swag).
Make it an adventure. Our boy loves going to look for “treasure”. He loves “going for a walk in the woods”. He loves The Backyardigans, and often sings the “Treasure, treasure, find some treasure!” song from the “Pirate Treasure” episode.
You will be limited to the terrain you can tackle. Many urban caches are stroller friendly. We use a backpack for some of the less urban caches, and let him walk for many of the others. For the most part, anything rated higher than a 2 is pretty tough with the toddler.
Bring a partner. Usually one of us is looking for the cache while the other is keeping the toddler engaged. Caching solo with the toddler is *really* tough.
It’s not just about the hunt. You’ll discover playgrounds you never knew about. Stop and let them run off some steam. You’ll discover “attractions” you never knew about. Enjoy them. Sometimes you’ll abandon the hunt because the toddler’s discovered something more interesting.
Did I mention patience is key? We average about 4 caches per caching day with the toddler but a good day is about 8-10. Of course, that’s a function of the cache density in your area too.
Anyway, that’s my experience. Your mileage might vary!
