Hot Tent Camping With Kids

[canyonhunter138]

Hi All,

The wife and I are thinking of taking the little ones hot tent camping this fall/winter. The older one is 5 and has already been hot tent camping, and is great when it comes to being safe around the wood stove. We would be starting the little one off a bit younger (14 months old) with the hot tent and are a little worried about her getting burned. (We starred our son out with the hot tent around 2 and a half.)

I am Cureous to hear from others what your experience has been, and what you did to keep the little ones safe from wood stove burns.

Our set up is a Seek Outside 6 person TP with their SXL stove, approx. 10x12x14”.

For sleeping we will have a small portable crib for the little one, so not worried about her when she is sleeping, just when she is awake and on the move.

Thanks

 

[huntsman22]

They learn real fast.......grin

 

[11boo]

I would worry about a trip/fall into this.

 

[Jbehredt]

I’m 40. Haven’t burned myself on the tent stove in two years. Don’t let them live in fear.

 

[william schmaltz]

Use a Mr. Buddy if you’re not backpacking. Leaps and bounds safer around kids and not a massive pain in the ass like a collapsible wood stove. I haven’t put together my wood stove in years. Can always switch to wood at night if you prefer.

A 14 month old “learning quickly” on a red hot camp stove will involve a trip to the ER and probably a visit from CPS.

 

[Legend]

Stay out of the tent until it is time to sleep.

 

[TxxAgg]

Can a collapsable baby gate or dog gate be put around it?

 

[camping1601]

Not a chance with me. My granddaughter got burned pretty bad from our fire pit with day old ashes. I can't begin to describe how bad I felt. It's not worth it.

 

[Mds2004]

It doesn't seem like you are backpacking with the little one so what about one of the diesel heaters for the car camping trips.

 

[canyonhunter138]

The mr buddy heater during the day and wood stove at night sounds like a good idea.
Anyone know roughly how many hours of burn time you get with the 20lbs tanks?

 

[bpietila]

We teach/taught our young kids “hot” with a hot cup of coffee or tea. Let them touch the hot mug (for a short period of time) and say “hot.” Then when you are by the wood stove you can tell them “hot” and they know to stay away. You still have to stay extremely vigilant, but this deters them from trying to play with the woodstove.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Just took my two girls,15/12 to deer camp and had a great time,not to cold in a kodiak canvas with buddy heater.

 

[billoo349]

The mr buddy heater during the day and wood stove at night sounds like a good idea.
Anyone know roughly how many hours of burn time you get with the 20lbs tanks?

Just got over 50 hours using a 4000-9000 BTU one on high about half the time. That may be an underestimate

Sent from my motorola one 5G UW ace using Tapatalk

 

[vj88]

Have used our hot tent with our daughters hunting since they were a month old. Have an 8 man tipi and i sleep on the inside near the stove. Tripping is always a hazard with adults and kids. Definitely have to be aware but so do you with everything else. Our little ones are always finding new ways to hurt themselves and burns are horrible but it can be done.

 

[t_carlson]

My hunting partner and I used a 6-man SO with a wood stove this fall. We both burnt a few pieces of clothing by accidentally brushing it on the stove.

I've got a 2.5 year old. I would never dream of letting her in that tent. Not a fair decision to make for a kid. Yes, it might be fine. Or, your child could wind up with 3rd degree burns on the face that will be there for the rest of his or her life. There is no way a 14 month old can comprehend the risk of touching that stove or accidentally coming into contact with it.

I'm not risk adverse, but this one seems reckless to me. I assume you're doing this for fun, which means it is not necessary.

You'll never forgive yourself if something goes wrong.

 

[Mtnmilsurp]

The mr buddy heater during the day and wood stove at night sounds like a good idea.
Anyone know roughly how many hours of burn time you get with the 20lbs tanks?

I use a Mr Heater Big Buddy in my Redcliff and it’s good for 100+ hours on low with a 20lb tank. I used it at 7500’ down to 10 degrees with no problems. On high it will drive you out of the tent.

 

[Seeknelk]

Seems like you would have major condensation with a buddy in a floorless shelter. Even without the propane moisture adding to it, they usually have a ceiling FULL of moisture in the morning if you don't run a stove at all. Seems like propane wetness would add to it or.does it seem to burn it off faster than it builds up?

 

[SaltySailor]

My 14 year old recently burned himself on a wood stove, my 37 year old wife just burned her arm baaaad last winter on a stove pipe, you can shield them all you want and it could still happen. When they are little it isn't about them knowing, but you being vigilant. Listening to an inconsolable kid writhe in pain all night isn't fun. I agree with others that when the stove is going, the tent is not play land, into the cot they go.

 

[Rifleman86]

I’ve been debating this myself… I’m not quite ready to risk it with my 2.5 year old in my 8 man. Maybe if I had a nest, but I don’t.

I think a buddy heater is a better option.

 

[CoffeeGoat]

I'd fall into the straight no camp. My wife tripped and fell into a little campfire as a toddler and if they weren't camping with a friend who was an ER nurse she probably wouldn't have made it. At that age they just aren't stable enough and could easily, accidentally, fall into it and knock it over - which could result in a toddler on top of a red hot stove, smoke, flame and embers inside a tent with your family potentially miles from medical care. There isn't a ton of room in a tipi, it's just not worth it, swap it out for a little buddy and add the fire later.