OK to rock climb with a child strapped to your back?
A mother from Wales is taking some heat over a photo of her rock climbing with her 2-year-old daughter strapped to her back.
The mom posted it on Facebook. Not sure how everyone is seeing it though. (She needs to check her privacy settings.)
Here is the photo in question.
“Our Mom of the Year is Menna Pritchard, 26, and she has a perfectly logical explanation. From the London Daily Mail:
“ ‘I can appreciate if you didn’t realize how safe the environment I was in, it could be worrying, but I was top-roping which means if you fall you don’t fall any further than where you came off.’ ”
“ ‘It is the safest form of climbing you can do. I was also in a beach environment surrounded by experienced climbers. Health and safety legislation and the sue and blame culture mean so many people are nervous, so afraid of getting into trouble, and taking small risks. Life is all about risks, whether that’s something as simple as getting in your car every day or climbing up a rock face.’ ”
So what do you guys think: Much ado about nothing? She’s well within her rights to put her baby on her back and climb a rock? Or her explanation makes sense to those who know about rock climbing and it is safe? Or this is crazy and not safe at all?
Would you rock climb with your child? What would be a comparable activity that parents do regularly with their kids?
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31 comments Add your comment
Anj
February 1st, 2012
5:33 am
Nope. I don’t see it. If you do fall, isn’t there a chance you could collide with the rock face that you are climbing?
And if you have a small, fragile body strapped to your back, isn’t there a chance the full momentum of the impact could strike it?
It was very prudent of HER to wear a helmet, apparently she didn’t extend the same caution to her child. (They make bicycle helmets in toddler sizes.)
catlady
February 1st, 2012
6:59 am
Well, the kid might pad her collision! Seriously, a stupid idea. Toddlers move around, thus changing your balance. Then if the kid gets hurt, mom will want to blame someone else! Get a sitter, FTLOG!
shaggy
February 1st, 2012
7:03 am
OK…I have purposely stayed away from here, because frankly, it had become very boring and repetitive.
I have lurked occasionally, like today. Bingo…TWG finally broke one…at least for me.
Rock Climbing with a kid harnessed to your back is a bad idea, even if it’s a relatively benign route. Many things can happen, some as simple as slipping on a foot hold, even when top roped. In fact the last time I climbed, and I am experienced, I was doing an easy route, top rope belayed, and I did just that and fell hard on my back.. I was only about 12 feet up, my buddy had not taken up rope slack, so when I say I fell on my back, I literally fell on my back.
If you want your kid to climb, first, stop wanting them to climb…they have to want to climb, and second, make sure they have grasped the fundamentals, i.e., techniques, knots, tools, including communication when on a rope. Then, if you are up to it, meaning you have those skills, you top rope belay them. Otherwise, make sure who they are partnering with has the right stuff, namely skills and attitude. I call it an “altitude attitude”, where actually a fear of heights works to temper your bravado…ego.
That is what I did, and the boy now out climbs dad…except for the alpine stuff that dad still rules…because of the complex planning and execution involved…the kid is still developing that part of the brain. He will never beat dad there, because I will whop him with an ice axe if he ever tries.
shaggy
February 1st, 2012
7:09 am
Oh, there is one exception, where I would strap someone on…rescue climbing, where it is the only way to get an injured or inexperienced person off or out. That would be very rare, as rescues are mostly team efforts, with all of the right toys.
Anj
February 1st, 2012
7:21 am
also…
I just attended an arborist safety presentation and one of the hazards of working in the bucket of a crane is that if a worker is not restrained by being clipped into a safety harness, a sudden movement can “pop” them completely out of the bucket.
A child needs to be strapped securely into any carrier in order to avoid the same problem. A fall can cause some serious jolts, with the same results.
Jeff
February 1st, 2012
7:35 am
Absolutely! If you are somewhat athletic, go!
shaggy
February 1st, 2012
7:41 am
Jeff,
You have no idea what you are talking about. This ain’t the playground monkeybars and very serious injury and death will result from arrogant stupidity.
BRC
February 1st, 2012
7:57 am
I promise I am not trying to stir the pot, but am truly curious. I should also add ignorant, because I have never been rock climbing, and have only ridden by myself on a bicycle and never used a child seat on my bicycle or pulled one in a bike trailer. That being said, is rock climbing with a child more dangerous than riding with a child on your bicycle?
shaggy
February 1st, 2012
8:05 am
BRC,
If done safely, with attention to fundamentals, rock climbing is safer than riding a bicycle.
Neither is as dangerous as riding in a car on GA 400, so if you are paying attention, have fun. If you are slow witted, suck at following direction, or just plain dumb, you might want to stick with walking…period, or risk an early exit from life.
Lisa
February 1st, 2012
8:16 am
Not only could she fall, but isn’t there a risk of debris or rock falling down on them? Even small rocks or branches that have come loose and fall could cause serious injury to a child with no helmet!
DB
February 1st, 2012
8:17 am
My problem with her comments is her philosophy on risk-taking. “Life is all about risks.” It sounds like a good thing, and puts people on the defensive as wimps afraid to face challenges. That’s fine, as long as she is taking the risks for herself. However, in this case, she is also taking on the risk responsibility for her child, as well, and I’m uncomfortable with that. I know that we, as parents, take “risks” with our children all the time — for example, the decision to vaccinate vs. not to vaccinate, allowing a child to ride their bike in the neighborhood unaccompanied, the first time you allow them to go to the swimming pool by themselves, and even to allowing them to learn how to drive a car.. However, I think this risk is a little gratuitous. I’m sure the mom wants to share her love of rock-climbing with her child, and there’s nothing wrong with that — but I think a more appropriate way to do it would be to teach the child HOW to rock climb when their motor skills and decision-making capabilities are appropriate. The child has no choice in this venture when they are simply strapped on like a sack of potatoes, and that’s my problem with her risk philosophy: She can certainly take whatever risks she deems appropriate for herself, but I think she made a mistake when she took on this risk for her child. I don’t think this is an appropriate risk for a 2 year old.
Jeff
February 1st, 2012
8:19 am
Like I said, if you are in shape, go!
If you are in shape.
Soccer MILF
February 1st, 2012
8:40 am
No problem with me. Its your babay not mine. If you drop it your the one that lost something.
Lori
February 1st, 2012
8:48 am
I don’t think it is ok to put a child in any dangerous situation when they are too young to understand the risks involved to their own safety. Rock climbing has risks of serious injury even for the most experienced climbers. Anyone who is experiences would know and respect that. Obviously this lady doesn’t, which makes what she did even worse.
JOD
February 1st, 2012
8:54 am
I wondered if shaggy would come back as soon as I saw this title. I know I’ve missed your funnies :o)
I’ve only been rock-climbing 2 times, so I’m hardly qualified to make a recommendation here for anyone else. I know I wouldn’t do it, and that’s all I can say!
Dr Larry Feldstein DDS
February 1st, 2012
9:14 am
Those Brits should be more concerned about their teeth than their children!
K's mom
February 1st, 2012
9:41 am
Um no….hiking yes, rock climbing no.
shaggy
February 1st, 2012
9:47 am
K’s mom,
You had better watch that hiking thing, I have done MUCH hiking, as that is the preferred way to get to large pieces of rock to climb, and I just like it.
Over the years, I can’t tell you how many times that I have slipped off trail, and because of the weight of a pack (think toddler) on my back, I fell backwards. If you are hiking, it is much better for the little beggar to walk…healthier too. If you have to carry, the front carrier would be better.
Using the word "flotsam"
February 1st, 2012
9:53 am
Rather have her rock climbing with the kid than breastfeeding the kid in public.
shaggy
February 1st, 2012
10:25 am
What is it about a woman’s breast that intimidates so many…like flotsam.
Personally, I have always thought the world is a better place because we have women’s breasts. Truly a beautiful creation.
Aren’t you ladies glad I dropped in?
Lori
February 1st, 2012
10:58 am
Love you, Shaggy! You are always good for a laugh….
I don’t get why people are so bothered by breast-feeding either. Most women are modest about it. I get more grossed out by watching grown-ups eat.
K's Mom
February 1st, 2012
11:31 am
Good point shaggy! I will say I am not terribly outdoorsy and the hiking I do is really more glorified walking ;o)!
Elengendros
February 1st, 2012
11:33 am
Top roping is very safe, but there is a huge risk of stones and climbing gear falling down and the baby doesn’t wear a helmet. If you want to take risks, lead the climbing and let the baby in the ground.
Wayne
February 1st, 2012
11:48 am
@Elengendros: I don’t know how safe it could be if an experienced climber like Shaggy had a fall.
I think this lady was just out for a photo-op. Seriously? Someone brought this up earlier, no helmet on the kid, but you put one on? You’re not safety conscious enough.
shaggy
February 1st, 2012
12:15 pm
Wayne,
Climbing of any sort is as safe as the participants, and like life, all of it has associated risks.
My buddy on that climb, has literally held my life in his hands, and I have done the same. Really, it is the easier stuff, when you tend to let your guard and safety down.
jarvis
February 1st, 2012
12:41 pm
I used to play football with my youngest in a papoose. Worked great in the play-action game.
im banned - why?
February 1st, 2012
1:23 pm
Enter your comments here
Missj4ya
February 1st, 2012
4:20 pm
In my opinion it is definitely not a safe environment for the toddler. 1) She could fall back first into the rocks…therefore, smashing the child. 2) The child is not securely fastened to her mother or the climbing rope…so what happens if she pops out of the baby b’journ or if the straps of the b’journ come loose….baby plumets to the ground !
This woman is obviously not thinking clearly of all the safety measures for her child.
Missj4ya
February 1st, 2012
4:22 pm
And where is the baby’s safety helmet ????
Kat
February 1st, 2012
7:25 pm
I see a lawsuit on the horizon for Baby Bjorn. Also, the little kid who was found dead in a dumpster had a mom who (also) probably thought it would be okay to let her kid play outside by herself. What could happen, right?
Cliffmama
February 2nd, 2012
10:59 pm
I am a mother who rock climbs and I wrote an extensive post in my cliffmama-dot-com blog discussing the safey implications of what she was doing. I also got some very thoughtful comments from other climbers. I don’t know if a link will work in the comments, but here’s a link to my blog if you want to read my take on this article from the point of view of a climbing mom with 30 years of experience: http://cliffmama.com/blog/mother-climbing-with-toddler-controversy/