Thinking of snowboarding in Jan, how do we get DS (then 15 months) around in the snow?

[ilikeyoursleeves]

We are just having a think about whether to go away this season. We really fancy Finland as it looks like there are loads to do as a family but also very snowy, so I was wondering how we get DS around in the snow? I have visions of wonderful wintry walks but DS doesn't walk at all and if he is walking by Jan then it will be very wobbly still. The pram wouldn't work so what have others done? DH said we can pull him about in a sledge (?) but I doubt we can do that.

Has anyone been to Finland? And what things could DS join in on cos I don't think he'll be allowed to go on the Husky sleds etc.

Thanks!

We took a pushchair to Finland (Lapland) in January - it worked fine when there hadn't been any fresh snow, but we made the mistake of going out with it in a near blizzard and had a nightmare (unsurprisingly!) but we'd gone too far to go back to the cabin and start again iykwim. The rain-cover also cracked and split in the cold. We hired a kick-sledge which is like a little wooden seat on skiis but as DD was only 17 months at the time, she couldn't hold on by herself so we used our reins to harness her onto it and a scarf tied around her middle. She tended to slump to one side and really didn't look particularly comfy. Ordinary sledges weren't very suitable either as DD kept falling backwards/forwards/sideways. If you do plan on using one, we were advised to put a blanket on the bottom as extra insulation from the cold.

We had originally planned on taking a back-carrier but were put off by advice from others, particularly those from Finland who suggested that very young children can quickly succumb to the cold in them as they aren't moving. It would depend where you want to go in Finland. Yllas - where we went - is a small village that is quite spread out and a bit of a walk to wherever you want to go. Somewhere like Levi (where we went pre-DD) is a bit bigger and more populated so the snow on the paths tended to be more compacted so it would be easier to negotiate a pushchair. I think I read somewhere that the ski hire place in Levi has special prams (and maybe pushchairs) that are meant for use in the snow for hire.

With regards to activities - I think you are right, your DS will probably be too young for husky safaris especially with the wind-chill factor. We didn't take DD on any as we felt she was too young to appreciate them anyway, but there are things like visits to reindeer farms that may be suitable.

The tripadvisor Lapland forums are great if you want to get some more advice - many of the posters there have been to Lapland lots of times and would be able to advise you on other resorts there too.

Oh thanks Mejon! That's all really helpful

We are just at the point of looking at brochures and all the resorts look amazing. That's helpful to know that Levi is a bit bigger. Do you know much about Ruka?

Can I ask too, did you ski? If so what did you do re childcare? I think I will only do a few afternoons and hang about with DS when DH goes on the slopes but it would be good to do some slopes with DH too.

Hello ilikeyoursleeves. I'm afraid we've only been to Levi and Yllas so don't know anything about Ruka but people in the 'other place' will be able to tell you more!

We didn't really do any skiing this time and we're only very basic beginners anyway. We got free cross country ski hire with the package we were on and used them a couple of times - taking it in turns whilst one kept DD entertained. We were lucky that there were x-country tracks right by our cabin so it wasn't any real distance. I believe there may have been a creche or kindergarten by the actual downhill slopes (in Yllas) but we didn't venture that far!

In hindsight, though Yllas is lovely I think we would have been better going to Levi for DD's first visit. I'd love to go this year but DH is refusing to go on a plane again with DD until she's a little older - she was fine on the way there but rather restless on the flight home.

Most ski resort do sell large plastic toboggans and you can often find ones for babies/toddlers which you can strap them into. Either on sale in the shops in resort or near the nursery slopes an usually not too expensive. He/she would then also have fun going down small slopes and well as you pulling him.her along. good luck !

We hired wooden toboggans with toddler seats to pull around and used a pushchair footmuff. Alternatively you may be able to get Skis for the pushchair wheels ! Could be very cold in January so make provision for him to be looked after indoors much of the time. Remeber you may be moving but he is not so take a good quality snowsuit and mitts to wear over lots of layers. Also if he is walking outside, proper insulated fitting snowboots preferably with laces or several velcro straps are best.