Toddler Acclimation to Altitude?

[Jonathan S.]

So since the road to Glacier Peak is closed pretty far back, and we're thinking about biking to the trailhead with our gear in a trailer, I figured, why not while we're at it put my toddler daughter in the trailer too, then hike along with her to the glacier.
I could just tether her to a snow anchor while we're out skiing and . . .

Okay, so that's not it at all. The only proposal is far more mellow camping at 8,000' [edit: from a 7,000' trailhead, entirely unrelated to the Glacier Peak attempted humor above] and I rejected it immediately for a whole host of entirely unrelated reasons.

So this inquiry has zero practical implications for me. (Sorry for anyone wanting to make a difference via posting!)

But in theory, I was wondering, a toddler who lives at sea level, and has been to ~4,000' only a couple times, camping with her at 8,000' seems like it would be a concern, yes? A fingertip pulse oximeter would be our only way of isolating signs and symptoms from all the other things always going on with a toddler.
Yet even aside from that, does a two-and-a-half-year-old toddler tend to adjust better or worse than an adult? I vaguely remember reading that acclimation improves with age up to a point, and I feel like that's been the case with me.
I can't find anything definitive on-line, just a few rather vague references.

And since such a thread is worthless without pictures (albeit probably still worthless with pictures), here she is having conquered about ten vertical feet:






And yes, her shirt does indeed feature Elmo on a skateboard, or more specifically, EXTREME ELMO:

[Mofro261]

No more a concern for a 2.5yro than for yourself. 8K really isn't much of a bother, but the hike in to GP isn't trivial and is well beyond what I would have been willing to do/expect with a 2.5yro.

[jfost]

8K is what a commercial airliner is pressureized to IIRC, so you should be good to go for at least 1-14 hours.

[stuckathuntermtn]

^^^^more like 10k
kid'll be fine.

[Jonathan S.]

I've measured with my altimeter watch at close to 8k in planes, but not any higher.
But that's just a few hours, and relatively sedentary.
By contrast, camping for a couple days, and running around...?

[Mofro261]

Where on Glacier peak are you planning on camping at 8K with a toddler? It tops out at 10.5K.

People fly from sea level with kids and stay in any number of towns in CO that are at or well above 8K, the kid will be fine at that elevation.

[Jonathan S.]

(I added an edit to the original post for clarification on locale.)

[~mikey b]

Owen has never had a problem w/ altitude. 10k as a baby, toddler, skier, etc..

he was born in Juneau at 12' above sea level - lived at 8k at 6- 24 months

he lives at 4k

skis at 7k-10k


what you worry about?

[Beyond]

Here is the most cited consensus statement about children by physicians who work on high altitude issues. It was written a decade ago but is still completely valid. https://wms.org/news/high_altitude.asp There are no systematic physiological differences between how children and adults respond to high altitude; major issue is that children can often have verbal difficulty specifying discomfort or distress. If they do, you must be prepared to get them to a lower altitude, not in the am, not when convenient for your trip, but right away. Your child also should avoid prolonged physical activity the first 36 to 48 hours. Many places such as the observatories in Hawaii discourage children under 12 from visiting, but that's more lawyers talking than physicians, and it's 14,000 feet anyway. Incidentally, most authorities consider 8,000 feet to be the beginning of high altitude, insofar as physiological stress shows up in most individuals. That a airplane is pressurized to 8,000 feet simply explains why many passengers feel tired or have a slight headache after a few hours.

[stuckathuntermtn]

I think the roaring jets and 600mph wind might have something to do with headaches as well.
idk.

[summit]

^And the cramped seats and screaming babies.

Otherwise, what Beyond said.


Sent from my TI-89

[~mikey b]

how many kids do you have, Summit? experience?

[summit]

I have to have my own kid to know that sitting next to screaming ones on an airplane gives me a headache?

[stuckathuntermtn]

I wasn't even saying that I got a headache when I fly. I'll listen to music for a while, and then still leave the ear buds in, just so I have something like earplugs. IDK, I guess I just don't really get altitude sickness.
ymmv

[marshalolson]

i have skied at 12,000 feet with my 1 year old daughter on a chest-mount carrier numerous times with no issues on her end, other than standard altitude precautions (lots of water, etc).

[~mikey b]

I have to have my own kid to know that sitting next to screaming ones on an airplane gives me a headache?

probably screaming because they have to sit next you

[summit]

probably screaming because they have to sit next you

Aww... look who is still butthurt.

Really don't know why you have perma-butthurts, but I guess I don't really care, either. Perhaps the crying kid on the plane glimpsed your face and felt your angries?

[hutash]

Never had problems with taking my kids to altitude, but the common sense approach is to do it in stages if at all possible.

That being said, my now adult kids both have issues with altitude and have to acclimate any time we go above 8,000ft.

...and if it helps the argument, I have kids, and I too get headaches on planes because of screaming babies.

[chadr2]

We have people from the EC visit with their young ones quite often with no problems. We are > 9000 feet here, and many of our visitors come up from sea level. Watch out for unusual lethargy, blue / gray lips, drink plenty of liquids... the usual stuff for visiting higher elevations!

Have fun camping with the family! Here's a snap of our 2.5 year old sacked out for the PM nap. (at around 8500 feet in elevation) Good times!

[Buster Highmen]

We took ours from sea level to stay at 9300 for a few weeks with no problems from age 1 on.

Took them at age 3 and 5 to 12,300 for some skiing with no more than usual fatigue.
We sure to have lots of honey tea and fruit juices to drink. Been lift served skiing from the tops of T-ride since 3 y.o.

[PNWbrit]

Viagra is supposed to help.

Maybe your pediatrician can write you a script?

[Jonathan S.]

Here is the most cited consensus statement about children by physicians who work on high altitude issues. It was written a decade ago but is still completely valid. https://wms.org/news/high_altitude.asp There are no systematic physiological differences between how children and adults respond to high altitude; major issue is that children can often have verbal difficulty specifying discomfort or distress. If they do, you must be prepared to get them to a lower altitude, not in the am, not when convenient for your trip, but right away. Your child also should avoid prolonged physical activity the first 36 to 48 hours. Many places such as the observatories in Hawaii discourage children under 12 from visiting, but that's more lawyers talking than physicians, and it's 14,000 feet anyway. Incidentally, most authorities consider 8,000 feet to be the beginning of high altitude, insofar as physiological stress shows up in most individuals. That a airplane is pressurized to 8,000 feet simply explains why many passengers feel tired or have a slight headache after a few hours.

Ah, perfect, thanks -- that's exactly the kind of reference I was seeking!

[jfost]

Ah, perfect, thanks -- that's exactly the kind of reference I was seeking!

what is this obsession with hard science?

was it not good enough for you that many of us here on TGR said "it'll probably be fine..."?????

[Danno]

anecdotal, but I live at 5500, spent a weekend at 11000 without any noticeable issues.

[~mikey b]

anecdotes are fine, Danno, assbaggery is not

you should know that by now