I've always been fairly well prepared for emergency/survival situations, be it where I grew up, in the high deserts of California, or where I live now, the simi-tropics of Northeast Florida, I was confident that I could stay put for at the very least two weeks on what I had on hand or walk away (baring driving) from the situation for at least a week with my knowlage and equipment.

Recently however, with the estrangement of my wife, the fact that I have primary care of my daughter, and the degenerating physical helth of my closest relitives (hip replacements, knee injuries/surgeries, back problems, etc.) I have come to a loss on how to prepare to take care of my daughter when it comes to survival, specifically when you may have to be prepared to walk out with the child (space and weight are issues, as well as how to transport the child).

I do not realy want to use this topic to comment on my situation specifically, I would however ask for a slant to new (2-3 year old), single parents with next to no discretionary spending (around $50-75 a month)

Ideas, Suggestions, Comments, Questions, etc...

Excomantia

Chest carrier for her if you are walking out, and a pack on your back. That way the weight is balanced. The best bet might be to go with a cart, if you can stick to smooth roads and grass on foot.

As far as bugging in, buy two of everything, setting one aside, until you have a month's supply. Remember, there will be relief supplies in two weeks, but stuff she can eat might be a bit more coming.

As for the older relatives, I'm looking at the same issue. My mom and I afraid to tell my dad what would be the likely case with his folks.

James kid made a sacrafice for his kids. Im not a parent but i cant imagine what someone would do if they had children with them. I think most would agree children come first.

A sling, like this one:

http://www.mayawrap.com/

is light weight and reasonably priced. It can help you balance your load out with your pack in back and child in front like ironraven suggested.

My wife still uses her sling from time to time for our 2 1/2 year old. I have used it too and it makes carrying a lot easier, but a little hotter. We have tried different brands including one that my wife made and I think the Maya wrap one is the coolest.

When my daughter was born my first thought was to do just that with the front carrier. Then I tried it out and found that its very uncomfortable haveing both straps on at the same time, and almost impossible to (with my front carrier) to clip the buckle in the middle of my back to keep the straps from sliding off. I thought about buying another carrier from a consignment store, cutting the straps off and sewing webbing onto it in place of the straps then connecting cinch buckles to the straps of my backpack and just attaching the carrier directly to the straps of the pack.. then I realised the front carriers would only be good to carry my daughter up to 18 months, after that She would be a pain if I tried to carry her in one (and that held true). Before my estranged wife became estranged I had planed to carry her on alternating shoulders between the stuff on the pack thats behind my head and my head. Not practicle but doable with two people splitting the shoulder ache. I could still do that but I know I would tire quickly, especially as she grows older.
I have been thinking of something like the Sherpani Rumba with 2800 cubic inches and a weight limit of 70lbs it could last a while and, if I don't take a whole lot, has enough storage; But how long will she realy be able to use it.. I've read that by 2-6 years old children will refuse to do the carriers, and by 4 they will probabily be too big for even the Rumba, granted thats 2 years away for me.. but if I am more then likely not going to be able to use it for back country backpacking trips in the next 2 years, because of the estranged wife, is it worth spending 3-4 months savings on? What happens from 4 years to 6 years when they are too big to carry for long periods of times but too small to realy walk any decent distances, even very slowly. Other then relying on some type of cart where I am restricted to streets and very flat domesticated landscapeing, what can be done.

The sling thing looks interesting, you said you used it up to two and a half years old.. how young did you start useing it? How much longer would you say you could see yourself being able to use it?

Hey all new to site so little patience, please. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I have two small children 1yr old and 3 yr old and have beed thinking about the same problem. The cart idea is what I have come up with also, but make it your self so it is a little thinner and put a couple of large tires (solid - no flates / 14 " tall x 4" wide) on the back so so it is a sled with two wheels. With the large tires it can go off road fairly easy and being thinner can squeeze between the tree. Plus nice bounus is strap your pack to it and it spreads the weight.

Sounds feasable. I'd go with golf cart (the pull type) tires though. They are sturdy and save weight in case you have to carry the cart itself (stream crossings, etc.) Might not be so good in the mud however.... <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I have a 5 year old. Starting when he was 4 years old we went on 5-8 mile hikes in 3-5 hours, and he walked the entire way. Little kids can do the miles, but they need lots of little breaks. The problem with hiking with little kids is that if you are carrying them you cannot carry your gear. My wife and I are prepared to stay put rather then try to bug out if the SHTF.

Another alternative to a cart would be a wagon (a la Radio Flyer). You may have to find a larger one if you have more than one child, and you may have to fashion a restraint system (to strap in a car seat or something). But, they may work well as they can hold additional cargo and they work over varying terrain.

If anyone has any other pros or cons to this, pipe up, because this is purely my imagination. I have no kids and no wagon, so no experience with either.

We have used the sling from new born to about three. Although after about a year, year and a half, the usage drops exponentially.

I like the cart idea, a la lone wolf with child, but the cart probably would limit travel to roads and easy, read more likely to be travelled, trails.