Ok brats, the wife is due in about a month and I thought I would pull from the experienced ones out there. Our first is due June 15th and of course I want to continue to enjoy the water, weekends and great time with friends on the C-dory. What suggestions would you make for us to accomplish this? Are there any tricks to sharing a small cabin with a baby? What have you found makes the time enjoyable for the adults and child too? All the help is always appreciated! :smilep :wink
Cruising with a baby on board
- Thread starter bshillam
- Start date
Infants are the easiest to care for. Once they begin to crawl you have to put a good secure net across the "V" berth. My kids grew up boating from less than a month of age. We used a "Johnny Jump Up" and suspended it from a boom or cabin top--great way for the child to ride.
If in the car seat, make sure it is strapped down, so it will not fall, but also be sure that there is a person asigned to the infant or child to be sure that in case of an emergency that they are cared for. We often took another older child with us (baby sitter age) to specifically care for the child if we were going to be busy with running the boat.
You need to look very carefully at infant life jackets. Many are not properly fitted to very small children--but they are essential. We prefer a jacket with neoprene which fits the body well, has high floatation and a neck support. Also we "water safed" our children when they were very young, with swimming "lessons" from our neighbor: Greta Anderson's swimming school for infants. There are many other schools which use similar techniques. The life jacket goes on when the child leaves the car, and stays on when near the water. Kids are just as likely to fall overboard from a dock (OK--that happend to me several times when I was a child many years ago)....
If in the car seat, make sure it is strapped down, so it will not fall, but also be sure that there is a person asigned to the infant or child to be sure that in case of an emergency that they are cared for. We often took another older child with us (baby sitter age) to specifically care for the child if we were going to be busy with running the boat.
You need to look very carefully at infant life jackets. Many are not properly fitted to very small children--but they are essential. We prefer a jacket with neoprene which fits the body well, has high floatation and a neck support. Also we "water safed" our children when they were very young, with swimming "lessons" from our neighbor: Greta Anderson's swimming school for infants. There are many other schools which use similar techniques. The life jacket goes on when the child leaves the car, and stays on when near the water. Kids are just as likely to fall overboard from a dock (OK--that happend to me several times when I was a child many years ago)....
marvin4239
New member
Does anyone know of a good source for quality infant or small child life preservers? When my granddaughter was born I couldn't find anything locally and ordered and infant and small child preserver from Sterns but I wasn't at all impressed with the quality. She quickly out grew the infant size and the way she has been growing a new preserver will be in order at least once a year.
We raised six children and they all grew up and spent all their spare time on boats, mostly sail. Kids do really well on boats. Fix a spot to put the car seat, one where they can see out and be close to the family. As they get older give them boat chores so they can learn. I remember my two youngest sons standing watch on a trip down the washington coast at night, the midnight to 4 shift. They were like 11 and 15. I stayed below but surely didn't try to sleep, but I was so proud of them for toughing it out and not complaining and letting their fear show. Boats are the best for kids.
Capital Sea
New member
The cabin wall behind the aft dinette seat is a little less than 1" thick and as a result is a very good place to install some sort of eye to secure a strap to using 3/4" screws. In my 22 with the forward facing seat option, the teak added just below the cushions on the table side, has a slot for the folding table to be slid into, both fore and aft. Though the table cannot be secured below the window when placed in the pedestal backwards, the folded part can be slid into the teak slot below the front of the aft seat. You might try this since this would help keep things from falling on the floor and would add a little more safety with padding on three sides. Mom will have to sit facing the back, but she will get a table (when you are driving that is).
When our son Phil was born, his grandparents lived in Edmonds and we used to take the Edmonds ferry on a round trip. The rolling and vibration were the key to sound sleep it turns out and the four of us played cards. So my guess is that your baby will sleep most of the time.
When our son Phil was born, his grandparents lived in Edmonds and we used to take the Edmonds ferry on a round trip. The rolling and vibration were the key to sound sleep it turns out and the four of us played cards. So my guess is that your baby will sleep most of the time.
Capital Sea
New member
Re life jackets, I expect you get a pass on those in terms of the law, so long as the young child is secured in a car seat or in your arms. Once that little one starts walking then you need to start shopping.
I hate to put a damper on this, but, from my experience, I don't think it is wise to take an infant or a toddler aboard a small boat. Even aside from the safety factors, such a trip is certainly no fun for the designated person in charge of the child, who, in our case, was the baby's mother. After a few unsuccessful attempts, we decided to wait to bring Lizzie on board until she was old enough to ask for "a ride on granpa"s boat" . Now it's fun for everyone.
This will be our third summer with our boat, and our youngest daughter has been aboard with us since she was a couple of months old. Overall we have really enjoyed it, even though, just as when we are home, she has her moments 
As funny as it sounds, the one piece of equipment that has really paid off is the portable DVD player. When the girls get tired (we also have a 5-year old) they go into the berth and watch a movie and almost always end up taking a nice long nap. Don't know if it is the motion of the boat, but they sleep like champs in the berth.
Breaking up a day of boating by taking the dingy to shore for some exploring and leg stretching is also a good idea. There were some good comments above regarding life jackets so I wont get into that.
Be flexible and have fun. I will always look back fondly of the time with our 'little' girls on the boat.
As funny as it sounds, the one piece of equipment that has really paid off is the portable DVD player. When the girls get tired (we also have a 5-year old) they go into the berth and watch a movie and almost always end up taking a nice long nap. Don't know if it is the motion of the boat, but they sleep like champs in the berth.
Breaking up a day of boating by taking the dingy to shore for some exploring and leg stretching is also a good idea. There were some good comments above regarding life jackets so I wont get into that.
Be flexible and have fun. I will always look back fondly of the time with our 'little' girls on the boat.
Capital Sea
New member
Lizzy, your comments should be considered. Still, you have an open cabin and the question comes from a 22 owner with an enclosed cabin. Kathleen and I had a 65 mustang convertable when our son was born. He loved car rides but would cry his eyes out in the mustang. Small babies do not like wind and shifting sunshine. We sold that car to a hired yacht captan who lived in Friday Harbor.
Our kids are now 11 yrs and 16 yrs but they grew up boating. I don't have any specific advice, except for just do it -- it'll work great. Like Dr. Bob stated -- the kids are very easy before they crawl and then easy after that. How perfect spending a day on the boat and at the same time spending quality time with your newborn in a "smaller" space - priceless.
Just remember -- toddlers are toddlers and they can get anywhere at anytime. My firstborn managed to get from the cabin to the transom in no seconds flat when he was 2 -- scared me to death. I was playing with him, had some netting on the door, something distracted me for a second, and I turned back to see him literally climbing up the back transom. This was before the C-Dory -- but a similar layout. I thought it was just him. But then, four years later my second born did exactly the same thing.
I'm as hovering a parent as they come, but both found a moment of opportunity -- as toddlers do -- and with only a few feet between the cabin and the water -- well it doesn't take much. After that I literally only let him on the boat when he was tied down (carseat latched in place).
I sold the boat -- and when all three of my boys passed the stage of Houdinism bought the CD.
I know you already do this, but I'll say it to remind everyone including myself: PFDs all the time -- supervision all the time. Don't be lulled into a sense of security that your little one doesn't climb. Mine didn't either -- until they did. Just toddlers being toddles.
That said, there is nothing better than kids on boats. I grew up on boats -- and my kids are growing up on boats (they were 6 & 2 when I sold the last boat -- and 11, 7, & 5 when I got the new boat. It was the 2-4 year old stage that scared me. :crook
Matt
I'm as hovering a parent as they come, but both found a moment of opportunity -- as toddlers do -- and with only a few feet between the cabin and the water -- well it doesn't take much. After that I literally only let him on the boat when he was tied down (carseat latched in place).
I sold the boat -- and when all three of my boys passed the stage of Houdinism bought the CD.
I know you already do this, but I'll say it to remind everyone including myself: PFDs all the time -- supervision all the time. Don't be lulled into a sense of security that your little one doesn't climb. Mine didn't either -- until they did. Just toddlers being toddles.
That said, there is nothing better than kids on boats. I grew up on boats -- and my kids are growing up on boats (they were 6 & 2 when I sold the last boat -- and 11, 7, & 5 when I got the new boat. It was the 2-4 year old stage that scared me. :crook
Matt
Look at the kidder infant lifevest. You want to have a life jacket on, even though the infant is in the care of an older person, just in case of emergency.
Interesting how different people have different experiences--and it may have to do with the comfort level on the water. I grew up on the water, my kids grew up on the water and same for grandkids. I did consider my daughter at age 1 too young to take on a month trip along the Baja coast, but at 2 1/2 my son was at a great age for that trip. We got the kids in dinghies rowing as soon as they could handle oars, and sailing in sabots at age 6. My grand-daughter soloed in a 9 foot Fatty knees at age 7. Like Lloyds my kids were standing watch on our 62 foot sail boat by age 10 and 11, off Central America, the East Coast and in Europe. Kids take well to boats if you provide the opportunities.
Now I do draw a line--and I once saw a young lady with an infant in her arms on a PWC--one hand for the infant and one to run the PWC...that is not a wise idea. Especially since the infant didn't have a life jacket on. Yes I called the Marine Patrol.
Interesting how different people have different experiences--and it may have to do with the comfort level on the water. I grew up on the water, my kids grew up on the water and same for grandkids. I did consider my daughter at age 1 too young to take on a month trip along the Baja coast, but at 2 1/2 my son was at a great age for that trip. We got the kids in dinghies rowing as soon as they could handle oars, and sailing in sabots at age 6. My grand-daughter soloed in a 9 foot Fatty knees at age 7. Like Lloyds my kids were standing watch on our 62 foot sail boat by age 10 and 11, off Central America, the East Coast and in Europe. Kids take well to boats if you provide the opportunities.
Now I do draw a line--and I once saw a young lady with an infant in her arms on a PWC--one hand for the infant and one to run the PWC...that is not a wise idea. Especially since the infant didn't have a life jacket on. Yes I called the Marine Patrol.
PFD's are an absolute must. My youngest was sitting in a friends boat that had those funky seats in the corners of the stern rail when he was about 10. He laughed and promptly fell backward over the stern. The owner just quickly reached over and grabbed his arm. No PFD. But it was way funnier when his mom did the same thing about a year later.
marvin4239
New member
I was just watching a news report about two two year old twins who drown here. The news said the number one cause of death for children under 5 was drowning.