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Baby on board

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jheard
1st Mate

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USA
49 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/02/2003 : 18:58:34

My wife and I are about to have a baby and I am wondering how this will affect our sailing life. Should I sell the boat? I think we can still bring the baby on board, but how? It would certainly need a flotation device. Any suggestions?

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 19:37:56

Here's what the USCG had to say... snipped from
http://www.uscg.mil/d5/activities/actbalt/teamii/LJ_Children.htm

USCG response:Frankly, for any newborn up to 18 pounds, we do not recommend taking onboard a recreational boat, because current devices are not adequate for all newborns. Unless the parent is able to test their newborns out in a PFD, sized for infants, in a swimming pool, they will not know if that device will float their child with his/her head out of the water. Unless you know the PFD you have works for your infant, why put the child at any risk.

The above said (about the newborn stage), I think in the longer run, having a baby will affect your sailing as much or as little as you decide. If you both love sailing, no reason your baby can't "grow up" on the boat. (at least past the newborn stage...)

IMHO... sailing in protected venues in a C25 is a pretty darn low risk activity. Probably a lot lower risk than riding in the car, or even pushing a stroller down the street.

Google searches on 'newborn' + flotation (etc) will turn up more.

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 21:44:17

please see below

Edited by - fhopper@mac.com on 10/03/2003 09:47:27

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ssteakley
Captain

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USA
467 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 22:34:01

Just make sure you put the child first....I am a a teacher of 28 years, a professional youth soccer coach of 22 years parent of two succesfull children, . I have spent much more than 1 career dedicated to children. My children are a 31 year old son and a 24 yr old daughter. Your child needs both parents to be involved in every part of their lives...so if they do not like sailing and like something else then do that with them...there will always be time for you when they grow up and leave the house...if you just stick them down below and do what you want then you get what exactly what you raise....
Steve

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc32b3127cce94d57c8cff3b0000001010" border=0> Moon Chaser #385WK <img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/forum1.gif" border=0>

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frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2003 : 23:46:21

First of all congratulations on the coming event. Is this your first?

I am the father of four the oldest being 40, so you can see I am an old guy in age anyway. When our first was born we had a smug pot and love to ski and just boating in general. My wife is also a water safety instructor which gave us an edge up on most folks. We did not take any of our kids in the boat until they were drownproffed. You can start this process at 4 months and by the time they are 6 months, if properly trained you can toss them in the water and they will crawl to the surface, roll over relax and float, as the saying goes, like a baby. At this point, we purchased a infant life vest and had a bosun chair made for the baby and attached to the life vest. This allowed the baby to sit in the vest and if you grab the vest by the shoulders and lifted the baby's head could not come out. We still have that vest and have used it for our grandchildren, when they came to visit.
I agree you just can't stick them in the berth and forget about them. Find a baby sitter, continue to sail and when the baby's ready take them along, but most important when they are old enough get them envolved. Mine were working the throttle and steering the boat at the age of two. Be it sitting on my lap, but they were envolved.

Darn I got on my soap box again, but kids are work and a thing of joy. All except my oldest son, who likes to jump out of perfectly good airplanes.

Frog and The General
<img src="http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/3f514bcf_339f/bc/boats/__tn_Pretty+Penny.jpg?bc2LWU_AhL8DufLw" border=0>
79 Wing #1166
Pretty Penny

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n/a
deleted

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163 Posts

Response Posted - 10/03/2003 : 08:27:01

Our son Ted has sailed since birth. We rigged the v-berth into a play pen, put netting round the lifelines, started him swimming at 6 mos, and always had a PFD on him. He also had a harness once he got mobile, and we also had a bike helmet on him once he started walking so his head would be protected if he pitched over the companionway, etc. We always had some little toys aboard, and a bucket of seawater provides hours of fun. Pick your weather, go for (for us, short) day sails to nearby beaches, let them "help" to the best of their ability, and there will be little trouble. Fishing is also fun when they get a little older. Ted's going to be 16 next Tuesday, and I'll have to see if DRIVING will lessen his interest in sailing. Best of luck with the addition<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/03/2003 : 08:53:53

I started sailing when my youngest was only a year old and it was not a problem. As a matter of fact, the admiral had the most difficuly adjusting to sailing(and still does), but since the girls grew up on the boat they can now comfort mom in times of need(when heeling).

For more information go to www.SailNet.com and do a search on "children" and "babies" and you'll find a bunch of articles on the subject.

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/03/2003 : 09:48:24

Our oldest was 4, our middle kid was18m, and my wife was pregnant with our youngest when we started sailing. The ride to the lake was more dangerous than the rides on the boat. We had a crib that we took the legs off of. We straped it in the V berth and everything was fine. Small children cannot get out of the inside of a sailboat. They can roll around and hang out down there with no real concerns. When they ride outside they need jackets. Don't let them out until they fit a jacket. I am speaking of a lake situation. Remember, they sleep the first year. Enjoy your boat, enjoy your baby, enjoy your life.

<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/sigbow.jpg" border=0>Frank and Martha in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 10/03/2003 : 12:18:44

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Should I sell the boat? <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Joshua:

Not if you don't want to. I would suggest you pick up the book [url="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0071560300/qid=1065196682/sr=1-9/ref=sr_1_9/102-6985361-4033725?v=glance&s=books"]BABIES ABOARD[/url]. We got our copy from a guy at the Minneys Swapmeet in your neighborhood when my wife was about 6 months pregnant with our first. It will help you decide and give you lots of ideas on how to do it if you choose to go for it.

Our oldest (now 4) was about 8 weeks on her first local daysail.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3db30b3127cce97a8a4987aa40000001610" border=0>

Our youngest (now 2) was 3 weeks on her first local daysail, 6 weeks on her first local overnight (local "test trip") and 8 weeks on her first extended overnight trip (to the Catalina Rendezvous).
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3db30b3127cce97a8a49a7aa60000001610" border=0>

As for life jackets, we chose the [url="http://www.onlinemarine.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online_superstore/safety/mustang_childs_vest.htm?E+scstore"]Mustang Lil' Legends[/url] because it rated high on "head bouyancy" (can't remember where) and it seemed the most comfortable (she screamed the least in the boating store with it on).

Good luck!

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d725b3127cce907c1ad9acaf0000001010" border=0>

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 10/03/2003 : 12:50:48

that tub looks like a really good idea. I notice it is strapped down.

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/pictures/icon.jpg" border=0>Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

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