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Sailing with babies/toddlers

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Northlander
1st Mate

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35 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/16/2005 : 15:41:23

I was writing to inquire whether any of you have sailed with babies or toddlers. We have a one year old little girl and one on the way. We just got our sailboat at the end of last year and were only able to go out a few times with our, at that time, colicky 7 month old. We are gearing up for this summer and are of course concerned with safety and ease of operation. My husband is already planning how to sail single-handedly. Any suggestions for us newbies?

Thank you you all!
Wife of Northlander

Necia
C250wk #804
Seward, AK

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2005 : 15:49:42

Take a VHF radio....if you haven't delivered.
paulj#719

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Northlander
1st Mate

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35 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2005 : 15:52:32

Second one isn't due until end of October, so I think we will be safe for the duration of the sailing season!

Wife of Northlander

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sterngucker
Navigator

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USA
169 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2005 : 15:53:26

I bought a book many years ago called "Babies on Board". It was full of useful tips and suggestions. As my kids are now preteen and the book is now collecting dust, I would be happy to send it to you (no charge, just happy to share

) if you think it would be of use to you. Email me your address and I'll ship it off a.s.a.p.

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s3tbuell
1st Mate

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47 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2005 : 16:30:17

Babies on a sailboat??
I have been sailing for over 35 years. I have had a baby or kids on my boat for 24 of them. There are some great books out there about this subject. One is called Babies on board. Its a great book about the crusing life style and babies. If you cant find it let me know. I am done with Babies...or at least my own....
I have a picture in my office called multi-tasking I have a six month old on my knee, a beer in the other hand and steering with my foot....

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Northlander
1st Mate

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35 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2005 : 16:48:24

Doyle,

You should post your picture.

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zebra50
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2005 : 16:44:31

We have had our grandchildren on board often since they were 1+. Long ago I put up the safety net. It has saved me many tools and probably a couple of grandchildren. Purchased at West Marine, attached to stanchions with 1/4" line wrapped all the way up the tubes.

It runs all the way around port to starboard on the deck area outside of the cockpit.

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zebra50
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2005 : 16:47:11

here is the pic.

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tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2005 : 02:36:36

When our kids were little we used to charter boats by the day. I think your husband has the picture when he says he is prepared to single hand because often that is what I was doing, at least until nap time. The boat always put them to sleep and we got to spend precious time alone together doing something we loved. We started when my youngest was a toddler. We had a rule. If you want out of the cabin your life jacket is on. We also bought harnesses for all of us and they had to wear them if they wanted out of the cockpit, or even in the cockpit when younger. I also wore mine if getting out of the cockpit as I wanted to set an example and could not imagine how my wife could cope with the boat alone with both of them, at least not in a timely manner. They liked the freedom to sit on the bow when conditions permitted it and I knew I could snag them in a minute if they fell. They never fell. My sister's kids are younger. She straps a car seat into the cockpit and straps them in where they can see everything.

Once when my daughter was about 2 we were out with her older cousins aboard. As she woke from her nap her cousins were fawning over her and said in sing song voices "Oh did Keiley take a nap in the bed?" She was having none of it

and scowling at them said "Its not a bed! Its a V berth!"

Now the kids are older (7 & 9) and they drive while Mom and Dad take cat naps in the cockpit. We still follow the harness rule with no complaints.

Edited by - tmhansen on 03/18/2005 02:39:56

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2005 : 09:04:35

When I was soloing with little ones I used a carseat bolted to a replacement main hatch board. When fitted in place it was a quick fix to stash the baby in when both hands were needed for other things.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2005 : 12:53:38

"We had a rule. If you want out of the cabin your life jacket is on."

My kids are teenagers and we have the same rule.

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tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2005 : 01:09:30

Jim you are right, I should not have used the past tense. We too still have that rule aboard. Applies to adults too when on salt water.

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timnkelle
Deckhand

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USA
10 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2005 : 22:56:32

Some depends on the personality of your kids. We have two boys 3 1/2 and 19 monthes. The oldest was about 2 1/2 the first time we went out and he did great. He was old enough to catch and brace himself a little if the boat moved quick while he was below in the cabin and not get thrown down and hurt. Our second has been out only twice and we had enough, but I believe he is now ready. He is very active and curious and would not sit and be held. Wanted to run around in cabin and cockpit and hates the life vest. Was even worse when was still a crawler. He was walking at 12 monthes. We could go out but it was no fun for me as I was constantly restling the baby. Have to keep milk and/or formula handy as well for babies and he prefered his warm. So anyway, we are glad they are both old enough this season for us to go out and enjoy the boat together. We have been practicing the life vest on little Shane and he is doing much better now that he is older. Babies can be tough on board to because of the clearances below and clinbing in/out of cabin all while carrying baby. Storage can be a little tough too for baby gear, things tend to get a bit cluttered below. After a couple trips out with Shane we had had enough and called it a season unless we could get a sitter for the day. Highly recomend safety netting we had to put it on our boat and it is great. Agree with life vest rule as well, unless below the vest is on. We do not have harnesses but are strongly considering them. I want one as well. Salt water can get pretty rough at times.

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