WE were recently blessed with our first child last month and I was wondering if anyone has had experience with infants on a sailboat. Are there any infant life vests? How did you handle the child? etc. ( I promised her for her 10th birthday we would sail to Bermuda ) Thanks for any insight.
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Miles
Infants are easy!
I'm not sure how big your boat is but there's probably some place you can secure an infant in a car seat. That's a pretty good age actually since they aren't moving around yet. West Marine seels some pretty small life jackets but I'm not sure they get quite that small. Once they get a little bigger you have to worry more. My almost six year old can swim but we still make sure she wears a life jacket all the time and a tether/harness if things look even a little tricky. Sailing with kids is good fun but can also be a test of patience too. Be sure to have something for them to play with. An infant will probably just take a nice peacefull nap (I'm fondly remembering the days...)
I'm not sure how big your boat is but there's probably some place you can secure an infant in a car seat. That's a pretty good age actually since they aren't moving around yet. West Marine seels some pretty small life jackets but I'm not sure they get quite that small. Once they get a little bigger you have to worry more. My almost six year old can swim but we still make sure she wears a life jacket all the time and a tether/harness if things look even a little tricky. Sailing with kids is good fun but can also be a test of patience too. Be sure to have something for them to play with. An infant will probably just take a nice peacefull nap (I'm fondly remembering the days...)
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners
Congrats!
It may be a challenge but lots of folks sail with their babies. Some even go cruising! What I've heard is that most folks secure the baby in a car seat and secure the car seat somewhere relatively stable AND visible from the companionway. Personally, I'd think it was kinda funny to just lay 'em on the sole
It may be a challenge but lots of folks sail with their babies. Some even go cruising! What I've heard is that most folks secure the baby in a car seat and secure the car seat somewhere relatively stable AND visible from the companionway. Personally, I'd think it was kinda funny to just lay 'em on the sole
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Don Evans
And Baby Make Three..
Miles I'm trying to remember those napping days too, but I was much too young (about 1 month I think)...8^) Brad, you and your wife will come to an understanding about the baby and his/her comfort. Trust me on this, an innate sense of protection for babette kicks in very early. There are no baby life jackets that would work effectively. The tethered carseat to the salon floor worked well for me, and 4 kids, all raised in and around the family boat. Everyone survived just fine. Moving from there to the V berth was the next step. Lots of padding and cushions. Make sure there is nothing that can fall off a shelf. This stage is the easy period. Meals are usually built in as well. Enjoy the experience. Come back in a year or two for the next round of advice...8^)... and congratulations. Don
Miles I'm trying to remember those napping days too, but I was much too young (about 1 month I think)...8^) Brad, you and your wife will come to an understanding about the baby and his/her comfort. Trust me on this, an innate sense of protection for babette kicks in very early. There are no baby life jackets that would work effectively. The tethered carseat to the salon floor worked well for me, and 4 kids, all raised in and around the family boat. Everyone survived just fine. Moving from there to the V berth was the next step. Lots of padding and cushions. Make sure there is nothing that can fall off a shelf. This stage is the easy period. Meals are usually built in as well. Enjoy the experience. Come back in a year or two for the next round of advice...8^)... and congratulations. Don
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Tom
Babies Aboard...
Congrats! Babies Aboard A book by Lindsay Green Published by McGraw/Hill Will probably be interesting to you. Fair winds... Tom
Congrats! Babies Aboard A book by Lindsay Green Published by McGraw/Hill Will probably be interesting to you. Fair winds... Tom
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R DEUTSCH
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Chris
PS...
We found that our empty cooler made a great bathtub. Good luck, be careful and have fun. You won't reget it.
We found that our empty cooler made a great bathtub. Good luck, be careful and have fun. You won't reget it.
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Don Evans
Mr Deutsch...
Lay your ear down on your left shoulder and stare into the emoticon (smiley face wearing glasses) ...any clearer?... 8^) Don
Lay your ear down on your left shoulder and stare into the emoticon (smiley face wearing glasses) ...any clearer?... 8^) Don
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Brian Leney
Go baby!
Our first was born last December and we had her out on every one of our trips this year, daysails and overnights, on our hunter 37.5. Just like adjustments at home and in your car, you can easily accommodate the new little passenger on a boat. Sailing-wise we went more gently, keeping the boat more upright than we might usually. Underway, car seat was the best place, anchored to something in the cockpit. Watch out for the sun, we have a bimini and moved her frequently to keep her out of the sun. If she is still small enough, you might be able to use one of those car seats with built-in hood. At night, we used one of the portable playpen/cribs, set on top of the salon table. Worked great and easily went on/off the boat with us. Enjoy your family on the water! It's a special place.
Our first was born last December and we had her out on every one of our trips this year, daysails and overnights, on our hunter 37.5. Just like adjustments at home and in your car, you can easily accommodate the new little passenger on a boat. Sailing-wise we went more gently, keeping the boat more upright than we might usually. Underway, car seat was the best place, anchored to something in the cockpit. Watch out for the sun, we have a bimini and moved her frequently to keep her out of the sun. If she is still small enough, you might be able to use one of those car seats with built-in hood. At night, we used one of the portable playpen/cribs, set on top of the salon table. Worked great and easily went on/off the boat with us. Enjoy your family on the water! It's a special place.
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Hayden Watson
Gimbals
We had a method of secureing our infant that hasn’t been mentioned yet. Our Daughter was only a few weeks old when she started sailing. It was the easiest time with a young child (all they do is eat, sleep and ugh, need changing.) When on the boat our new born spent most of her time in her carrier/car seat. It was the type that has a handle that folds up for carrying. I clipped the handle to a couple of snap shackles that had a short length of line tied to the over-head grab rails. she would just swing back an forth as the boat sailed. It was kind of like the wind up seat at home except that you didn’t have to wind it up. I figured that if gimbals will work to keep the pot from falling off the stove that they ought to keep my daughter from falling over on the boat. Hayden Watson 1988 C30tr/bs Papillon Spokane, WA
We had a method of secureing our infant that hasn’t been mentioned yet. Our Daughter was only a few weeks old when she started sailing. It was the easiest time with a young child (all they do is eat, sleep and ugh, need changing.) When on the boat our new born spent most of her time in her carrier/car seat. It was the type that has a handle that folds up for carrying. I clipped the handle to a couple of snap shackles that had a short length of line tied to the over-head grab rails. she would just swing back an forth as the boat sailed. It was kind of like the wind up seat at home except that you didn’t have to wind it up. I figured that if gimbals will work to keep the pot from falling off the stove that they ought to keep my daughter from falling over on the boat. Hayden Watson 1988 C30tr/bs Papillon Spokane, WA
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Chris Hyland
Babies
We have no kids but my sister has an infant, and twins on the way... I looked for infant sized PFDs and bought a Mustang infant size.. Warning, Warning!!! 45 bucks! What I did find was a special baby car seat style seat that the baby gets strapped into. If it goes overboard it will automatically rite itself and keep the babies head above water. We took the baby out for her first sail and were keeping it kind of flat and quiet. She was just quiet... On the way home the wind freshend and we healed up on our side and were haul'n butt down the bay. I looked down from the wheel and she had the biggest smile on her face! She was laughing and giggling! Talk about a born sailor! Safe sailing, Chris
We have no kids but my sister has an infant, and twins on the way... I looked for infant sized PFDs and bought a Mustang infant size.. Warning, Warning!!! 45 bucks! What I did find was a special baby car seat style seat that the baby gets strapped into. If it goes overboard it will automatically rite itself and keep the babies head above water. We took the baby out for her first sail and were keeping it kind of flat and quiet. She was just quiet... On the way home the wind freshend and we healed up on our side and were haul'n butt down the bay. I looked down from the wheel and she had the biggest smile on her face! She was laughing and giggling! Talk about a born sailor! Safe sailing, Chris
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Thomas
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Paul
Ours was a year last month
Our first was born a year ago Dec. and we took her sailing many times last year. I agree with the others, when she was a newborn, it was the easiest. She slept quietly in her car seat most of the time. We'll have to get her a harness this year because she climbs everywhere now. We bought her an infant PFD but she outgrew it quickly. She started wearing the toddler size (18 to 30 lbs I think) by last Aug. Now she has the Vberth as her playhouse and bedroom. We put a 18" piece of plywood across to keep her from rolling or climbing out but that won't stop her this year so I have to come up with something new, (I like the idea of the net). Paul 1974 Catalina 27 Vancouver, BC http://community.webshots.com/album/14287993qauQVQbYXp
Our first was born a year ago Dec. and we took her sailing many times last year. I agree with the others, when she was a newborn, it was the easiest. She slept quietly in her car seat most of the time. We'll have to get her a harness this year because she climbs everywhere now. We bought her an infant PFD but she outgrew it quickly. She started wearing the toddler size (18 to 30 lbs I think) by last Aug. Now she has the Vberth as her playhouse and bedroom. We put a 18" piece of plywood across to keep her from rolling or climbing out but that won't stop her this year so I have to come up with something new, (I like the idea of the net). Paul 1974 Catalina 27 Vancouver, BC http://community.webshots.com/album/14287993qauQVQbYXp
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