Hi all, I wanted to see if anyone here has ever sailed with a baby before? Our new baby is about 2 months old - we have a Catalina 30 so there is plenty of room below to keep him comfortable and out of the sun. Do they make any safety flotation devices that I should use for him? He will be about 15-17 lbs when we get him out on the water. Thanks - Rob
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5 month old racer!
Check this out - I heard about this on an Irish sailing show, the 5 month old completed 'Cork Week' which is a weeklong regatta, prior to which they did the delivery trip from Belgium!!http://www.rte.ie/radio1/story/1016424.html I have personally sailed with a six-month-old without any major problems.... but would not do it in bad conditions! We have a small PFD <30LBS which works fine (well actually untested
)
Check this out - I heard about this on an Irish sailing show, the 5 month old completed 'Cork Week' which is a weeklong regatta, prior to which they did the delivery trip from Belgium!!http://www.rte.ie/radio1/story/1016424.html I have personally sailed with a six-month-old without any major problems.... but would not do it in bad conditions! We have a small PFD <30LBS which works fine (well actually untested
)As early as 5 days
Our son started learning about sailing when he was only 5 days old! Ok, so he wasn't really that into it at that age, but nonetheless we went. We took him with us several times on weekend outings leading up to a Halloween cruise over the course of several days (he was born at the beginning of September). Then we went periodically throughout the winter months when the weather was favorable into the spring and summer months - this was when we still lived in olympia, washington, we have since moved and now keep the boat in NC. So, he's sailed with us the entire time. Now he's nearly 20 months and after moving my father-in-laws boat down the ICW from MD to NC next week (yeah, I'm excited about doing this trip!), we're going on a Memorial Day cruise for several days in NC. A week after that we're taking him along on a bareboat charter out of Tortola in the BVIs! I remember before he was born I wondered about this as well. However, it was actually easier to keep tabs on him when he was only minimally mobile. It's more 'interesting' to have him on board now that he climbs EVERYTHING! ;-) good luck... matt
Our son started learning about sailing when he was only 5 days old! Ok, so he wasn't really that into it at that age, but nonetheless we went. We took him with us several times on weekend outings leading up to a Halloween cruise over the course of several days (he was born at the beginning of September). Then we went periodically throughout the winter months when the weather was favorable into the spring and summer months - this was when we still lived in olympia, washington, we have since moved and now keep the boat in NC. So, he's sailed with us the entire time. Now he's nearly 20 months and after moving my father-in-laws boat down the ICW from MD to NC next week (yeah, I'm excited about doing this trip!), we're going on a Memorial Day cruise for several days in NC. A week after that we're taking him along on a bareboat charter out of Tortola in the BVIs! I remember before he was born I wondered about this as well. However, it was actually easier to keep tabs on him when he was only minimally mobile. It's more 'interesting' to have him on board now that he climbs EVERYTHING! ;-) good luck... matt
2 months
Hi Rob, Elizabeth was born in early May and went sailing on our 32 ODay by July,I bought an extra base for her infant car seat and installed eye bolts below the dinette seat cusions and aft cabin bed matress to tie down the base the seat just clops into the base and we would move her from one cabin to another,bought a portable basinet and tied that down to the nav station in the aft cabin(she hated that)ended up sleeping with mom Hey I'm always in Southold with my kids(ex wife lives there) if you would like a car seat and base I'd love to give it to you so I can get more garage space. Email RADESIMONE1@aol.com
Hi Rob, Elizabeth was born in early May and went sailing on our 32 ODay by July,I bought an extra base for her infant car seat and installed eye bolts below the dinette seat cusions and aft cabin bed matress to tie down the base the seat just clops into the base and we would move her from one cabin to another,bought a portable basinet and tied that down to the nav station in the aft cabin(she hated that)ended up sleeping with mom Hey I'm always in Southold with my kids(ex wife lives there) if you would like a car seat and base I'd love to give it to you so I can get more garage space. Email RADESIMONE1@aol.com
Not ready
My daugher is 14 months and as much as I'd love to take her on board, I feel that the cockpit (C&C 24) isn't big enought to accomodate the family on a cruise. Docking or motoring will be a different story, but then again... I'm torn on this topic, if I keep thinking along this line, even with the life line netting, my kid won't see the boat till she's 5 or 6 at the earliest.
My daugher is 14 months and as much as I'd love to take her on board, I feel that the cockpit (C&C 24) isn't big enought to accomodate the family on a cruise. Docking or motoring will be a different story, but then again... I'm torn on this topic, if I keep thinking along this line, even with the life line netting, my kid won't see the boat till she's 5 or 6 at the earliest.
Get them out early
We got our boat when our younger son was about 18 months old. In the early days, he would stay in his carseat for naps or when we were docking, but we later had a sailmaker create a playpen-style panel that could enclose the forward berth so he could sleep down below. He wears a hybrid conventional/inflatable life jacket which reduces bulk and we tether him to the pedestal. Now that he's a bit older we attach the tether to a jackline when we are at the dock or anchored so he can get around a bit more. At 3, he is very comfortable on board, and doesn't mind his tether or PFD. We keep the PFD in the car so he puts it on before we get on the dock. Harry
We got our boat when our younger son was about 18 months old. In the early days, he would stay in his carseat for naps or when we were docking, but we later had a sailmaker create a playpen-style panel that could enclose the forward berth so he could sleep down below. He wears a hybrid conventional/inflatable life jacket which reduces bulk and we tether him to the pedestal. Now that he's a bit older we attach the tether to a jackline when we are at the dock or anchored so he can get around a bit more. At 3, he is very comfortable on board, and doesn't mind his tether or PFD. We keep the PFD in the car so he puts it on before we get on the dock. Harry
Thanks for the Feedback
Thanks everyone for the feedback! The PO of my boat actually had the starboard side Setee converted into a pack-n-play type contraption. A mesh netting closes off the the open side Settee making it a comfortable and safe place to put a baby while sailing or on the hook. The settee is situated between the forward locker and aft nav. table. I am going to re-install the mesh enclosure and get the little guy our ASAP! Rob
Thanks everyone for the feedback! The PO of my boat actually had the starboard side Setee converted into a pack-n-play type contraption. A mesh netting closes off the the open side Settee making it a comfortable and safe place to put a baby while sailing or on the hook. The settee is situated between the forward locker and aft nav. table. I am going to re-install the mesh enclosure and get the little guy our ASAP! Rob
Come on gang...
I just KNOW you all have tons of photos to share of your tender crew! Remember how many sailing dog photos we ended up with? Let's see your budding young sailors! Trevor
I just KNOW you all have tons of photos to share of your tender crew! Remember how many sailing dog photos we ended up with? Let's see your budding young sailors! Trevor
start em early!
We had our daughter out when she was 3 weeks. Here's how we kept her upright (see photo)
We had our daughter out when she was 3 weeks. Here's how we kept her upright (see photo)
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