Please provide any and all suggestions of being able to & how to set sail safely with a 7 month old on board.
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Bob
We Raised a Cild Onboard
We raised a child for several years aboard our Coronado 35; however, we moved aboard when he was just under three years. One requirement is safety netting around the stanchion system. Fall hazards as well as sharp objects about the vessel is one area of focus. Like securing your home, plugging in the AC receptables with cover inserts is necessary as well as insuring that cabinet doors cannot be opened easily and are secured. Try this...If you were to crawl around your vessel and observe everything from a low height what would you encounter? Where are the batteries stored/vented? Fumes? Propone Stove? Sinking gases? Bilge access? Dangerous areas for a toddler. Many who cruise with infants set up sleeping hammocks in the v-berths or other areas to allow the child to sleep comfortably while sort of gimballed while sailing. We followed a rule whereby, our son was required to wear a life preserver all the time on deck and was attached to a lifeline while under sail. Under power, if we ever had a sudden emergency (fire, explosion) we would not use a lifeline as getting off the boat in a hurry would not work well shackled to the mast!! Getting a child to get used to a life preserver, especially in hot weather is like getting them to crave brocolli! Acclimation is the key. Much of it is really common sense and control. We learned that the boats motion put our son to sleep fast and the deck was his only playground. I believe several books have been written about infants and children aboard and Cruising World several years ago held a contest amongst liveaboard children to design a burgee that identifies a vessel with children aboard. Great stuff. I think bringing up a child on a boat, even if it were only weekends is a wonderful and rewarding experience. Our son is 26 now and those years sailing are his fondest memories. Bob Catalina 30 Georgia
We raised a child for several years aboard our Coronado 35; however, we moved aboard when he was just under three years. One requirement is safety netting around the stanchion system. Fall hazards as well as sharp objects about the vessel is one area of focus. Like securing your home, plugging in the AC receptables with cover inserts is necessary as well as insuring that cabinet doors cannot be opened easily and are secured. Try this...If you were to crawl around your vessel and observe everything from a low height what would you encounter? Where are the batteries stored/vented? Fumes? Propone Stove? Sinking gases? Bilge access? Dangerous areas for a toddler. Many who cruise with infants set up sleeping hammocks in the v-berths or other areas to allow the child to sleep comfortably while sort of gimballed while sailing. We followed a rule whereby, our son was required to wear a life preserver all the time on deck and was attached to a lifeline while under sail. Under power, if we ever had a sudden emergency (fire, explosion) we would not use a lifeline as getting off the boat in a hurry would not work well shackled to the mast!! Getting a child to get used to a life preserver, especially in hot weather is like getting them to crave brocolli! Acclimation is the key. Much of it is really common sense and control. We learned that the boats motion put our son to sleep fast and the deck was his only playground. I believe several books have been written about infants and children aboard and Cruising World several years ago held a contest amongst liveaboard children to design a burgee that identifies a vessel with children aboard. Great stuff. I think bringing up a child on a boat, even if it were only weekends is a wonderful and rewarding experience. Our son is 26 now and those years sailing are his fondest memories. Bob Catalina 30 Georgia
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Windwalker
We're on our second infant
Let's see. At 7 months you should have a semi-mobile beginning crawler (being more mobile every day). Cockpit: we prefer a lifevest and holding the infant, with rare cockpit floor access. Soon he/she will become frustrated with lack of access, then it's time to use a childs harness. make access only available to the cockpit floor with a shortened lifeline. Salon: If you have room, begin with a pack & play playpen, after that Restrict access to the companion way & let them cruise around on the cabin sole. hang playthings from handholds etc. Sleeping: pack & play, or vberth with restricted (for an infant) egress. We've had a custom woven infant hammock, but we used it for naps only (nice under a heavy seaway). We've also used the bed guard on the setee as a portable lee cloth for baby. Bath: Rubbermaid tote At this age they are happy to hang out anywhere you do, so have at it! Enjoy! (We sure do!)
Let's see. At 7 months you should have a semi-mobile beginning crawler (being more mobile every day). Cockpit: we prefer a lifevest and holding the infant, with rare cockpit floor access. Soon he/she will become frustrated with lack of access, then it's time to use a childs harness. make access only available to the cockpit floor with a shortened lifeline. Salon: If you have room, begin with a pack & play playpen, after that Restrict access to the companion way & let them cruise around on the cabin sole. hang playthings from handholds etc. Sleeping: pack & play, or vberth with restricted (for an infant) egress. We've had a custom woven infant hammock, but we used it for naps only (nice under a heavy seaway). We've also used the bed guard on the setee as a portable lee cloth for baby. Bath: Rubbermaid tote At this age they are happy to hang out anywhere you do, so have at it! Enjoy! (We sure do!)
J
John Doe
We had a six month old
Right after I got married, I moved my wife and 6 month old daughter on to my O'Day 272 and spent 8 months doing the ICW to FL Keys and back. We had a Fisher Price traveling play pen set up in the main cabin. There wasn't much room for anything else but it was a good place to put her when we were underway. Also, we ALWAYS had her harnessed while on deck and always had a PFD on her when we were in the dinghy. Also, we had netting up from the lifelines to the toe rail. Of course, no self respecting sailor would ever leave port without their Fisher Price 'Busy Box' either.
Right after I got married, I moved my wife and 6 month old daughter on to my O'Day 272 and spent 8 months doing the ICW to FL Keys and back. We had a Fisher Price traveling play pen set up in the main cabin. There wasn't much room for anything else but it was a good place to put her when we were underway. Also, we ALWAYS had her harnessed while on deck and always had a PFD on her when we were in the dinghy. Also, we had netting up from the lifelines to the toe rail. Of course, no self respecting sailor would ever leave port without their Fisher Price 'Busy Box' either.
the younger the better!...
We have two kids - 2 1/2 and 1 yr old. It was easiest with only one kid around (obviously). It was also easier when our first kid was very young - before she could even roll. To add what some others have said... -We choose not to go far - mainly motor to our destination. -I have found that my daughter tends to get seasick when she plays in the cabin. -We time it so that we leave dock when its nap time for one of the kids. Let them fall asleep before it gets too rocky. -We have a new carbon monoxide detector installed. -I try to dock and leave port while my wife holds onto the kids. -We have a full enclosure cover that is always zipped up so they can't escape -When I need my wife to help dock, I remove the companionway steps so they can't climb out into the cockpit. (My daughter's favorite trick was to climb out and grab onto the throttle just as I was pulling alongside the dock!) -Gone is the relaxing day of sailing! But boating is still the best pastime in the world - its just a little more work now. Cheers, Rob
We have two kids - 2 1/2 and 1 yr old. It was easiest with only one kid around (obviously). It was also easier when our first kid was very young - before she could even roll. To add what some others have said... -We choose not to go far - mainly motor to our destination. -I have found that my daughter tends to get seasick when she plays in the cabin. -We time it so that we leave dock when its nap time for one of the kids. Let them fall asleep before it gets too rocky. -We have a new carbon monoxide detector installed. -I try to dock and leave port while my wife holds onto the kids. -We have a full enclosure cover that is always zipped up so they can't escape -When I need my wife to help dock, I remove the companionway steps so they can't climb out into the cockpit. (My daughter's favorite trick was to climb out and grab onto the throttle just as I was pulling alongside the dock!) -Gone is the relaxing day of sailing! But boating is still the best pastime in the world - its just a little more work now. Cheers, Rob
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