"DSK" wrote in message
...
"Capt" Rob wrote:
... We're trying to get Thomas used to the boat....
But today he put up the biggest fuss of all time when we put his
lifejacket on and he kept taking it off.

In other words, you're letting him be stupid & spoiled, just like you.

.... It finally got to the point
where we just put a Stearns belt on him, but that's not the right PFD
for a toddler. He also wears a harness so he can't fall off the boat.
We all wore vests and that was working up until today. He really has
fun on the boat...but hates the PFD, though it fits him properly.
Suzanne thought it might just be too warm and he's aware of such things
now.
We obviously need to get this working right before we take weekend
trips with him.


He wears it. Period. If he takes it off or makes a fuss, then put him in
time out if you can't paddle his butt. Most parents can't nowadays, having
been raised poorly themselves.

Putting a float belt on is the worst possible choice, that would drown a
child more quickly than just floating free would.



"silverback" wrote:
I've seen pictures of you sailing... you don't wear a life jacket at all
times. I do.... despite the fact I'm ten times a better swimmer than you
could hope to ever be.

That's a stupid thing to say when you really don't know how good a swimmer
Boobsie is (although evidence suggests he is not).


... That being said... kids copy what they see. Get him a comfortable
vest and make sure he puts it on at the same time you do... upon
boarding any boat.


Guy Aerts wrote:
Poor advice. The vest goes on before they set foot on the dock. Docks are
perhaps a greater hazard to little kids than a boat.

Bingo. Having rescued a kid from under a dock, I can state for sure that
it's a nightmare scenario.


... There are no rails or
lifelines, and someone carrying a cooler or sailbag can turn to look at
something and knock a toddler off a dock without even realizing it.

Which isn't unlikely, and it's even more likely for little kids to trip
over a cleat or line, or lean over just a bit too far looking at
something, or just plain fall (hey it happens to the everyone once in a
while).

.... If the kid
goes off the dock and comes up under it, you've got a serious situation
all of a
sudden. How fast can you find them when they are jammed up between some
blocks
of styrofoam under water?

My other advice is go to the store and let Thomas pick out a PFD HE
likes. Maybe
Spiderman or Spongebob or something will make him WANT to wear the
jacket...
even around the house.


Yes. Make a game out of wearing it, reward him for wearing so he'll get to
like it... but don't let a lack of parental spine keep the kid from being
protected. And don't make the mistake of assuming that nothing can go
wrong because he's wearing a life jacket. It is quite possible to drown
while wearing one (or have some other harmful accident).

In many states now (and probably soon to be universal) children must be
wearing life jackets any time they are aboard any boat, unless they are
inside the boat's cabin.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King


Excellent post Doug! At least you understand parental responsibilities.

I can't believe that people are letting a 2 year old get their way,
especially in a matter of safety. Good lord!

By this age Little Lord Fauntleroy should respect his parents commands and
understand when there is no messing around.

But that's what you get when you bring kids up distanced from nature and in
front of a tv.

Glory!