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Cruising with Baby
We are expecting a blessed event in late February. I'm looking for
information on people's experiences in day sailing, weekend cruising, and longer cruising with infants and very small children. Considerations, Gear, Sources, etc. Joe Wood jlwood3 at erols dot com |
Cruising with Baby
Check out the book "Babies Aboard" by Lindsay Green. It has tonnes of
usefull info on dealing with babies on board. We cruised with 2 kids (since birth) on board our bayfield 25 (util we got the 30). One was severely disabled and we found taking care of him on the boat was easier than at home because everything was within reach. We took lots of toys and activities for the kids to do, we're not afraid to stop early or halfway to have some fun or do what ever needs to be done. When the kids were infants, we just kept them in a car seat lashed to the boat when on deck, and in the v-berth when down below or in the car seat at the foot of the companionway. Keep them cool in summer and ensure they don't get sun burnt and you'll probably have a very happy time. Lots of food and later when they're older, lots of fun food...strawberries, grapes, maybe some chips and chocolats, but not too much junk food. Lots and Lots of water. My daughter is now 6, our son unfortunately succummed to his disabilities. We still sail a lot. our daughter is now capable of picking her own toys and last summer was starting to get some responsibilities on the boat. Last year was putting flemmish coils in the mooring lines after we're tied up. I haven't decided what this years duties will be yet, but it's important to give them something to do to be part of the crew. Chapters location for the book: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/item.a...670C7535862424 -- Cheers, Jeffrey Nelson Muir Caileag C&C 30 "Joe Wood" wrote in message ... We are expecting a blessed event in late February. I'm looking for information on people's experiences in day sailing, weekend cruising, and longer cruising with infants and very small children. Considerations, Gear, Sources, etc. Joe Wood jlwood3 at erols dot com |
Cruising with Baby
Check out the book "Babies Aboard" by Lindsay Green. It has tonnes of
usefull info on dealing with babies on board. We cruised with 2 kids (since birth) on board our bayfield 25 (util we got the 30). One was severely disabled and we found taking care of him on the boat was easier than at home because everything was within reach. We took lots of toys and activities for the kids to do, we're not afraid to stop early or halfway to have some fun or do what ever needs to be done. When the kids were infants, we just kept them in a car seat lashed to the boat when on deck, and in the v-berth when down below or in the car seat at the foot of the companionway. Keep them cool in summer and ensure they don't get sun burnt and you'll probably have a very happy time. Lots of food and later when they're older, lots of fun food...strawberries, grapes, maybe some chips and chocolats, but not too much junk food. Lots and Lots of water. My daughter is now 6, our son unfortunately succummed to his disabilities. We still sail a lot. our daughter is now capable of picking her own toys and last summer was starting to get some responsibilities on the boat. Last year was putting flemmish coils in the mooring lines after we're tied up. I haven't decided what this years duties will be yet, but it's important to give them something to do to be part of the crew. Chapters location for the book: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/item.a...670C7535862424 -- Cheers, Jeffrey Nelson Muir Caileag C&C 30 "Joe Wood" wrote in message ... We are expecting a blessed event in late February. I'm looking for information on people's experiences in day sailing, weekend cruising, and longer cruising with infants and very small children. Considerations, Gear, Sources, etc. Joe Wood jlwood3 at erols dot com |
Cruising with Baby
Congrats!!!
Our son is now 10 years old and spent several years of his childhood cruising Mexico and our local islands off the coast of Southern California. As we had our boat for several years before the birth of our son, we also had some modifications to do to prepare. First- plan on swimming lessons as soon as you can! Ryan started at 11 weeks, and it wasn't too soon. His first longer than weekend trip was at 9 months, and we were anchored around the upper Channel Islands or off shore for 6 weeks. When he was at the age of 4 we cruised Mexico for 9 months, and again when he was 6 for six months. Some initial considerations a Where will the baby sleep? Do you have a lee cloth that you can hang to provide a contained area? When the weather was calm, our baby slept in the V-berth (his 'bedroom'- more on that later) with a net stretched across the opening, and the walls well padded with pillows and rolled up blankets. When it was rough, we were more likely to have him in the aft cabin with us, or in the main cabin with a lee-cloth. We lashed a car seat into the dinette for regular use. The baby ate there, played there in rough weather and slept there when we needed him to... The model we used had a padded rest across the front, so it provided a good surface for his activity (or his head!). I bought a 'Kiddy harness', a cute one for keeping hyper kids from running away, and remade it with stainless steel hardware, and had the closures as 'D' rings. The leash that came with it was regular webbing with a worthless plastic clip. I replaced the clip with a locking caribiner. When our son was tiny I fastened the harness in the back. As he got older, we fastened it in the front as he took more responsibility for his own safety. By the way, I actually bought two of those harnesses... His Pooh Bear wore one whenever he came above decks, too. Needless to say, Pooh Bear didn't have a rebuilt model! We took along a blow-up swimming pool for hot days at anchor when we wanted the baby to stay in the shade. We used it a few times, but generally we just played in the water at the side of the boat that afforded the most shade. Kiddy life vests come with a convenient handle at the top of the 'pillow'. You can tie a rope to the handle and swing the baby down to the dinghy (or haul him up to the deck). These life vests have a leg strap. You DEFINITELY need to use that strap as it's very easy for the baby to slide out. We always had used out V-berth as a guest/storage area. We decided to establish a 'space' for our son early on that he could know was solely his own. Turning over the V-berth was easy, and provided a a light, airy, contained inside space as a play area. That became critical! Kid and toddler toys are a real hazard on a moving boat. We found that long term cruising with our child was VERY easy, but perhaps not the best choice for him. He loved the whole trip when he was 4, but really missed his extended family, his friends and his dog when we were in the trip when he was 6. It was hard for him to make friends with other cruising kids and then have them pull up anchor to go someplace else after a day or even a few hours of play. I'm not clear on how much or what type of cruising you plan, but you ought to take these considerations into account. At 4 our son was responsible for all of the trash sorting, storage and disposal on the boat. He had an authentic knowledge of what 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle' meant! At 6 he was fishing everyday (along with Dad) and provided EVERY fish meal we ate on the trip (nearly daily). We had very much a Hunter-Gatherer lifestyle, and our 6 year old was a critical part of our success. At 10 he still reflects on the fact that he was able to provide for our family. The whole cruising experience has provided him an enormous amount of personal confidence. Of course, you'll want to be reading to your baby all the time (you've started already, haven't you?) so think about some 'Treasuries'. Many authors or publishers produce collections of children's stories. The Treasury of Peter Rabbit comes to mind as does the Little Golden Books Treasury. These are easier to keep track of and they stand up to the environment better than smaller books. I didn't think this response would be so long, and I'm sure there are dozens of things I didn't think to write about. Cruising with a little child is just about as good as it gets! Joe Wood wrote: We are expecting a blessed event in late February. I'm looking for information on people's experiences in day sailing, weekend cruising, and longer cruising with infants and very small children. Considerations, Gear, Sources, etc. Joe Wood jlwood3 at erols dot com |
Cruising with Baby
Congrats!!!
Our son is now 10 years old and spent several years of his childhood cruising Mexico and our local islands off the coast of Southern California. As we had our boat for several years before the birth of our son, we also had some modifications to do to prepare. First- plan on swimming lessons as soon as you can! Ryan started at 11 weeks, and it wasn't too soon. His first longer than weekend trip was at 9 months, and we were anchored around the upper Channel Islands or off shore for 6 weeks. When he was at the age of 4 we cruised Mexico for 9 months, and again when he was 6 for six months. Some initial considerations a Where will the baby sleep? Do you have a lee cloth that you can hang to provide a contained area? When the weather was calm, our baby slept in the V-berth (his 'bedroom'- more on that later) with a net stretched across the opening, and the walls well padded with pillows and rolled up blankets. When it was rough, we were more likely to have him in the aft cabin with us, or in the main cabin with a lee-cloth. We lashed a car seat into the dinette for regular use. The baby ate there, played there in rough weather and slept there when we needed him to... The model we used had a padded rest across the front, so it provided a good surface for his activity (or his head!). I bought a 'Kiddy harness', a cute one for keeping hyper kids from running away, and remade it with stainless steel hardware, and had the closures as 'D' rings. The leash that came with it was regular webbing with a worthless plastic clip. I replaced the clip with a locking caribiner. When our son was tiny I fastened the harness in the back. As he got older, we fastened it in the front as he took more responsibility for his own safety. By the way, I actually bought two of those harnesses... His Pooh Bear wore one whenever he came above decks, too. Needless to say, Pooh Bear didn't have a rebuilt model! We took along a blow-up swimming pool for hot days at anchor when we wanted the baby to stay in the shade. We used it a few times, but generally we just played in the water at the side of the boat that afforded the most shade. Kiddy life vests come with a convenient handle at the top of the 'pillow'. You can tie a rope to the handle and swing the baby down to the dinghy (or haul him up to the deck). These life vests have a leg strap. You DEFINITELY need to use that strap as it's very easy for the baby to slide out. We always had used out V-berth as a guest/storage area. We decided to establish a 'space' for our son early on that he could know was solely his own. Turning over the V-berth was easy, and provided a a light, airy, contained inside space as a play area. That became critical! Kid and toddler toys are a real hazard on a moving boat. We found that long term cruising with our child was VERY easy, but perhaps not the best choice for him. He loved the whole trip when he was 4, but really missed his extended family, his friends and his dog when we were in the trip when he was 6. It was hard for him to make friends with other cruising kids and then have them pull up anchor to go someplace else after a day or even a few hours of play. I'm not clear on how much or what type of cruising you plan, but you ought to take these considerations into account. At 4 our son was responsible for all of the trash sorting, storage and disposal on the boat. He had an authentic knowledge of what 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle' meant! At 6 he was fishing everyday (along with Dad) and provided EVERY fish meal we ate on the trip (nearly daily). We had very much a Hunter-Gatherer lifestyle, and our 6 year old was a critical part of our success. At 10 he still reflects on the fact that he was able to provide for our family. The whole cruising experience has provided him an enormous amount of personal confidence. Of course, you'll want to be reading to your baby all the time (you've started already, haven't you?) so think about some 'Treasuries'. Many authors or publishers produce collections of children's stories. The Treasury of Peter Rabbit comes to mind as does the Little Golden Books Treasury. These are easier to keep track of and they stand up to the environment better than smaller books. I didn't think this response would be so long, and I'm sure there are dozens of things I didn't think to write about. Cruising with a little child is just about as good as it gets! Joe Wood wrote: We are expecting a blessed event in late February. I'm looking for information on people's experiences in day sailing, weekend cruising, and longer cruising with infants and very small children. Considerations, Gear, Sources, etc. Joe Wood jlwood3 at erols dot com |
Cruising with Baby
Our baby was on board at 10 days old (in August), however for the remainder of
the first season we only took her out with a very experienced crew. That winter she took the swimming for infants class at the "Y" she has since become "water baby" with no fear of the water. The following several summers she stayed mainly in a car seat lashed in the cockpit under the dodger. The forward bunk acquired a "door" so it turned into a crib; parents were forced to sleep in the main cabin. Our boat then was a Nonsuch 30 which has a large, deep, secure cockpit. With that and full netting, we never worried about her falling overboard. You'll find there is no good infant PFD, but as early as you can, get them used to wearing a PFD when necessary. Also, make sure you have a good, lightweight stroller. The big heavy ones have their place, but if you want to do dinghy/launch trips with the little one, you have to use minimal gear. And you'll discover interesting things, like diapers are great for changing the oil filter on your diesel! For toys, the normal stuff is good, but you'll want water and beach toys. Amelia spent a lot of time playing with a bucket of water in the cockpit. Which reminds me, make sure you acquire proper submersible gear - its a bummer when you find your VHF in the bottom of the bucket. Also, we had a TV/VHF combo; nowadays a DVD player might get more use. When she was 3 we bought a catamaran, partly because the level sailing is so child safe. Also, the immense amount of space, below, in the cockpit, and especially forward on the trampoline was greatly appreciated. Of course, everyone got their own cabin! We spent a year doing the ICW & Keys when she was 5. Now the big cat is overkill for simple summer cruising, but the space is still appreciated. -- -jeff www.sv-loki.com "The sea was angry that day, my friend. Like an old man trying to send back soup at the deli." "Joe Wood" wrote in message ... We are expecting a blessed event in late February. I'm looking for information on people's experiences in day sailing, weekend cruising, and longer cruising with infants and very small children. Considerations, Gear, Sources, etc. Joe Wood jlwood3 at erols dot com |
Cruising with Baby
Our baby was on board at 10 days old (in August), however for the remainder of
the first season we only took her out with a very experienced crew. That winter she took the swimming for infants class at the "Y" she has since become "water baby" with no fear of the water. The following several summers she stayed mainly in a car seat lashed in the cockpit under the dodger. The forward bunk acquired a "door" so it turned into a crib; parents were forced to sleep in the main cabin. Our boat then was a Nonsuch 30 which has a large, deep, secure cockpit. With that and full netting, we never worried about her falling overboard. You'll find there is no good infant PFD, but as early as you can, get them used to wearing a PFD when necessary. Also, make sure you have a good, lightweight stroller. The big heavy ones have their place, but if you want to do dinghy/launch trips with the little one, you have to use minimal gear. And you'll discover interesting things, like diapers are great for changing the oil filter on your diesel! For toys, the normal stuff is good, but you'll want water and beach toys. Amelia spent a lot of time playing with a bucket of water in the cockpit. Which reminds me, make sure you acquire proper submersible gear - its a bummer when you find your VHF in the bottom of the bucket. Also, we had a TV/VHF combo; nowadays a DVD player might get more use. When she was 3 we bought a catamaran, partly because the level sailing is so child safe. Also, the immense amount of space, below, in the cockpit, and especially forward on the trampoline was greatly appreciated. Of course, everyone got their own cabin! We spent a year doing the ICW & Keys when she was 5. Now the big cat is overkill for simple summer cruising, but the space is still appreciated. -- -jeff www.sv-loki.com "The sea was angry that day, my friend. Like an old man trying to send back soup at the deli." "Joe Wood" wrote in message ... We are expecting a blessed event in late February. I'm looking for information on people's experiences in day sailing, weekend cruising, and longer cruising with infants and very small children. Considerations, Gear, Sources, etc. Joe Wood jlwood3 at erols dot com |
Cruising with Baby
We sailed with my daughter from the time she was 3 months old. The
infant lifejackets are bulky, and the infant didn't think much of them, but you have to endure it. We had a hard dinghy and little reserve buoyancy in the event of mishap. The boat I had then was a wooden Alberg that had the icebox as part of a quarter berth. No cushion came with the boat, and I never had one made, but for the first summer, it made a great place for a large plastic storage container, with sides about 1 foot high or so, that served as her bed. The second summer, I had to rig netting to isolate one of the settee berths, as this particular boat had storage, a head and hanging lockers instead of a V berth. The second summer, when she was 15-17 months old, was a little more exciting, as she could and would reach out and touch/fiddle with things. The natural location for her car seat, at the head of the cockpit, by the companion way was also the location of the key and starter button for the engine. We had to remember to keep the seat away from the key, when the engine was needed, and eventually took the float off it to make it less attractive. In the cockpit she wore a Lirakis child size harness that would shrink enough to fit her at 12 mos, and which she wore until she was about 7-8 (I forget now) One thing I did was take with us, on the spur of the moment one day, was her swing, a red plastic bucket with a strap. I hung it toward the end of the boom, where she could see everything going on in the cockpit, and she could reach the main sheet and reorient herself to look at other boats coming into the cove where we were anchored. She had a grand time, and drew a lot of attention. The boom was sheeted tightly so that she was always over the cockpit. We bought plastic holders for the little juice boxes that you will become very familiar with, this cuts down on the amount that is spilled by little hands squeezing the box too hard. Initially, buy extra pacifiers, and a stuffed toy or two to keep on board. Getting underway from the house is going to be much more complicated. I remember a whole weekend made extraordinarily difficult because we could not locate, in a store near the boat, an exact duplicate of the currently favorite pacifier/binkie. When she was old enough to understand, the rule was she could not come out of the cabin without either the harness or the lifejacket on. She could not leave the cockpit, period, without the lifejacket on. When she started to be ambulatory, I started leaving the bottom washboard in the companionway, so she could not wake up quietly and sneak out into the cockpit with out us hearing her. My companionway was straight up and down, so every board has to go all the way to the top to come out, those that taper, meaning you only need to lift the washboard a couple of inches, should probably have a barrel bolt on the outside, bottom, so little arms cant reach it. Always have plenty of fluids, finger food and paper towels. Have fun. Jonathan Joe Wood wrote: We are expecting a blessed event in late February. I'm looking for information on people's experiences in day sailing, weekend cruising, and longer cruising with infants and very small children. Considerations, Gear, Sources, etc. Joe Wood jlwood3 at erols dot com |
Cruising with Baby
We sailed with my daughter from the time she was 3 months old. The
infant lifejackets are bulky, and the infant didn't think much of them, but you have to endure it. We had a hard dinghy and little reserve buoyancy in the event of mishap. The boat I had then was a wooden Alberg that had the icebox as part of a quarter berth. No cushion came with the boat, and I never had one made, but for the first summer, it made a great place for a large plastic storage container, with sides about 1 foot high or so, that served as her bed. The second summer, I had to rig netting to isolate one of the settee berths, as this particular boat had storage, a head and hanging lockers instead of a V berth. The second summer, when she was 15-17 months old, was a little more exciting, as she could and would reach out and touch/fiddle with things. The natural location for her car seat, at the head of the cockpit, by the companion way was also the location of the key and starter button for the engine. We had to remember to keep the seat away from the key, when the engine was needed, and eventually took the float off it to make it less attractive. In the cockpit she wore a Lirakis child size harness that would shrink enough to fit her at 12 mos, and which she wore until she was about 7-8 (I forget now) One thing I did was take with us, on the spur of the moment one day, was her swing, a red plastic bucket with a strap. I hung it toward the end of the boom, where she could see everything going on in the cockpit, and she could reach the main sheet and reorient herself to look at other boats coming into the cove where we were anchored. She had a grand time, and drew a lot of attention. The boom was sheeted tightly so that she was always over the cockpit. We bought plastic holders for the little juice boxes that you will become very familiar with, this cuts down on the amount that is spilled by little hands squeezing the box too hard. Initially, buy extra pacifiers, and a stuffed toy or two to keep on board. Getting underway from the house is going to be much more complicated. I remember a whole weekend made extraordinarily difficult because we could not locate, in a store near the boat, an exact duplicate of the currently favorite pacifier/binkie. When she was old enough to understand, the rule was she could not come out of the cabin without either the harness or the lifejacket on. She could not leave the cockpit, period, without the lifejacket on. When she started to be ambulatory, I started leaving the bottom washboard in the companionway, so she could not wake up quietly and sneak out into the cockpit with out us hearing her. My companionway was straight up and down, so every board has to go all the way to the top to come out, those that taper, meaning you only need to lift the washboard a couple of inches, should probably have a barrel bolt on the outside, bottom, so little arms cant reach it. Always have plenty of fluids, finger food and paper towels. Have fun. Jonathan Joe Wood wrote: We are expecting a blessed event in late February. I'm looking for information on people's experiences in day sailing, weekend cruising, and longer cruising with infants and very small children. Considerations, Gear, Sources, etc. Joe Wood jlwood3 at erols dot com |
Cruising with Baby
"Jeff Morris" wrote in message ...
Our baby was on board at 10 days old (in August), however for the remainder of the first season we only took her out with a very experienced crew. That winter she took the swimming for infants class at the "Y" she has since become "water baby" with no fear of the water. The following several summers she stayed mainly in a car seat lashed in the cockpit under the dodger. The forward bunk acquired a "door" so it turned into a crib; parents were forced to sleep in the main cabin. Our boat then was a Nonsuch 30 which has a large, deep, secure cockpit. With that and full netting, we never worried about her falling overboard. You'll find there is no good infant PFD, but as early as you can, get them used to wearing a PFD when necessary. Also, make sure you have a good, lightweight stroller. The big heavy ones have their place, but if you want to do dinghy/launch trips with the little one, you have to use minimal gear. And you'll discover interesting things, like diapers are great for changing the oil filter on your diesel! For toys, the normal stuff is good, but you'll want water and beach toys. Amelia spent a lot of time playing with a bucket of water in the cockpit. Which reminds me, make sure you acquire proper submersible gear - its a bummer when you find your VHF in the bottom of the bucket. Also, we had a TV/VHF combo; nowadays a DVD player might get more use. When she was 3 we bought a catamaran, partly because the level sailing is so child safe. Also, the immense amount of space, below, in the cockpit, and especially forward on the trampoline was greatly appreciated. Of course, everyone got their own cabin! We spent a year doing the ICW & Keys when she was 5. Now the big cat is overkill for simple summer cruising, but the space is still appreciated. -- -jeff www.sv-loki.com "The sea was angry that day, my friend. Like an old man trying to send back soup at the deli." "Joe Wood" wrote in message ... We are expecting a blessed event in late February. I'm looking for information on people's experiences in day sailing, weekend cruising, and longer cruising with infants and very small children. Considerations, Gear, Sources, etc. Joe Wood jlwood3 at erols dot com 10 days old and sailing, ok our daughter got you beat, she was 7 days old. Best thing we ever did with our kids when sailing was to partially flood the cockpit under the bimini and they played for hours. We cooled our feet in it. All went well till our third who is amazingly hyperactive and also doesnt sleep. The first two were so little trouble we didnt expect this problem. One night we anchored and she slept on the main cabin setee. About 6:00 am, I woke thinking "Somethings wrong", poked my head out of the v-berth and there was no sign of 2 yr old Katie. Ran out naked into the cockpit, and she was over the stern standing on the boarding ladder. Pointing to the water as she saw me she said "Hishies down dere". Next night she slept with us and we also put every pot and pan on the companionway steps as an alarm. |
Cruising with Baby
"Jeff Morris" wrote in message ...
Our baby was on board at 10 days old (in August), however for the remainder of the first season we only took her out with a very experienced crew. That winter she took the swimming for infants class at the "Y" she has since become "water baby" with no fear of the water. The following several summers she stayed mainly in a car seat lashed in the cockpit under the dodger. The forward bunk acquired a "door" so it turned into a crib; parents were forced to sleep in the main cabin. Our boat then was a Nonsuch 30 which has a large, deep, secure cockpit. With that and full netting, we never worried about her falling overboard. You'll find there is no good infant PFD, but as early as you can, get them used to wearing a PFD when necessary. Also, make sure you have a good, lightweight stroller. The big heavy ones have their place, but if you want to do dinghy/launch trips with the little one, you have to use minimal gear. And you'll discover interesting things, like diapers are great for changing the oil filter on your diesel! For toys, the normal stuff is good, but you'll want water and beach toys. Amelia spent a lot of time playing with a bucket of water in the cockpit. Which reminds me, make sure you acquire proper submersible gear - its a bummer when you find your VHF in the bottom of the bucket. Also, we had a TV/VHF combo; nowadays a DVD player might get more use. When she was 3 we bought a catamaran, partly because the level sailing is so child safe. Also, the immense amount of space, below, in the cockpit, and especially forward on the trampoline was greatly appreciated. Of course, everyone got their own cabin! We spent a year doing the ICW & Keys when she was 5. Now the big cat is overkill for simple summer cruising, but the space is still appreciated. -- -jeff www.sv-loki.com "The sea was angry that day, my friend. Like an old man trying to send back soup at the deli." "Joe Wood" wrote in message ... We are expecting a blessed event in late February. I'm looking for information on people's experiences in day sailing, weekend cruising, and longer cruising with infants and very small children. Considerations, Gear, Sources, etc. Joe Wood jlwood3 at erols dot com 10 days old and sailing, ok our daughter got you beat, she was 7 days old. Best thing we ever did with our kids when sailing was to partially flood the cockpit under the bimini and they played for hours. We cooled our feet in it. All went well till our third who is amazingly hyperactive and also doesnt sleep. The first two were so little trouble we didnt expect this problem. One night we anchored and she slept on the main cabin setee. About 6:00 am, I woke thinking "Somethings wrong", poked my head out of the v-berth and there was no sign of 2 yr old Katie. Ran out naked into the cockpit, and she was over the stern standing on the boarding ladder. Pointing to the water as she saw me she said "Hishies down dere". Next night she slept with us and we also put every pot and pan on the companionway steps as an alarm. |
Cruising with Baby
Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice. Joe Wood |
Cruising with Baby
Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice. Joe Wood |
Cruising with Baby
Most people around here who have a boat, then a baby, see the boat maybe
once or twice over the next year or two before they sell it. YMMV. -- Keith __ Gravity is a Myth. The Earth Sucks! "Joe Wood" wrote in message ... We are expecting a blessed event in late February. I'm looking for information on people's experiences in day sailing, weekend cruising, and longer cruising with infants and very small children. Considerations, Gear, Sources, etc. Joe Wood jlwood3 at erols dot com |
Cruising with Baby
Most people around here who have a boat, then a baby, see the boat maybe
once or twice over the next year or two before they sell it. YMMV. -- Keith __ Gravity is a Myth. The Earth Sucks! "Joe Wood" wrote in message ... We are expecting a blessed event in late February. I'm looking for information on people's experiences in day sailing, weekend cruising, and longer cruising with infants and very small children. Considerations, Gear, Sources, etc. Joe Wood jlwood3 at erols dot com |
Cruising with Baby
How sad for them to miss some of the most rewarding discovery
opportunities with their child. What better classroom than nature herself. Who better to share the experience with than those who love the child most. Keith wrote: Most people around here who have a boat, then a baby, see the boat maybe once or twice over the next year or two before they sell it. YMMV. |
Cruising with Baby
How sad for them to miss some of the most rewarding discovery
opportunities with their child. What better classroom than nature herself. Who better to share the experience with than those who love the child most. Keith wrote: Most people around here who have a boat, then a baby, see the boat maybe once or twice over the next year or two before they sell it. YMMV. |
Cruising with Baby
As you can see by the responses above yours, that is hardly a typical
experience. If you have an unwilling mate to begin with, perhaps, but then the boat was probably an issue already. *Everything* you do with a child around for the first 5-6 years requires a fair amount of additional planning, but the alternative is to stay at home, in a rut, until they are old enough to understand there are some dangers in life. David Martin and his wife Jaja brought their three children home to a boat, and the kids didn't live on land full time until the oldest was about 5-6, and that was about a year while he was refitting another boat. In fact I would recommend the original poster to check out "the Martin chronicles on SetSail.com, the Dashews site, it's well worth the read. Jonathan Keith wrote: Most people around here who have a boat, then a baby, see the boat maybe once or twice over the next year or two before they sell it. YMMV. |
Cruising with Baby
As you can see by the responses above yours, that is hardly a typical
experience. If you have an unwilling mate to begin with, perhaps, but then the boat was probably an issue already. *Everything* you do with a child around for the first 5-6 years requires a fair amount of additional planning, but the alternative is to stay at home, in a rut, until they are old enough to understand there are some dangers in life. David Martin and his wife Jaja brought their three children home to a boat, and the kids didn't live on land full time until the oldest was about 5-6, and that was about a year while he was refitting another boat. In fact I would recommend the original poster to check out "the Martin chronicles on SetSail.com, the Dashews site, it's well worth the read. Jonathan Keith wrote: Most people around here who have a boat, then a baby, see the boat maybe once or twice over the next year or two before they sell it. YMMV. |
Cruising with Baby
On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 20:51:48 GMT, Argonauta
wrote: Congrats!!! Our son is now 10 years old and spent several years of his childhood cruising Mexico and our local islands off the coast of Southern California. We are contemplating this lifestyle change and have a 2 1/2 year old. Swimming lessons will commence shortly G. Thanks for a very positive report. We also went the 'netted off V-berth", lashed car seat and modified PFD route. This year I am putting in deck jacklines so Junior can wander safely to the foredeck with me. R. |
Cruising with Baby
On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 20:51:48 GMT, Argonauta
wrote: Congrats!!! Our son is now 10 years old and spent several years of his childhood cruising Mexico and our local islands off the coast of Southern California. We are contemplating this lifestyle change and have a 2 1/2 year old. Swimming lessons will commence shortly G. Thanks for a very positive report. We also went the 'netted off V-berth", lashed car seat and modified PFD route. This year I am putting in deck jacklines so Junior can wander safely to the foredeck with me. R. |
Cruising with Baby
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Cruising with Baby
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Cruising with Baby
On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 03:15:35 -0600, "Keith"
wrote: Most people around here who have a boat, then a baby, see the boat maybe once or twice over the next year or two before they sell it. YMMV. That's how we got our boat, from a couple who sold it to me because their 6 and 4 year olds "didn't like sailing". Well, not to go all Nazi on the topic, but my kid doesn't get a vote on that topic. Sailing is what we do, and he's part of the package until he's 16 and can be trusted to stay ashore without burning down the house. My wife and I will make his stay aboard as pleasant as we can, but there is no way we aren't going because he may not like it. Part of that logic means giving him lots of "jobs" on board so that he feels responsible and engaged while we sail. Even a two-year-old can wipe down cockpit seats, swab decks and "tidy up", something he does spontaneously if not very effectively at home. The fact that it's not really "help" is irrelevant: it's his shot at getting involved and getting praise for being "helpful crew", just like staying put while we dock or jibe is part of HIS routine aboard. If you are willing to endure moments of unpopularity and occasional fits of protest, parenting becomes much easier. Children should have choices over the small stuff: squash or carrots, sweetie? not over vegetables are going to be eaten at all. Anyway, enough lecturing... R. |
Cruising with Baby
On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 03:15:35 -0600, "Keith"
wrote: Most people around here who have a boat, then a baby, see the boat maybe once or twice over the next year or two before they sell it. YMMV. That's how we got our boat, from a couple who sold it to me because their 6 and 4 year olds "didn't like sailing". Well, not to go all Nazi on the topic, but my kid doesn't get a vote on that topic. Sailing is what we do, and he's part of the package until he's 16 and can be trusted to stay ashore without burning down the house. My wife and I will make his stay aboard as pleasant as we can, but there is no way we aren't going because he may not like it. Part of that logic means giving him lots of "jobs" on board so that he feels responsible and engaged while we sail. Even a two-year-old can wipe down cockpit seats, swab decks and "tidy up", something he does spontaneously if not very effectively at home. The fact that it's not really "help" is irrelevant: it's his shot at getting involved and getting praise for being "helpful crew", just like staying put while we dock or jibe is part of HIS routine aboard. If you are willing to endure moments of unpopularity and occasional fits of protest, parenting becomes much easier. Children should have choices over the small stuff: squash or carrots, sweetie? not over vegetables are going to be eaten at all. Anyway, enough lecturing... R. |
Cruising with Baby
Our boy was born 6/6/01 and by October had spent 10% of his entire
life (well, life after delivery anyway) aboard our boat. Infants are easy. Wait unitl he is two and learns to do things like turn the engine off! Some things to think about: You are now a single-hander. One person operates the boat and one takes care of the baby. You need to be very flexible in your plans. That 20 mile beat into 25 knots is no longer a good idea, if it ever was. Short trips and plenty of shore time will keep everyone happy. A good dinghy is essential. We have a 10' RIB and it is a Godsend for loading mom, baby, baby carriage, and baby accessories. A good carriage is great for shore trips. Most of all - have fun! The human race survived thousands fo years without heat or air-conditioning. Babies aren't all THAT fragile, just keep the little guys from getting sunburned unless listening to them cry all night is your idea of fun. Joe For sailing baby pics, go to http://www.dellabarba.com/sailing/ and scroll all the way down. |
Cruising with Baby
Our boy was born 6/6/01 and by October had spent 10% of his entire
life (well, life after delivery anyway) aboard our boat. Infants are easy. Wait unitl he is two and learns to do things like turn the engine off! Some things to think about: You are now a single-hander. One person operates the boat and one takes care of the baby. You need to be very flexible in your plans. That 20 mile beat into 25 knots is no longer a good idea, if it ever was. Short trips and plenty of shore time will keep everyone happy. A good dinghy is essential. We have a 10' RIB and it is a Godsend for loading mom, baby, baby carriage, and baby accessories. A good carriage is great for shore trips. Most of all - have fun! The human race survived thousands fo years without heat or air-conditioning. Babies aren't all THAT fragile, just keep the little guys from getting sunburned unless listening to them cry all night is your idea of fun. Joe For sailing baby pics, go to http://www.dellabarba.com/sailing/ and scroll all the way down. |
Cruising with Baby
Almost forgot:
A portable DVD or VCR will do wonders to let babies watch Baby Einstein or whatever they watch at home. Something familiar for them. Joe |
Cruising with Baby
Almost forgot:
A portable DVD or VCR will do wonders to let babies watch Baby Einstein or whatever they watch at home. Something familiar for them. Joe |
Cruising with Baby
"Keith" wrote in message ... Most people around here who have a boat, then a baby, see the boat maybe once or twice over the next year or two before they sell it. YMMV. Keith Hmmm, our daughter lived aboard until she was 1 year old and went sailing a fair bit with us. We only moved ashore because we were moving to another coast. Last summer we were back aboard a San Juan 24 for lots of daysailing and a week's summer cruise while she was 2. It just depends on your priorities and what you enjoy. Kids are remarkably adaptable, if you give them 1/2 a chance. Lots of dedicated boat toys is my main suggestion (things that they have never seen before). Set up the boat for singlehanding once they get into crawling/walking so that one person can take care of kid and one can handle the boat. -- Evan Gatehouse you'll have to rewrite my email address to get to me ceilydh AT 3web dot net (fools the spammers) |
Cruising with Baby
"Keith" wrote in message ... Most people around here who have a boat, then a baby, see the boat maybe once or twice over the next year or two before they sell it. YMMV. Keith Hmmm, our daughter lived aboard until she was 1 year old and went sailing a fair bit with us. We only moved ashore because we were moving to another coast. Last summer we were back aboard a San Juan 24 for lots of daysailing and a week's summer cruise while she was 2. It just depends on your priorities and what you enjoy. Kids are remarkably adaptable, if you give them 1/2 a chance. Lots of dedicated boat toys is my main suggestion (things that they have never seen before). Set up the boat for singlehanding once they get into crawling/walking so that one person can take care of kid and one can handle the boat. -- Evan Gatehouse you'll have to rewrite my email address to get to me ceilydh AT 3web dot net (fools the spammers) |
Cruising with Baby
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Cruising with Baby
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Cruising with Baby
On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 17:46:39 +0000, Argonauta wrote:
How sad for them to miss some of the most rewarding discovery opportunities with their child. What better classroom than nature herself. Who better to share the experience with than those who love the child most. Keith wrote: Most people around here who have a boat, then a baby, see the boat maybe once or twice over the next year or two before they sell it. YMMV. I knew a guy who was born and spent the first 4 years of his life aboard, cruising the South Pacific. Seemed pretty balanced to me! Lloyd Sumpter "Far Cove" Catalina 36 |
Cruising with Baby
On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 17:46:39 +0000, Argonauta wrote:
How sad for them to miss some of the most rewarding discovery opportunities with their child. What better classroom than nature herself. Who better to share the experience with than those who love the child most. Keith wrote: Most people around here who have a boat, then a baby, see the boat maybe once or twice over the next year or two before they sell it. YMMV. I knew a guy who was born and spent the first 4 years of his life aboard, cruising the South Pacific. Seemed pretty balanced to me! Lloyd Sumpter "Far Cove" Catalina 36 |
Cruising with Baby
Most people around here who have a boat, then a baby, see the boat maybe
once or twice over the next year or two before they sell it. YMMV. They missed a good chance for a night of rest then. My daughter would fall a speep as we left the dock and would not wake up till we stepped back on the docks. When we spent the night on board she would speep for 12 hours without waking up. It was the only time we got a rest. Boats are also kid proof for the most part and they are a lot easier to clean up. You can just hose it off. We moved aboard before she was 2 years old. It was a lot easier to live aboard than to live ashore. Dick |
Cruising with Baby
Most people around here who have a boat, then a baby, see the boat maybe
once or twice over the next year or two before they sell it. YMMV. They missed a good chance for a night of rest then. My daughter would fall a speep as we left the dock and would not wake up till we stepped back on the docks. When we spent the night on board she would speep for 12 hours without waking up. It was the only time we got a rest. Boats are also kid proof for the most part and they are a lot easier to clean up. You can just hose it off. We moved aboard before she was 2 years old. It was a lot easier to live aboard than to live ashore. Dick |
Cruising with Baby
Interesting responses - I have some other questions...
I plan to bring my baby on our boat this summer (baby's due in June) and when I talk to my husband and family about it they are all quite set on waiting till the following year. I disagree. My mother claims 'shaken baby syndrome', my husband claims 'just not safe', on so on & on. What does everyone here recommend for life jackets (does the head support get in the way when lying in a car seat?) I plan to use a car seat on board, strapped to the boat - but it is safe to not strap the baby in the car seat? Any other suggestions? |
Cruising with Baby
Interesting responses - I have some other questions...
I plan to bring my baby on our boat this summer (baby's due in June) and when I talk to my husband and family about it they are all quite set on waiting till the following year. I disagree. My mother claims 'shaken baby syndrome', my husband claims 'just not safe', on so on & on. What does everyone here recommend for life jackets (does the head support get in the way when lying in a car seat?) I plan to use a car seat on board, strapped to the boat - but it is safe to not strap the baby in the car seat? Any other suggestions? |
Cruising with Baby
What does everyone here recommend for life
jackets (does the head support get in the way when lying in a car seat?) I plan to use a car seat on board, strapped to the boat - but it is safe to not strap the baby in the car seat? As a baby my daughter was always a sleep while underway. We left her asleep in the dinnet with the table down and a net across the front that I made. It was her play area when she was awake. When she got older she would stay awake (about two). She would then sit in a car seat that we strapped to the front of the pedestal in the cockpit. We did not strap her in the seat. For a lifejacket you need one that will support the head with a float in the back of the head and straps between the legs. A small kid can fall out the bottom of the jacket without the straps. When your kid gets old enough, let your kid pick out the jacket. They have to want to wear it. Dick |
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