Baby Lifejacket Recommendation & onboard safety

[jonnybuoy]

Anyone got a recommendation for a baby lifejacket? - one of those that make sure that the baby would float face up in the water. Any other obvious baby safety issues on board would also be appreciated.
Thanks
Jon.

 

[thomshap]

We bought a Baltic, it fitted our little girl from a coiuple of months and still good a year on, I think it goes to 18kgs.

 

[shamrock]

Babies - no problem - car seat tied down below can help to immobilise them safely as required.

18mth to 3yrs - pain in the neck as they want to go everywhere with little understanding of risk! Pretty much avoided taking young'uns at this stage

After 3 you have a chance of setting rules like lifejacket at all times, never outside cockpit when sailing, only on deck with an adult even in harbour etc etc

If we were sailing a lot or live-aboard, then I'd go for netting around all the guardrails as an extra precaution (but keep a knife in easy reach in case of MOB or something needing access through it)

 

[domlee]

Sounds daft but make baby a custom berth - they tend to roll about a bit more than older bodies and a lee cloth just won't cut it!

The one I saw used could be simply described as a padded box swung from two 'A' frames which were in turn temporarily secured to a saloon berth. As the boat moved baby remained relatively level in relation to heel. I've also read (in PBO or YM)someone had a similar type box but designed lie on the sole, jammed in between the saloon berths.

As they get a bit older and mobile, place some extra handholds about 18 inches above the sole - not do your knees any good but gives them something to grip.

I've also found that when the passage gets rough one of the parents will want to be below with baby all the time leaving the other with extra responsibility above - just something to consider when making a longer passage.

When they are a bit older still rule should be harnesses when under way all the time when topsides.

Persevere with the new logistics - its worth it in the end.

 

[Mirelle]

How big is baby?

Under one year - I don't know of a lifejacket that covers the case but Crewsaver will sell you a "flotation cot" (we decided to do without)

Over one year - Crewsaver Supersafe combined solid foam life jacket and harness - very well designed bit of kit - note the harness ring is at the back, as it should be, to avoid crushing rib cage in event of a fall.

 

[alex_rogers]

We bought a 'Baltic Bambi New Born Baby Life Jacket' (google for it) and have been very happy with. It fits babies from 7lbs onwards and seems pretty comfortable - solid foam with a fleece neck.

 

[Csail]

I think it was(is) Crewsaver Spiral...He had it from about 6 months.Looks comfortable with leg straps etc.

 

[seumask]

We have had our baby (now 2 1/2) on the boat regularly from 3 weeks old. Up to 1 the bucket car set was great, it can be placed in many different places on the boat and tied on. after that on deck in either a crewsaver life jacket, or crew saver harness.
There have been some very good articles in both PBO and saling today in the last year on children and life jackets, I'm sorry I can't rember which edition but less that 4 month to the most recent article.
We found that with the harness it was necessary to add a crotch strap to ensure that it won't ride up over the head when used in an emergency, just like all decent life jackets have these days.
The crewsaver jacket is an extreamly well thought out bit of kit, we bought ours second hand, crew saver serviced it for around £25 and are genrally a great company to deal with.
Our genral routine is if we are saling ,harness to either a point in the cockpit or the lazy jack's if the weather is suitable, when transfering between boats, pontoons, dinghy etc. life jacket.

 

[jasu74]

just came back from 6 week cruise with wife and two kids (now 3months and 2,5 years).

for baby a car seat is a good place to be. we also have a hard "box" from baby wagons. Our babt had over forty good night sleeps in it (on a bunk in salong with lee clothes). when your child will learn to move, you defenetly have to have saftyharness for (s)he.

and then you have to have lots of toys and good spirit. whit one child you still can manege to do longer legs (over night sailint etc), but wiht two I recomend to do short hops (Your stress level will decrease alot).

 

[Wayward_Son]

Any jacket for a child under 30 lbs must have a submarine strap. We have taken our young son out since he was less than a year old (he is three in September). We tie a line from the back of his PFD to the helm when underway and one person is always responsible for the line when moving about the boat. To keep him below we have to remove the pilothouse stairs. He can easily climb them when you turn your back. For a bed we used the top basket of a reproduction English baby carriage/pram. We could fill it with his belongings when packing, it has a snap on tonneau cover that kept his bedding where it belonged and the retractable roof to keep the light out of his eyes. Since he outgrew it he sleeps with me and kicks me in the back all night.

 

[baileyrae]

No Carseats!

It's dangerous to have a baby in their carseat because carseats don't float - they sink. If your boat was to sink or the carseat was to go overboard with baby in, they would go straight to the bottom. This is what i know from numerous sources, including the US Coastguard.

We live on a boat so i guess they grow up to understand the rules

How old is your baby? Jake is 6 months old and weighs about 8.5kg which i think is around average. He has 'Secumbar Baby Bravo Print Foam Lifejacket' which is suitable for babies 5-10kg and i think his next lifejacket may be 'Baltic Premium Baby Lifejacket'. It comes in yellow or orange and is for 3-15kg. It looks safer than the Secumbar one but i liked the idea of one only going up to 10kg as it fitted more snuggly.

Make sure you apply plenty of suncream to your baby and that he wears a hat. Perhaps bring a parasol for on-deck shade.

If it's rough weather keep baby below deck.

Oh and a good point - in my experience babies don't get travel sick as much as older kids!