Baby on board?

[vjmehra]

With our new arrival due any day now, for some reason I'm thinking of holidays....whilst a full on boating holiday isn't realistic for a while, has anyone been on a 'Le Boat' / canal style holiday with a young baby?

In my head it sounds fairly feasible as it's just a slow moving hotel room

But what are people's thoughts, is it an insane idea, or is it actually practical?

In terms of boating experience I am a Day Skipper (sail), Intermediate Powerboat and have chartered a narrowboat and 'Broads style cruiser' before (on the non-tidal Thames and the Broads respectively).

We were thinking of France or the Thames perhaps...

 

[scubaman]

My son was three weeks when we started our three-week boating holiday. Wasn't a problem at all, their needs are so simple that it doesn't make a huge difference where you are. On berthing we used to buckle him up to a baby car safety seat to make sure he (and you) are ok for the time it takes to moor up. We enjoyed our holiday big time.

All the best with the newcomer and happy holidays!

 

[Nick_H]

Similar for us, on the boat at 3 weeks old, and our main summer cruise to West Country and N France at 3 months old. They don't become a problem on the boat until they can crawl.

Best wishes when the day comes vjmehra.

 

[U4]

They don't become a problem on the boat until they can crawl.

I couldnt agree more!! We had both of ours on the boat at 2 x months and it wasnt a problem.. When they do start to crawl, it becomes more difficult. One option that we found useful was to strap a car seat somewhere so that you can secure them out of the way if needs be..

 

[James L]

We've had our 2 youngest out from a couple of weeks old.
Biggest problem is hauling all the gear around.

2 years ago when the elder boy was tiny, we went for a quick spin and ended up staying out for the weekend. After weeks of crying he just went silent and contented - my wife refused to get off the boat for the weekend.

Best thing I bought was a strap for a climbing harness, so we can connect the lifejacket to ours - long enough to move about but short enough that they can't fall far (not that it's been tested yet, but great peace of mind)
I also bought a bigger dinghy - got a ribeye tl310 this year, a bit huge on the back of the boat but much more secure for moving the kids around in. And very deep in the front so now that my son is running and climbing he can't get out.

 

[Beamishken]

we took our 3 week old daughter on a narrow boat holiday around the cheshire ring and thoroughly enjoyed it
its like a home from home on water and you are moving around while the child sleeps or feeds etc
the engine noise and motion of the slow canal boat seemed to have a calming effect on her too
we thought it an excellent holiday with a small baby
shes 14 now and sails & windsurfs at least 3 times a week and has just taken part I the regional final of the rya youth rib challenge
thankfully she admits she likes power more than sail
so maybe the early holidays had a good effect on her

 

[vjmehra]

Cool thank you for all the advice guys, it's re-assuring to know it shouldn't be a problem.

Out of curiosity do they do tiny baby life jackets (I'm envisaging a situation where you somehow slip and drop the car seat with them strapped in when boarding)?

 

[Beamishken]

Cool thank you for all the advice guys, it's re-assuring to know it shouldn't be a problem.

Out of curiosity do they do tiny baby life jackets (I'm envisaging a situation where you somehow slip and drop the car seat with them strapped in when boarding)?

we used one of those sling things that straps the child to your front if boarding was in anyway precarious.however most places were a straightforward step ashore
we did have a tiny lifejacket but even the smallest size wont fit a newborn
have fun!!