Baby on the way - the end of sailing???

We met a couple in Portugal who were half way through a circumnavigation from Australia. They started off with a toddler then found the wife was pregnant while sailing up the Red Sea. They stopped off in Britain for the birth and for another year afterwards then set off again. When we met them the boat was really well kitted out for cruising with kids. The wide cockpit was carpeted and enclosed with transparent curtains. There was a swing suspended from the radar arch and netting all round. One problem they told us about was that when they ran the watermaker the 4 year old couldn't resist putting his finger in the outflow which stopped it working.
 
Single handed

The main thing to appreciate is that for the first couple of years, you will effectively be sailing single handed while mum is looking after the young one(s).
So IMHO it is essential to have the boat set up for this.
 
BelleSerene said:
* Some cockpits are safer than others. Our first boat had a tiller: not a smart idea around people as high as the tiller.
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Absolutely, to add to this, if you have a wheel beware of the pilot, it would not be stopped by a tiny arm/leg through the spokes: we have a wheel steering in the aft portion of the cockpit and have to separate it from the rest of the cockpit, just in case

Oh and when he/she will be 1-1.5 year old and be playing in the cockpit, do not leave anything near him/her, like sunglasses, mobile phones, keys nor anything else, to the risk of them being immediately thrown in the water
 
homa said:
The main thing to appreciate is that for the first couple of years, you will effectively be sailing single handed while mum is looking after the young one(s).
So IMHO it is essential to have the boat set up for this.
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IMHO it is essential to have a wife who is set up for this. Unless you are willing to have an equal share of child care and sailing duties, then you have to be very careful of what you are asking of your other half. This may surprise some but the childcare bit can be less fun and harder work than sailing your boat single handed bit. Not saying don't do it, just saying make sure everyone knows what they are letting themselves in for, and don't rely purely on the advice and encouragements of proud dads!
 
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RobbieW said:
IMHO it is essential to have a wife who is set up for this. Unless you are willing to have an equal share of child care and sailing duties, then you have to be very careful of what you are asking of your other half. This may surprise some but the childcare bit can be less fun and harder work that sailing your boat single handed bit. Not saying don't do it, just saying make sure everyone knows what they are letting themselves in for, and don't rely purely on the advice and encouragements of proud dads!
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quote 100%
 
Couple of other bits I hope help (probably repeat what has been said)

From about 1-3 we used a platic foldable high chair strapped to a spare winch (don't ask) Strap the kid in, add colouring book etc. Easily stowed when not in use as it folds "flat".

Bosuns chair and halyard make a great swing in harbour! (For your child not you!)

Be careful on the seasickness front. Didn't affect ours till she was about 3-4. Need to remember they have very small stomachs and re-hidration after they have been sick is important.

Have fun, its great with the little ones!
 
Kids coming along just prompted us to move from dinghies to our first small cruiser and we've never looked back. We first went out with them when they were about 1 and 3, mainly because we'd moved house and too many other things needed to be done before we could get back sailing again.

Once we'd settled a bit we realised we could buy a Leisure23 for the same price as a new dinghy so off we went. Even did 6 months liveaboard when we moved to the US and bought a bigger boat there. The kids love the whole experience and want to go off again (not teenagers yet, see) and SWMBO was into it all as well (very important).

Some observations: they learn very fast on a boat outdoors and its a great opportunity for them. We weren't heavy on the routine, preferring to go with the flow depending on where we were and what we are doing. We've home schooled them and they don't seem to have suffered. Weather, boats, radios, radar, aquaria, rowing, outboards, navigation, sails, history, geography, civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, art - it's all there and they lap it up without it feeling like they are being taught in a classroom.

For long term liveaboard we bought a boat that was possible to sail singlehanded (I agree with the comment that one of you will probably be occupied with the kids until they're old enough to start crewing usefully) and I picked a boat with a wheel and autopilot and where the mainsheet was *not* in the cockpit. OK, this means I may not win races but keeping the cockpit clear is to me critical for safety with kids. The sails can all be furled from the cockpit as well which is also very useful.

After that it's up to you. Day sailing is preferred although it's amazing what they can sleep through (we did some overnights with them asleep in the saloon berths).

We found an endearing habit that ours both had: wide awake and excited when the engine was on and we were near port but as soon as the sails went up and the engine off they went below and slept for the duration, leaving mum and dad to enjoy sailing the boat without distractions.

Certainly don't give up sailing - you'd be doing the kids a great disservice.

Neil
 
robmurray said:
The good news is that a baby is on the way. The bad news is that everyone is telling me that I will have to stop sailing for a few years. We cruise an X412 based in Hamble and are very experienced. Plan is (was?) to go long term cruising in a few years. Does anyone have experience of successfully sailing with baby / small child?
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Here's my experience. Daughter arrived in May 2008. I did very little sailing that summer, just the odd day. This year I've not sailed as much as I'd like due to being too tired from lack of sleep and the constant demands of a young child. There have been times when I've got to the boat and just slept instead of sailing. I think next summer should be easier, she'll be two by then. By the way, congratulations.
 
we lasted until the oldest was 3

then we had to give up sailing the eboat - but when he was seven we bought a mirror - then came a topper, Express, Tarpon,Enterprise, Laser and now back to a cruiser again.

There is still fun to be had - just a different sort of fun

So my advice is to be flexible about tailoring your expectations to fit around people who are too small to appreciate the finer points of sailing and often do not have a very good sense of balance

Dylan keepturningleft
 
robmurray said:
The good news is that a baby is on the way. The bad news is that everyone is telling me that I will have to stop sailing for a few years. We cruise an X412 based in Hamble and are very experienced. Plan is (was?) to go long term cruising in a few years. Does anyone have experience of successfully sailing with baby / small child?
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Congratulations. I just had triplets 2.5 months ago and really want to at least try a sail next summer. SWMBO is the most nervous and wants one adult for each child plus me to helm/singlehand the boat if required. The first challenge is to figure out how I'm going to fit all of us on a 29footer!!
 
No why should it? We crossed to Scilly when our daugter was 13months old. As it was a boisterous crossing she was left a little to her own devices for a while. I peeked down below for a minute and there she was holding on to a shelf, with her feet on the settee backrest and having a great time.

You just need to think things through and be especially careful for example when transferring the baby to the dinghy.

John
 
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