Cruising with a toddler

[SandRa]

Hey, am new to ybw..ahh, just wondering if anyone has cruised with a toddler in a 26ft boat and if we're mad planning to???....

 

[Csail]

We have done loads with our son right from birth. He is 4 now but get a good lifejacket with crotch straps, a harness and teach them to swim. Toys on board etc. Its fine. In rough weather we put him down below watching a dvd.
When he was tiny we put him in the carseat with lifejacket and hydrostatic release.

 

[Flossdog]

Go for it! We sailed with our two boys from about 6 weeks in a 24ft Trident. This was in the late 70s so didn't have things like DVDs to distract them! One thing that you will need though is a car seat type of arrangement. I made ours and it would fit either in the cockpit or in the cabin. We sailed loads of places like this, Irish Sea to IoM, South Coast and East Coast finally ending up in Holland. I am finding it more difficult now to sail with a dog than with toddlers!

 

[Boat44]

We started sailig with ours when she was 3months old. Now coming up to 5 years old. As above have said, good life jacket, toys, books and DVD. We have strict rules; no messing about near hatches or on the companion way steps, lifejacket on when ever up top and always clipped on when out on the deck. (We are starting to ease the lifejacket and clipped on when moored up but not when underway) When old enough give them little jobs to do.

In the cockpit we used a little plastic folding highchair/booster type thing. Worked very well as you can tie to something and then the kid in it.

Don’t forget a net and crabbing line for when you are in harbour. keeps them quiet for hours. Bosuns chair works great as a swing as well.

Have fun.

 

[ianat182]

I've seen the toddler sat in a car seat which was attached to the hatch boards and strapped in. This allows the parent to keep the child amused by chatting and visual I-spy games and keeps them from turning on/off switches or cooker knobs when below. The access to below is of course limited, but a quick release setup should be OK .Assme SWMBO is probably aboard for the more technical details of nappies etc..!

 

[clouty]

I made a harness for the favorite teddy, and made sure he was clipped on, as I had no desire to repeat his rescue from October seas, which spurred these measure.... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[bobgoode]

My first boat, a Hurley 22, was cruised with myself, my long suffering wife, our 6 year old son and a 12 month old daughter. As soon as she could stand up without help we would tie a fender to the guardwires and give it to her to hold as we entered or left harbour so she felt part of the team.( She was always harnessed on I hasten to add)The looks and waves from other boats will always be a great memory.....do it.

 

[graham]

You must be mad,as we were.

You need a stable tender so get them to build it for you.

Car Seats are great,you also need somewhere safe for them to sleep down below either by lee cloths or whatever.

Hard work for SWMBO but eventually they grow into usefull crew /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[l'escargot]

Sailed with our daughter from when she was just a few months old. first on an 18 footer, then a 24, now a 30. Never bothered with a seat, just chucked her in the forepeak with loads of cushions if she needed to be out of the way. Always lifejacket or harness when on deck. Only sail to the boredom threshold which is only a couple of hours with toddlers. Make the destination fun as a reward for the trip.

Done the crabbing and dunking from the boom in the bosuns chair, both proved popular, and always used places where we hoped to meet other families with kids - great if rafting. Keeping kids amused when tied up is the price of pleasant journeys.

She is now 13, has become useful on deck, and will tidy herself up to be ready to help with tying up (in the hope of being seen by any local talent) when coming in somewhere new. Apart from that she is the modern teenager, has her own cabin where she moulders with her Ipod and phone until lunchtime, occasionally coming out to use the heads and forage for chocolate. Mornings have become very pleasant and leisurely all of a sudden.

 

[johnalison]

We started cruising with ours when they were 2 & 5 (in 22 ft). We mistreated them disgracefully, fed them badly, shouted at them often, and neglected basic safety rules for years. They never seemed to come to much harm, though one broke a collar-bone when she fell out of her bunk in the night. Funnily enough, we're all still friends.

 

[Kilter]

It can be done in a 24 footer!

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[johnalison]

As it seems to be kiddypic time;

Contrary to my memory from 35 yrs ago, she seems to be properly dressed and actually strapped on.

 

[billmacfarlane]

No your not mad but it's hard work. We started sailing when our first was a babe in arms in a 20' boat and spent a week on holiday with her. We moved to a 26' boat when girl number 2 came along and our first was just over 2 years old.

 

[Master_and_Commander]

My parents sailed with me right from when I was a few months old. I'm now 28 and totally hooked!
Apparently I was fine until the engine was started, then I screamed the place down!!

I also have friends who sail with their small children and they love it.
We have a rule that they aren't allowed out of the cockpit, are always harnessed on, and an adult is always with them.

Have Fun!!

 

[SandRa]

Great! Thanks everybody, so we're slightly mad but maybe you have to be to begin fantastic journeys hey ! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Ok, so showing my newness here, what is SWMOB? those letters may be in wrong order...!

 

[l'escargot]

She Who Must Be Obeyed

 

[Kilter]

She Who Must Be Obeyed

Original Rider Haggard, more recently John Mortimer

Edit slow again...beaten by a bloomin snail!

 

[sighmoon]

Fair weather

and foul

 

[Csail]

Also don't worry if they fall in if in sheltered waters.....they soon learn.

 

[SandRa]

Ha! That's great!