lilianroyle
Member
The new addition arrives in May. We're planning a cruise from Bordeaux back to the Crouch in August. We need reassuring stories of sailing with a newborn. Please
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sailing with baby
- Thread starter lilianroyle
- Start date
Talbot
Active member
aahh, the pitter patter of tiny deckshoes /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
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tome
New member
Best start in life you could ever give your newborn. You'll both be immensely protective of course. Have a good chat beforehand so you know who will do what in various scenarios. When is it ok to leave your charge to both take care of the ship?
I can only reassure as an observer, regrettably not as a parent. Make sure you have a nice snug corner for the cot so that you won't worry when it gets bouncy. Little LR won't be the slightest bothered, but you will be.
What a great story to tell wee LR in the years to come. Enjoy!
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I can only reassure as an observer, regrettably not as a parent. Make sure you have a nice snug corner for the cot so that you won't worry when it gets bouncy. Little LR won't be the slightest bothered, but you will be.
What a great story to tell wee LR in the years to come. Enjoy!
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boatless
New member
Just don't forget to check the addition before you tack... done it with both of mine in their early years. Thump.... waaah. Also, don't forget a shorepower lead for the steam steriliser!
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snowleopard
Active member
ours would yell all the time we were sailing but get her in the dinghy to go home and the moment you start the outboard - fast asleep!
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LadyInBed
Well-known member
Eyes in the roof . . .
to hang a crib from, keeps them safe and on an even keel. A bungee below it helps stop excessive swinging.
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to hang a crib from, keeps them safe and on an even keel. A bungee below it helps stop excessive swinging.
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qsiv
New member
Our youngest was born in March, afloat by May. Never sick, only bored!
Now they are older (11 & 10) and not altogether entralled, but do enjoy the boat as a means of transport to the beach, and the occasional night aboard.
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Now they are older (11 & 10) and not altogether entralled, but do enjoy the boat as a means of transport to the beach, and the occasional night aboard.
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robp
Active member
Memories of hoisting Terry Nappies with "Happy Birthday" on, mid Channel! He's truly been on the water all his life and on the way back from St Vaast once, when he was 7, said to me "why don't we just turn left and keep going - you can teach me all this school stuff?" You'll never forget it.
You'll get all the safety advice you ever need on here, when you're ready.
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You'll get all the safety advice you ever need on here, when you're ready.
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Dominic
New member
The youngest "student" I have ever had on a yacht was 5 weeks old and he was with his parents who were on a 5 day course.
His cot was secured below and as soon as we started sailing he went to sleep. The noise and movement were just what he had for been used to for the last few months before birth.
We also fixed a car seat to the pushpit rail, with a sun shade. Again gurgles and chuckles until we sailed when the noise and movement put him straight to sleep.
No problems at all, just keep the boat moving and have a big bag for the nappies.
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Dominic on 05/03/2004 07:48 (server time).</FONT></P>
His cot was secured below and as soon as we started sailing he went to sleep. The noise and movement were just what he had for been used to for the last few months before birth.
We also fixed a car seat to the pushpit rail, with a sun shade. Again gurgles and chuckles until we sailed when the noise and movement put him straight to sleep.
No problems at all, just keep the boat moving and have a big bag for the nappies.
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Dominic on 05/03/2004 07:48 (server time).</FONT></P>
Rowana
Two steps lower than the ships' cat
Re: Eyes in the roof . . .
Agree with Nigel. Friend of mine had a hammock sort of arrangement for his offspring. Both his girls started off this way from a few week old. When the were about 6 or 7, they were 2 of the most sure-footed kids I've ever seen afloat.
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Agree with Nigel. Friend of mine had a hammock sort of arrangement for his offspring. Both his girls started off this way from a few week old. When the were about 6 or 7, they were 2 of the most sure-footed kids I've ever seen afloat.
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T_C
New member
If you have a quarter berth then we found that's a good place to stick them. Not much harm can come to them there. As they get older and more mobile, we found that a good way to contain them when they were supposed to be going to sleep was to rig up a cloth panel over the entrance to the quarter berth, supported on four sides by that sort of springy wire that is used to hang net curtains and the like from. When our eldest was one that worked for all bar the last couple of nights of an 18 day cruise round the West Country.
If you have to motor, and they are asleep down below, and then find you need to finish with the engine, they will invariably wake as soon as it stops. We found a good trick was to stick something like radio 4 on loud, stop the engine, and then gradually turn the volume down.
Although something you don't need to consider just yet, once they can walk then short trips are essential, unless you have heaps of room for them to run around in.
A decent life jacket with a D ring at the back.
Best of luck and enjoy...
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If you have to motor, and they are asleep down below, and then find you need to finish with the engine, they will invariably wake as soon as it stops. We found a good trick was to stick something like radio 4 on loud, stop the engine, and then gradually turn the volume down.
Although something you don't need to consider just yet, once they can walk then short trips are essential, unless you have heaps of room for them to run around in.
A decent life jacket with a D ring at the back.
Best of luck and enjoy...
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boatless
New member
How do I paste a picture in this forum?
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MonkeyBusiness
New member
Got clearance to buy out boat in the delivery room and took kids sailing when they were 10 weeks old...that was 7 years ago. They love it (or else). Strapped a car seat into the cockpit so the little tyke didn't go anywhere. As with anything when kids are concerned, it all takes longer so make sure you prepare well in advance for tacks, sail changes, mooring etc. Only real issue we have had was when we needed to tack rather suddenly but my wife managed to cope and breast feed at the same time...what a girl!! You will also need to brush up on your ability to make up stories that last a long long time!
Go for it, it is a great way of life for kids
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Go for it, it is a great way of life for kids
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Redmond
New member
Baby Born 10 jan and haf its first trip 3weeks ago. Didnt seem to notice it. We intend to do our first French trip in May
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dulcibella
Active member
There's nothing as good as nappies pegged to the guardwires for discouraging other boats from rafting to you - except maybe a huge dog bowl with "Fang" written on it.
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Sybarite
Well-known member
Started with my last one when she was less than a month old. At a little over one we had our first crossing : Camaret to Scilly Isles. It was a boisterous crossing and Jessica was left for a moment to her own devices below. I popped my head down for a look and she was standing on the seat backrest holding on to a shelf and having a whale of a time.
Extra care needs to be taken in transferring to the dinghy whilst on a mooring especially if there are waves. You just need to take things slowly and figure out in advance what you intend to do.
John
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Extra care needs to be taken in transferring to the dinghy whilst on a mooring especially if there are waves. You just need to take things slowly and figure out in advance what you intend to do.
John
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sailbadthesinner
New member
[image] url [/image] = Shows the picture.
[image=link] url [/image] = Makes the picture a clickable link.
<hr width=100% size=1>Beer. Source of and answer to all life's problems.
[image=link] url [/image] = Makes the picture a clickable link.
<hr width=100% size=1>Beer. Source of and answer to all life's problems.
boatless
New member
Thanks SB. I really hadn't wanted to learn websites. B*m. There goes my evening.
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sailbadthesinner
New member
boat one is the man to speak to
you can upload them on his web site. it is reasonably easy
it took me about half a day and four phone calls to b1 /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
but i am totally none teccy
<hr width=100% size=1>Beer. Source of and answer to all life's problems.
you can upload them on his web site. it is reasonably easy
it took me about half a day and four phone calls to b1 /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
but i am totally none teccy
<hr width=100% size=1>Beer. Source of and answer to all life's problems.
tcm
...
it's fine. Depending on exact age of baby, you need to get ingenious with babyproofing the saloon. Usual problem is boredom, so whilst you can nailem down in a car the same won't work on a boat. I took out the saloon table and then rigged a barrier (screws and sandpapered wood from B+Q )to make a sort of play area/cot. You can keep a surprising amout of gear in the cot with baby as they find plastic plates, cups, spoons etc all very interesting. You must make asure that there is no chance of anything falling on them. As soon as they can climb on to the seats and hence out of the cot - they are crew.
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