Summer cruise with a two year old (are we mad?)

[Kelpie]

I forgot to add another update to this thread- we managed a second cruise last year, this time for a fortnight. Weather was a bit patchy but the wee man was brilliant. He got so much out of it, in part because he had both parents available for his entertainment 24/7.
Best bit was probably drifting through quiet anchorages in the dinghy, with the seals swimming all around us.
Worst bit was when his dummy went overboard- cried all the way to dinner time...

 

[johnalison]

My chief memory of a child losing something was when a copy of StrawPeter that was intended for our daughter's moral improvement blew overboard somewhere off Osea Island.

 

[dolabriform]

My chief memory of a child losing something was when a copy of StrawPeter that was intended for our daughter's moral improvement blew overboard somewhere off Osea Island.

That was a lucky escape for her then

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Thanks for the above posts- very encouraging for our longer term aspirations of becoming liveaboards.
My immediate worry, though, is the short term cruising over the next couple of summers. Probably just doing the usual parent thing of overthinking and worrying too much, but I'm struggling to see what he will get out of two weeks aboard a boat sat an anchor in the middle of nowhere.

Pre-child, we used to love nothing better than a leisurely walk to the top of an unnamed hill to sit and watch the birds fly by, and contemplate the meaning of life. Glass of wine, simple food, good books, and a few choice films on the laptop to while away the evenings. We almost never see another boat, and those that we do see are exclusively crewed by pensioners.

Maybe we just need to sail to the Caribbean

2 year olds are hard work no matter where you are if we're honest. If you are experienced and comfortable with handling your boat then it's actually a great excuse to keep them tied up in an enclosed space!! The important to remember is that you are down at least one crew so single-handed if you're couple. But any routine of one person automatically covering for the other if boat or the snapper demand attention are guaranteed to be scuppered as Sod's Law says that both will create a crisis at the same time of course. Other than that I would say you should try and include your offspring in as much of your life as you can - it's absolutely wonderful watching kids barely past toddler stage who are as competent as experienced adults at something because they've done it all their lives, be it foreign languages, sailing, skiing or whatever. Also many kids who are quite demanding and restless sleep like a log when on a boat. I know a couple who used to take their baby down to the boat to get her to sleep.