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So I found out a few weeks that my wife and I are expecting our first kid. My first thought was…. Great what are we going to do with the boat next year.

I have been looking around online to see when people were bringing their newborns on the boat. I see that there is a wide range of opinions. A few of them were bringing their kids on board when they were about 5 days old (which even I think is a little too young). Others were completely paranoid in stating that they would never bring anyone under the age of 18 on a boat. So I have found infant life vests such as http://www.safelifejackets.com/product/ ... t-PFD.html They cover from weights 0 to 30 pounds.

I am curious, what have other people done? Being that the X has a large downstairs area, I would assume that would be better/safer for an infant (they would be kept down there too). My wife is due in the middle of the boating season (July). How old is old enough, 1 week, 1 month, 1 year? Obviously when ever a child is onboard they will have a life vest on, even when below deck. Water ballast will always be in (I always have it in anyway).

Tom,

First let me say congratulations. My wife and I were married for 10 years before we had our son. We never thought we would have kids, but it's been a fun adventure ever since.

Second, your life will change dramatically after the baby comes, at least for a little while until you find your family's grove. We basically did not leave the house during the 1st 2 weeks that our son came home and you will find traveling with an infant requires you carry a lot of "stuff" with you such as food, cloths, diapers, cleaning supplies, baby carrier, toys, etc. It all gets better as they get older, more self sufficient and less stuff.

I would recommend rigging for single handing this summer and wait until next season before trying to bring a baby on board.
If you must take the baby, I think its fine with proper planning and safety equipment, but in my opinion you and your wife will need at least a few weeks to learn and get used to the baby's routine, so it's more about your comfort level and boating experience than it is about how old the baby is.

You will also need plenty of sun screen and/or shade, baby skin is very sensitive to the Sun.

Our son is now six and just finished his second sailing season; he is just starting to get his first line management duties and starting to not be so bored.
It's hard sometimes to keep them entertained on-board.

Just my 2 cents.

I second the congrats.

I grew up on sailboats and my younger brother was probably a few years old when my dad bought his first boat.

Babies on boats aren't a problem. They are fairly immobile and are generally confined to a chair/seat. I say start 'em young.
Now you and your wife will probably be pretty freaked out by the new arrival that little boating will be done. You will have a lot of adjusting to do. Things like sleep and hot meals will soon not matter. This is a big change in your life so focus on that first.
Certainly your wife will not want to be climbing on the boat while she's puffed out like a balloon ready to pop, so this season might be abbreviated. Babies doe well on boats. The rocking put our son to sleep and I've heard similar stories from others.
The V-Berth makes a great crib. You might get some pillows and such to rope it off. The floor is a great sleeping place as well. As mentioned above, lots of sun screen and babies have a hard time regulating their body temp so be mindful of temps.
I'd give your new world a month or so to settle down. Believe me, boating probably won't be high on your priorities. Then take it slow and let the family enjoy boating.

Make it fun. If your wife is uncomfortable, don't push it or she might learn to view boating as a negative.
Our son loves boating. He's always known boats and has recently mastered the Mac. Well kind of, he only fell off the dock once this past year (of course he was wearing a life vest).

My son the sailor (on our Hunter)


We were at anchor.

The first thing get the kid in the photo above a life vest and an man overboard monitor locked on and have them wear it 100% of the time when on the boat no matter how hot the weather. My wife grew up on her dad's sailboat from diapers to getting her own 20 ft daysailer at 16 years old when she got a car and then raced her parents to keep from being board. There family was in a family daysailer racing club which kept the children's interest racing other kids. As a possible grandparent I would not take kids under 12 that can swim laps in 50 deg or colder water regualarly, because of the cold water where we sail.

I'd get a divorce first

Rick

Tom,

Mazel Tov

I concur with Paul Lieb:

I would recommend rigging for single handing this summer and wait until next season before trying to bring a baby on board.
If you must take the baby, I think its fine with proper planning and safety equipment, but in my opinion you and your wife will need at least a few weeks to learn and get used to the baby's routine, so it's more about your comfort level and boating experience than it is about how old the baby is.

My sons are quite a bit older (27 *& 29), but we had a small sailboat when they were young



When my wife was pregnant, she once fell out of the Phantom We had a laugh later. The point being is that you should enjoy yourself while you can. When the baby comes, your season is going to be curtailed. The boat could be a great place for your wife and you to still have some private time. Do you have parents, or in-laws nearby who can give you that free time?

Enjoy

Ray

As long as your new baby is on your wife's milk you will have no trouble except living with the smell of diapers, I suggest zip-lock bags.

I have three young girls (8, 6, and 2). None of them have been aboard before they were about 1-year. It's not so much that we were worried about their safety -- it is more a lack of time, the logistics, and other issues (my wife not wanting to go with the baby). One time I remember my middle one who was about 1 at the time fell asleep in the car on the way to the boat. So, we took the baby car seat on board. This was handy. You cannot just leave a baby in the v-berth or something, you'll need to provide some side-support so the baby doesn't roll around.

Another thing to consider, is if the baby is on board will your wife want to be below caring for the baby or in the cockpit sailing? With my wife, she wanted to be with the baby, so it didn't make sense for her to come sailing if she wasn't going to leave the cabin.

Ron.

As long as your new baby is on your wife's milk you will have no trouble except living with the smell of diapers,

Breast fed babies do not have smelly diaper That's one of the great advantages to it. The other is when one of my son's cried at two in the morning, I never had to get up to feed. I only had to bring the baby to the food source


Ray

Let me throw my congrats in as well.

We got our X shortly after my boy turned 1 and we took him out a few times on super calm days after getting his life vest. Mostly he just slept in my wife's arms in the cockpit (So you're pretty much single handing while your wife is on full time baby duty). Sometimes we'd put the settee cushions in the cabin floor and let him sleep there. (up near the vee berth where you can wedge him in good).

He just turned two last Tuesday. Now he mostly stays awake. We make frequent stops on islands or at marinas so he can get some "run and play" time in. We went out this weekend for the first time in about 3 months and he had a ball watching the other boats and "helping" me steer. He's really into airplanes right now so it was a special treat when the Blue Angels happened to fly over us. Their C-130 passed directly over the boat at a low altitude. Man he loved that. My wife told me after the trip she felt safer when he slept in her arms the whole time, lol.

Anyway we're much more careful and cautious boaters when he's with us but he does great. When we're underway he's always in one of our laps. If we're tied up or at anchor he's allowed to play in the cockpit or the cabin (he's always within arms reach though). He's not allowed up on top and so far hasn't shown an interest in it anyway. On the boat, or anywhere near the water on an island or at the marina, we keep his life vest on at all times and he's very comfortable in it. We use the Mustang Lil' Legends vest for what's it worth. I'm happy with it so we'll get him the next size up when needed.

Our trips are shorter now as I've learned to accept the fact that when he's done it's time to crank up the motor and go home. So we sometimes leave him with my in-laws so the wife and I can have a sailing date. But generally we like having him on board and as he's grown we've been able to make the trips longer and more enjoyable for everybody. Just DON'T forget to take the poopy diapers off at the end of the day, lol.

hart wrote:Our trips are shorter now as I've learned to accept the fact that when he's done it's time to crank up the motor and go home. So we sometimes leave him with my in-laws so the wife and I can have a sailing date. But generally we like having him on board and as he's grown we've been able to make the trips longer and more enjoyable for everybody. Just DON'T forget to take the poopy diapers off at the end of the day, lol.

I am on my first baby... 21 months old now, for the wife it is her 2nd (13 years old). Anyway, I am pursuing an interest in sailing and how the young'uns fit into the picture has crossed my mind more than once. I believe I will be choosing a MacGregor 26M as my first boat for all of the reasons it was intended for irregardless if it is a "true" sailer or a "true" powerboat... blah whatever.

Anyway, I digress, the quote above... When the toddler is done on the boat, everyone is done, plain and simple. Might be 15 minutes, might be 2 hours. But I seriously doubt I could keep my 21 month old on a boat awake and entertained longer than 2 hours before things become totally chaotic and miserable for everyone.

Congratulations!

I've always said that my son is the greatest part of my life and I know that your child will have great times sailing. Just wanted to add that, in addition to that infant life jacket, you might want to consider getting the first 6-8 months of vaccinations. You never know what's going around, and you don't want to find out by exposing your newborn.

LB