Baby on Board

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Wavelength's picture
Wavelength
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Joined: 9/28/11
Posts: 166
Baby on Board

Last week we became Grandparents (for the first time) to my daughter's new son. This summer we plan on taking them sailing with us. Since I did not have a large boat when my kids were small I would like to know how one should setup up for the comfort of a little one.

Ross & Joanne
Wavelength
Saint John NB
RKYC
C36 #658 TR 1987

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TomSoko
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Posts: 978

Ross and Joanne,
Check the Tech Notes CD. Back in the January 2006 issue of Mainsheet I wrote an article on just that subject. One other thing I should add....tack the baby before you tack the boat! :-)

Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT

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Nimue
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Posts: 429

We still had our Ranger 29 when our daughter was born. With a sub-1-year-old the reality is someone will be wearing or holding that kid all the time. Make sure the baby has a bed that they can't fall out of, but really you will always be with them. I spent more effort on setting things up so my wife could breastfeed or otherwise take care of the kid than really worrying about the kid specifically. Oh yeah and make the stove hard to reach, but that is already sort of done on the 36. My wife was doing foredeck, jibing the spin pole and pulling down spinnakers with our daughter in the Baby Bjorn on her chest for the first year and a half. Everyone else in the fleet called her the 'speed baby'.

We bought the Catalina when my daughter was about 18 months old. She sleeps in the V-berth with a little fence up so that she can't roll out (even now, she just turned 4). She consider that 'her room' and we keep lots of books and toys up there, she will often spend a couple hours in there while we are travelling with no complaints.

Under sail we found that by age 2 she could get around the boat pretty well, inside no problem and in the cockpit quite easily. We often tether her by her lifejackt to something on the boat, don't use heavy SS carabiners on the tether though or they will drive the kid nuts. For docking and such, we put a seat cushion in the front corner of the cockpit and tell her to stay on that cushion! - that has worked since she was about 1, and now she just does it automatically, or goes inside. Really docking and hoisting sails is the only time we both need to be busy and aren't watching her anyhow.

My parents have taken her on their boat overnight about twice I think. They have a 34' IOR boat with a tiny cockpit, she seems pretty secure there but again I think she is more or less glued to her grandma while under way and glued to her grandpa when at the dock. I will say that she REALLY likes going away with her grandparents on the boat and was quite proud of herself the first time. They do lots of coloring and 'I spy' while travelling.

My daughter got a kayak for Christmas this year - last summer's cruising showed that the water toys are starting to be important from age 3 or so onwards. Babies are more into sitting on the beach and throwing rocks in the water.

Jason V
Vancouver, BC, Canada

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LCBrandt
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Posts: 1282

Jason, great post! Seems to me there is a JibSheet article somewhere in there, with a few good photos.

Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
 

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stu jackson c34
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Posts: 1270

I often reflect on this question (seen here and often on the internet). I recall a couple who came to buy our C25 in 1998, with two little kids. The mother was all over the kids, with "Don't do this, don't do that..." The list was becoming endless. While it looked like they wanted to buy the boat (and did put in an offer, subsequently nixed by some bubbles on the keel paint that she incorrectly thought was hull osmosis), I just pulled her aside and said: "What we've found works is two simple rules: One hand for yourself..., and please do what I ask you do to WHEN I ask you, then feel free to ask any questions later." Those two simple things work for grownups, too.

Having had two kids grow up on our boats (both survived!:)), I find it tedious at best to hear about all the "kiddie-proofing" folks do: lifeline netting (kids are smart, they'll find a way), etc.

The other points about safety relate to just about every guest I've ever had on board.

Giving the kids "their own" place, finding a place for them in the cockpit when the parents are busy boat handling, wearing YOUR lifejacket if you expect the kids to wear theirs, are all important.

But it's consistency that matters, just like at home. Why is a stove on a boat any different than one at home?

The trick is to teach your kids what they CAN do, not to begin an endless list of what they can't.

Three things I learned are very valuable:

"Yes, later." Then you don't say "No" all the time!

"Give me a few minutes to think about it."

"Convince me." (Works best when they start talking:))

Good luck with your new crew.

Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)

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