For the boat owners with Young kids, help me out

[GoVols01]

My youngest was 3 when we got our 1st boat. Kids can get very cabin feverish on the boat, especially when they become mobile for the 1st time - crawling / walking. I think docking and loading / unloading from trailer would be very stressful with a newborn. You will end up doing all the boat work while your wife does all the baby work or visa versa.

I would highly recommend renting a boat several times before buying a boat. If you buy and are unable to use it due to a fussy baby, you'll likely be very resentful toward your spouse or child about not using your very expensive toy boat that's depreciating in the garage.

 

[GiddYupJoe]

My boys were 1 and 4 when we purchased our boat. The first year with the 1yr old was not enjoyable for my wife. As @GoVols01 said... He was just walking so there was no way to keep him still AND be happy while out on the boat. We made it through that season just fine and I wouldn't trade it, the wife may have a different opinion! We have had a couple friends bring their >12 month olds on the boat and it works but they had to attend to the child every minute (not too enjoyable for the moms).

 

[MattFX4]

Nothing more aggravating than a curious toddler turning knobs and pushing buttons at the helm lol!

 

[Ancient canoe]

Not sure how hot it gets where you are, but in Texas the summers are pretty brutal and having an infant even in the shade out for an extended period of time is not wise.

 

[GoVols01]

Nothing more aggravating than a curious toddler turning knobs and pushing buttons at the helm lol!

A friend's 6 year old kept pushing on my speakers last time she was in my boat. Had to tell her 3 times to not touch the speaker. Why the heck isn't there more of a grate covering up the speakers? I'm more concerned with how they sound and endure the marine environment than how 'cool' they look.

 

[Shuck Water]

I bought my Yamaha when my wife was pregnant with our second child. We managed young kids on the boat for quite awhile. It is possible to still enjoy your boat. However, during those first 3 years, I managed a whopping 36 hours on the engines. We spent the majority of time either at anchor right outside the marina or parked in our slip. I even built a swamp cooler to help keep the kiddos from overheating. We boated in the morning and were off the lake by noon during the summer. Young children definitely limit what you can and cannot do. That being said, some of the best memories I have were when the kids were small with us just hanging out on the boat.

 

[MattFX4]

I bought my Yamaha when my wife was pregnant with our second child. We managed young kids on the boat for quite awhile. It is possible to still enjoy your boat. However, during those first 3 years, I managed a whopping 36 hours on the engines. We spent the majority of time either at anchor right outside the marina or parked in our slip. I even built a swamp cooler to help keep the kiddos from overheating. We boated in the morning and were off the lake by noon during the summer. Young children definitely limit what you can and cannot do. That being said, some of the best memories I have were when the kids were small with us just hanging out on the boat.

you're right about that. Makes for some great memories. Especially when your two year old ask "go on the boat daddy?" over and over again. Makes me happy. I had it in my driveway the other day installing speakers and the first thing he said when he woke up the other morning is " I want to see the boat" so my wife had to carry him to the window so he could see the boat.

 

[biglar155]

With 4 kids we got the whole family into boating when the youngest (now 9) was still in the womb so I'm in the "been there, done that crowd."

Compilation of the above advice:

Plan ahead for anything. Have all the "baby stuff" you need. (Think meds like Motrin, thermometer, double the normal amount of extra diapers, etc)

Short trips during the cooler and calmer (weather-wise and busy-wise) part of the day. As they get older and can regulate their body temperature better you can extend these boundaries.

Plan that one of you will be dedicated to the baby, the other the boat. Be able to handle your boat single-handed so that you don't need your spouse's help when she's busy with the baby.

A comfortable Life Jacket is key. From what I've heard, I recommend the Mustang brand. I can't comment on first hand experience because my choice at the time was boat gas for the summer and a Wal-Mart life jacket or no boat gas and the Mustang life jacket. We did have times where the kids were uncomfortable because of it. (That hasn't diminished their love of boating though.)

In our boat, my Wife held the baby while we were underway. A carrier/rocker was used when stationary.

A bow cover makes a great little cuddy but be mindful of CO. It can build up in there at any speed. Low speed and a tail wind are the most dangerous. Full-grown adults don't last long with CO. It doesn't take much at all to be fatal or cause permanent brain damage to an infant.

Most importantly, don't be shy about pulling the pin on the trip. We've all had days where things start to go from bad to worse like an avalanche. This is made 10 times worse when a baby is involved. Baby doesn't feel good? Skip it. Mamma doesn't feel up to it (maybe up all night with baby)? Skip it. Daddy doesn't feel quite right? Skip it - remember, you're single-handing with an anchor around your neck.

You need to be willing to admit when it just isn't going to work. Yes, it will reduce your time on the water, but the important thing is that you are getting out.

Baby won't be a baby forever and they will have grown up on a boat. They will be as comfortable on the water as "regular" people are on land.

 

[robert cabrerea]

All three of my kids were on the boat before they were 1 and i started out with a 16' exciter.
On my ss we kept the bimini up, put towels along the sides. We also now have a snap on bow cover that creates a sort of cuddy.
Some of the newer larger models have a porta potti in the big compartment.
And be realistic! Memorial day weekend is better at home with a newborn. Short trips are key. You will grow into boating with your kids! I have learned to discuss the plan for if things don't go well.

Yae former exciter owner here as well!!!!
Just stay close as you need to start slow babbies grow really fast And thats not always a plus...do it while the goings good. Summer is here

 

[Thom]

Our youngest was born in April (more years ago than seems possible now) and she spent most of her first summer on the water as both the wife and I took time off until she was six months old. We did everything on the boat and at the beach we would normally do, just with all the extra baby stuff in tow. Going out on the water wasn't any different than going anywhere else, other than making sure in addition to the usual baby stuff in tow she had a good lifejacket on and something to cover up with. Extreme temperatures weren't much of a problem, as we were in Maine.