How young is too young?

[HappierWet]

Re: How young is too young?

My oldest was born in December, so he was about 5 months before he came aboard. My youngest was born in August, so he was only a couple weeks when he joined the crew. Both absolutely love it and sleep VERY well.

 

[jkust]

Re: How young is too young?

I was born in Feb and boating in May. The sooner the better IMO.

 

[ScottinAZ]

Re: How young is too young?

we had my son out at about 5 months of age. Get the proper life preserver for the little one, and they will be fine. Just as an aside, I fired up the boat for the first time of the year yesterday, he heard it, and instantly wanted to go boating. I think its in his blood already........ FYI, he is about 16 months now.

 

[Nautical Nate]

Re: How young is too young?

My son was born march 26th, we have a little neoprene body glove we bought for our 1st child so she could go to the swimming pool. my son weighs 7 lb 4 oz and it fits him. (adjusted all the way in of course). This jacket cost me about $80 3 years ago. 3 children getting use of it is well worth the money. My son will be on the boat as soon as it gets warm enough and not raining. he will be about 6 weeks. My other 2 just started boating last year and love it.

 

[DYLBOSS]

Re: How young is too young?

Wow, interesting to know! I didn't realize people were taking out their infants boating. I guess I can tell my wife that for when we start having some tikes of our own. I was concerned that my boating days were going to be numbered when we start a fam. That's reassuring

 

[TMoNeE]

Re: How young is too young?

Glad I found this thread, going to be taking our 1 year old out and wasnt sure if it was "too young" I have the pfd already for her that I bought a while back, pink for my little girl of course

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: How young is too young?

Wow, interesting to know! I didn't realize people were taking out their infants boating. I guess I can tell my wife that for when we start having some tikes of our own. I was concerned that my boating days were going to be numbered when we start a fam. That's reassuring

Boating won't go away, but it has been a little bit less frequent as you're pretty tired or busy with a baby...but hey..when you do get out you enjoy it that much more!

Ian

 

[Shamus O'toole]

Re: How young is too young?

please guys put life jackets on your babies. You never know what might happen.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: How young is too young?

please guys put life jackets on your babies. You never know what might happen.

Unfortunately in Canada pfd's are not available (or sold anywhere) for children under 20lbs. It's not perfect but we keep the speed at idle and stay close to shore with both parents in pfd's. It's the best solution we had....although we've only made it out twice this year, and by the time we get out again she will be big enough for her own pfd.


Ian

 

[Shamus O'toole]

Re: How young is too young?

I got ya. Please believe me I was not trying to be "preachey" just would hate to hear about something bad happening. I have another due in Oct. Can't wait to get him (yes its a boy) on the boat.

 

[81 beachcomber]

Re: How young is too young?

Never too young.. i was boating at 2 months old. Actually took my first steps on a boat

 

[retire2disney]

Re: How young is too young?

Unfortunately in Canada pfd's are not available (or sold anywhere) for children under 20lbs.


Ian

Is there a reason you can not order one from iboats? they have at least one rated for 0-30lbs http://www.iboats.com/Lil-Legends-trade-Kids-Life-Vest-Infant-0-30lb-18-20-Type-II-Mustang-Survival/dm/*******.277287786--**********.752132311--view_id.203448

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: How young is too young?

my daughter has been on the water since about 14 months old when we bought our first boat. we started her wearing a vest around the house here and there so she would get used to it. she absolutly LOVES the boat. at first she wasn't fond of going much more than 15mph or so, but now she yells "DADDY GO FASTER"

 

[maharg]

Re: How young is too young?

Our son (now 1yo) started boating around 3 mos of age. My advice... Buy a GOOD neo infant jacket. They are around $40, but very comfortable.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: How young is too young?

Is there a reason you can not order one from iboats? they have at least one rated for 0-30lbs http://www.iboats.com/Lil-Legends-trade-Kids-Life-Vest-Infant-0-30lb-18-20-Type-II-Mustang-Survival/dm/*******.277287786--**********.752132311--view_id.203448

Isn't that ironic! Mustang Survival (the company that makes this lifejacket) was established in Canada.

For some reason there are no lifejacket's for infants under 20 lbs approved by the Canadian Coast Guard

http://www.mustangsurvival.com/resources/faqs/regulations.php

EDIT

I found this on Transport Canada's website

" There are no PFDs for children under 20 lbs. A number of factors have precluded the development of commercially viable devices for infants. These include low demand as well as a number of physical factors such as the instability in the upright position of their particular anatomy in its early stages of development, the weakness of their neck muscles frequently causing their head to tilt forward coupled with their tendency to revert to the fetal position which have a combined effect of causing them to go face down in the water. Counteracting this tendency by increasing the buoyancy of the device, mostly at the front, to cause them to roll to the face up position then puts them at an angle with the vertical where they loose sight of the horizon, a position in which they feel insecure and uncomfortable and will often cause them to frenetically attempt to get out of.

We recommend that you wait until your child reaches 20 lbs. before you go boating. "

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-obs-equipment-lifejackets-few_words-1179.htm

 

[QC]

Re: How young is too young?

That ^^^^^^ is stupid. Is it legal to boat in Canada with a child not in a a PFD? Seems like a catch 22.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: How young is too young?

That ^^^^^^ is stupid. Is it legal to boat in Canada with a child not in a a PFD? Seems like a catch 22.

Quote from Transport Canada's website:

" The Small Vessel Regulations require that there be a sufficient number of Canadian approved flotation devices of appropriate size for each person on board a pleasure craft.

There are 2 exceptions. The flotation device need not be of appropriate size for:

* persons with a chest size in excess of 140 cm, and
* children weighing less than 9 kg (20 lbs.)"



I would interpet that this means you have to carry an PFD of an incorrect size. I wonder what would happen if the authorities found you to be using a U.S. approved infant under 20 lbs. PFD?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: How young is too young?

My take on this as a former lifeguard of 10 years is that a false sense of security results from strapping a lifejacket on a child of ANY age. Some less responsible parents think that they are all set and can proceed to not pay attention to kids if they have a pfd on(properly or otherwise).

Kids less than 20lbs obviously are completely dependant on parents for every daily need so they should never be left alone any time they are near water including the bath tub.

My youngest son wasn't allowed on the boat until our smallest pfd fit him properly, which turned out to be about 1 year since he was born in May.

He proceeded to sleep during 90% of out time on the water since mom always held him and boating is just relaxing to begin with

Can't be too safe when it comes to our precious little ones

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: How young is too young?

Is there a reason you can not order one from iboats? they have at least one rated for 0-30lbs http://www.iboats.com/Lil-Legends-trade-Kids-Life-Vest-Infant-0-30lb-18-20-Type-II-Mustang-Survival/dm/*******.277287786--**********.752132311--view_id.203448

We are credit card free, and by the time anything gets to us from canada customs she will be in an infants (20+ LBS) pfd. So we try to be as careful as possible. Besides which, it's much safer for her on the water (see she is sleeping) then at home..as by that time we have reached our limits of crying (see my post regarding colicky baby on boat).

(that was tongue in cheek btw....we'd never hurt her).


Ian