Toddler and boating

[tom03]

Hi,<br /><br />we have a 10 months old daughter and are planning on buying a 20 ft. Powerboat.<br />The question is, how toddlers at this age do on a boat ?

 

[PAkev]

Re: Toddler and boating

Tom,<br /><br />We have a 5, 3, and 1 1/2 yr old that love the water.<br /><br />Your 10 month old probably will not know the difference than riding in your car other than not being buckled ito a car seat and having a little more freedom.<br /><br />Your first order of business should be to get a good fitting PFD and make sure it goes on before she even gets into the boat.<br /><br />Make sure you keep the deck clear of dock lines, anchor ropes, etc. that can cause serious injury or eventake her over if she gets caught.<br /><br />Some children have a natural fear of speed and power, (sometimes it appears they may have more sense than us) so take it easy for a while. Have lots of fun and make it a positive experience for her so that she doesn't hate boating so much that at 15yrs old she would rather be walking around the mall than cruising on the family boat.<br /><br />Have lots of fun!<br />Kevin

 

[Bondo]

Re: Toddler and boating

The question is, how toddlers at this age do on a boat ?

It Depends on the Kid..........<br /><br />I've seen Little Water Rats,<br />Water Sking, Before their 2nd Birthday........<br /><br />I've Also met kids who Wouldn't go Near a Boat,<br />At Age 30.........

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Toddler and boating

Welcome aboard Tom,<br /><br />As you may know, when toddlers start crawling they seem to get into things constantly. I agree with PAkev, you gotta keep things stowed out of their grasp. Fishing lures and hooks are bad news.<br /><br />When my son was about the age of your daughter, I would first get him use to wearing the PFD. I would have him wear it in the house for about 10 to 15 minuets at a time. Then it was time to go to the local swimming pool. Then I would put it on him and get him into the water. This would get him familuar with it and the water. I also would take it off of him to get him into his learning mode on swimming. Most toddlers have an instinct to swim at birth.<br /><br />You got to remember not to force them to wear the PFD or they will end up fighting with you each and every time you go boating. That takes the fun out of it.<br /><br />Due to step kids with grandkids, I got a boat that is 27'. At 26' kids under 10 don't have to wear the PFD, but must have a PFD aboard that will properly fit them. Just thought I would mention this since some boaters are not aware of this rule. This makes it nice for my grandkids that don't get to go boating very often. It is not a fight to get them to wear the PFD.<br /><br />Another tip is the PFD should have a strap for a handle on the back of their PFD. It is right behind their head. This makes it nice to pick them up out of the water if they do happen to fall in, or if your just playing with them in the water.<br /><br />Because children grow so fast, it maybe neccessary to get a larger size PFD each year.<br /><br />Enjoy and have lots of fun...

 

[bolted4]

Re: Toddler and boating

My kids were scared of the noise from the motor, it was an outboard. If you have an outboard or noisy engine maybe take them up to the middle of front of boat if safe. when not moving out on the water they are in heaven.<br />Good luck! Should be ok

 

[neumanns]

Re: Toddler and boating

My 5 and 3 yr old love it and see no reason the 4 month old won't also. My kids just understand boating=PFD so there is not even a question there. granted mine are a little older but something that works real well for me is to announce "hang on" before any changes in speed, this allows them to steady themselves and prevents them from rollling from one end to the other. If you fish get the kid one of them 2-3 foot snoopy rods so the can stand at the edge and swat the water alongside you...It will be years before they realize there is no line on it. Don't be afraid to start them young, if you can make it enjoyable for them you should have a willing boating partner anytime you wanna hit the water.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Toddler and boating

I think the biggest issue is going to be keeping your child in a PFD that is properly sized. As was mentioned, you get to replace them often as the critter grows. Never allow your child on the boat in a PFD that is sized a little large for future growth. They don’t work that way.<br /><br />Problem with really small children and PFD’s: they love ‘em…they don’t want to take them off…even when they go to bed, take a bath, sit in the high-chair… <br /><br />Enjoy your little one and boat…there’s not a problem there.

 

[bluewater19]

Re: Toddler and boating

My son has been boating since he was 3 months old. He slept alot when the motor was running for more than 10 minutes. I guess the motor was soothing to him. <br />My daughter didn't start until she was five. The PFD is no big thing to them they wear them whenever we are at the lake from the time they get out of the truck until we get back in the truck at the end of the day. My son is 3 now and is like the first mate. He quickly learned that we have to go slow in the no wake zone and that when we are getting close to the dock it is time to take out the Bouys(fenders) as he call them and dock lines. He always stays seated when we are underway. my daughter is to busy sitting there looking pretty to help with the docking chores. She loves sitting in the bow and letting the wind blow in her face and wave at other boats.<br />Like bondo said all kids are different when it comes to the water But if you make it a fun no stress family zone you will have good quality time with the kids.

 

[Maximerc]

Re: Toddler and boating

Make sure that the young one can get to shade .. wears sunblock ..(almost as importand as a pdf) fluids on the boat too !

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Toddler and boating

I call them Bouys too, what are you trying to say???

 

[Bondo]

Re: Toddler and boating

I call them Bouys too,

They're Bumpers to Me.....................

 

[Trent]

Re: Toddler and boating

Due to step kids with grandkids, I got a boat that is 27'. At 26' kids under 10 don't have to wear the PFD, but must have a PFD aboard that will properly fit them. Just thought I would mention this since some boaters are not aware of this rule. This makes it nice for my grandkids that don't get to go boating very often. It is not a fight to get them to wear the PFD.<br />______________________________________________<br /><br />That must be a local law.. Here you must have a pfd on the child of 8 years or younger. In a cabin or anchored they dont have to were them.

 

[DC698]

Re: Toddler and boating

My 3 year old daughter has been boating along side me since she was a wee one and like someone else had mentioned, doesn't want to take the PFD off once it is on. She loves the boat and it drives my wife crazy because she has my water genes. My son was born last June and has been boating with us since he was 1 month old. We put the PFD on him and then put him in the car carrier (the detachable kind) then he sits under the front passenger side console where my wife sits and watches him --sleep--. That way no one has to constantly hold him. He usually sleeps the whole time out. Use hats, sunblock, fluids and some common sense and have a good time with the little ones on board!

 

[Mr.Ladyfish]

Re: Toddler and boating

I think kids all react different to boats. They have to feel secure first & formost. Our grandson was fine with boating when he was still in diapers. As he got a little older he still wanted to go but would only want to stay at "no wake" speeds. LF & I took him fishing late one afternoon when he was 5, right in front of our main canal. He started catching fish, the wind was blowing and we were drifting out into the bay pretty fast. He was so busy catching fish he never noticed. The sun started going down, the fish stopped biting and it was time to go home. He looked around, realized that we were about 2/3 of the way across the bay and started to get nervous. I told him that I couldn't see so good at night so it was up to him to drive us home. He got a look on his face that was a cross between "Oh SH*T" and "I've got to do this no matter what". He kneeled on the seat, I stood next to him and told him what to do, he planed the boat off and brought us home thru the markers like he'd done it a hundred times before. Now when we go fishing there is no problem going fast or out into the bay. <br /><br />Our 2 year old granddaughter is a boating maniac. Even if we aren't going for a ride she wants to climb in the boat and pretend. The boat makes for a great playpen when we are trying to get something done outside and have to babysit.<br /><br />The thing that bothers me about kids & boats is when I see kids sitting on the bow with their feet hanging off the front of the boat. I see it all the time and all I can think about is what would happen if that kid slipped or lost their grip on the rail. They would be under the boat and maybe in the prop in a heartbeat. Normal good parents just don't seem to understand and it bugs the hell out of me when I see it.

 

[Link]

Re: Toddler and boating

tom03 <br />Like SS said, welcome aboard.<br /><br />First I'd like to address Mr.Lady Fish<br />

He got a look on his face that was a cross between "Oh SH*T" and "I've got to do this no matter what".

LOL, but saw the wisdom in it <br /><br />Tom<br />The second is also a quote from Mr.LadyFish post but ties into your question very well. It also includes several other posts/replies to your post.<br /><br />

Normal good parents just don't seem to understand and it bugs the hell out of me when I see it.

Toddlers:<br />Always a PFD with a grab handle<br />All small kids and Toddlers always a PFD before getting near the water!<br /><br />I can not think of how many times a loving father or mother who would fight to their death to protect their children will walk onto a dock with the child across their shoulder without a PFD.. one slip and the child would be gone.. but they weren't boating yet.<br />Just my thoughts on it.

 

[Jemc02]

Re: Toddler and boating

The wife and I took our nephews (4 years old and 13 months old) out with our 4 year old daughter quite a few times last summer. You will need to have one person dedicated to watching the one year old. Our rule is that life jackets go on when you get out of the car so that was never a problem. Plenty of fluids (we would give 1 glass of juice for every 2 glasses of water), sunscreen, hats, and shade if you can swing it...<br /><br />Kids react to how you approach the water and boating...<br />My daughter has grown up with a respect of water but no fear, my nephew is just the opposite, he was constantly scared of everything since his mom is the same way. Going out with his mom on the boat he wouldn't get in the water unless she was in first and he could hold on to her. When mom wasn't around I started working with him to get him more comfortable in the water like my daughter is and eventually had him jumping off the swim platform into the water with his life jacket on. Then his mom went back out with us later in the summer and he wouldn't do it anymore, just wanted her in the water so he could hang on her all the time...oh well, we tried.

 

[RL]

Re: Toddler and boating

When we get to the launch ramp, the kids ( 7 and 2 ) get out of the car and put the life jackets on immidiatly ( you NEVER want to leave kids in the car while launching a boat, if the transmision or parking brake fail, your kids would drown in the car). The 2 year old sits in her stroller with her jacket on while big brother keeps her company until we have the boat launched and ready. Then we all pile in and go. they both love it. The only thing I have to watch is those push buttons on the electric shift are just too tempting while under way

 

[neumanns]

Re: Toddler and boating

RL...I always have my kids in the truck when I launch and recover. Keys in my pocket, If the parking brake AND transmision were to fail there feet would not even get wet at the ramps I use. Since I usually do this solo (me & the kids) I figure this is the safest place for them if things were to go to he!!. Keep in mind the ramps here are not deep and my truck is big.

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: Toddler and boating

I have had my two girls on the boat since they were infants, both born during the boating season they are now 6 an 8 yrs old and they love it, just as others stated make sure they have a good pfd, one that won't allow them to be face down make sure you protect them from the sun and avoid being to far offshore for awhile. My girls now know that pfd's go on when they exit the truck and to remain seated while in the boat, they also enjoy going to the beach and swimming as well as tubing, My oldest girl wants to try to learn how to Water ski this summer. I myself have been boating since 2 weeks old that was in 1965 and have never stopped enjoying the sport I value the Family time we have with my girls, wife, brother, sister nieces , nephews, father. I recently lost my mother she was 57, Boating helped maintain a good relationship with my family and still does, many good memories have evolved from this recreation and more to come so don't be afriad to have your toddlers in the boat there is alot more value in it tha just having fun in the sun , just be smart and safe.

 

[gsbodine]

Re: Toddler and boating

I just had our 11 month old out for the first time this weekend and he enjoyed it. we've got a little cabin on the boat that helps so he could spend some time moving around freely. At speed, he loved sitting in the seat with his mother and pointing at all the sights on shore and waving at other boaters. he didn't mind the PFD at all--just make sure it fits correctly. I've got a Johnson 150 outboard and the noise didn't faze him a bit.