Youngest age for a child to start boating

[flightdoc]

So just got into an arguement with the wife because she thinks 6 weeks old is two young to take our son on or boat. She said she is going to take a poll at work to see if she is crazy or if I am crazy so I decided to take a poll too. Here are the Details. It was going to be Me, My mother and my three kids, Ages 7,3 and 6 weeks. In San diego Bay. Our son has a life jacket that fits. Infant from up to 30-35 Lbs. (Don't remember exact)

Our boat is a bayliner Cuddy with the middle of cushions in the cuddy that happens to fit his car seat perfectly.

My wifes arguement. "If he starts to cry how are you going to take care of that"

My Answer "Feed/Change him" "Have Grandma Hold him" "Let him cry for a bit"

Arguement #2. "What are you going to do about the bouncing"

My Answer " Not going to be hauling *** and if the chop is that bad then load up and go home. 20 minutes on the water is way better then not on the water at all"

Arguement #3 "What happens if you get out there and there is a mechanical problem with the boat"

My Answer " Probably not going to be an issue but if it is then we get towed in by a nice, helpful fellow boater that may be out on the water today seeing as the weather is freaking beautiful"

Arguement #4 "How are you going to keep him out of the sun"

My Answer: I actually took the car seat out to the boat and showed her how well the car seat fit in the boat. The look on her face was actually quite funny when she realized that him sitting in the car seat going over light chop was pretty much the same as him sitting in the car seat going down the highway with bumps in the road.


So now I turn to my fellow boaters on this site who I am sure have more experience than I do.
What would you do? Would you take your 6 week old out on the water for a hour or two or am I a Crazy, Irresponsible father that is putting his son/daughters/mother/boat/other boaters/national security/ fate of the world in danger?

Also, looking for answers from all the mothers out there boating. Want to make sure I cast a broad net so I get accurate results

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

So just got into an arguement with the wife because she thinks 6 weeks old is two young to take our son on or boat. She said she is going to take a poll at work to see if she is crazy or if I am crazy so I decided to take a poll too. Here are the Details. It was going to be Me, My mother and my three kids, Ages 7,3 and 6 weeks. In San diego Bay. Our son has a life jacket that fits. Infant from up to 30-35 Lbs. (Don't remember exact)

Our boat is a bayliner Cuddy with the middle that happens to fit his car seat perfectly.

My wifes arguement. "If he starts to cry how are you going to take care of that"

My Answer "Feed/Change him" "Have Grandma Hold him" "Let him cry for a bit"

Arguement #2. "What are you going to do about the bouncing"

My Answer " Not going to be hauling *** and if the chop is that bad then load up and go home. 20 minutes on the water is way better then not on the water at all"

Arguement #3 "What happens if you get out there and there is a mechanical problem with the boat"

My Answer " Probably not going to be an issue but if it is then we get towed in by a nice, helpful fellow boater that may be out on the water today seeing as the weather is freaking beautiful"


So now I turn to my fellow boaters on this site who I am sure have more experience than I do.
What would you do? Would you take your 6 week old out on the water for a hour or two or am I a Crazy, Irresponsible father that is putting his son/daughters/mother/boat/other boaters/national security/ fate of the world in danger?

Haha, I was going to post this same question as my wife is due with our first in less than a month. My situation would just be myself, wife, and baby on the boat.

 

[Augoose]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

We've taken our newest son out on our 20' BR since he was 3 mos old or so. We have a life vest for him of course and take all the precautions we can- he loves the breeze and bounces and is held or sitting in an open bouncy seat without straps. Be sure that the little one is not exposed to too much heat and sun as they can easily get over heated. Also ensure there is a defined plan that in the event of an emergency, someone is identified who will take immediate care of the baby so there is no question and no fumbling around.
For your first trip out be prepared for it to last 10 minutes in case it goes to heck in a hand basket- then you can quickly return to dock.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

Ok Number 1, there is no way you win this argument by getting our illustrious all knowing INTERNET opinion, its your wife, you obviously have not been married long enough to learn the ole saying "Happy Wife Happy Life".

Number 2 slow down and wait a couple weeks, do you remember when you were 6 weeks old? neither does anyone else so your not going to do any damage to your child by not taking him/her out on the boat!

Number 3 How would you like to go out on your boat for a day of complete stress and worry? You probably wouldn't do it again so why do you want your wife to?


Lighten up, its your wife and she is a Mom you simply don't understand, most men don't, Hell I don't either, I would be taking my children out the day they were born if I could but I'm not Mom and Mom knows best, especially when she has all the cards.

At some point your wife will say its ok and then everyone will be happy, but that's not today.

 

[flightdoc]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

Lipp don't get me wrong, I've been married for 9 years and fully understand the happy wife happy life way. My only thing was this. Yesterday when we went out on the boat and Mom was with us she was fine. Today I was going out with Grandma and not Mom and that is where she got apprehensive. She said that if he starts crying then she will be the only one that can calm him, which may be the situation but non the less, he won't be in any harm and she wouldn't be dealing with it anyhow.

While I also agree with your wait a couple weeks the reason today was important is Grandma is visiting from another state and doesn't get out here to often. So this opportunity of a good one. Also Wait a couple of weeks yes, but she is talking he needs to be 6-9 months. That, I think, is rediculous.

I can understand if she was a first time mom, but this is our third. And we have never been the parents that shelter our kids from experiences. We try things and if they don't like them well then we know for the future.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

How can they wear a lifejacket in a carseat? SOmeone is going to be needing to hold the kid full time. 6 weeks is pretty young and the kid probabally has no head control either.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

Take them out as soon as you know they don't slip out of the life jacket you have for them. There are 'sling' types that fit infants very well. Put the jacket on them, put them in the car seat (not buckled in), put them in the shade and protect them from bugs. My kids loved being in the boat when they were young. Going to sleep was their main activity. Being the center of attention for the passengers was their next. 'Dad the Driver' just had to take a little extra care and time with all steps of the outing so the 'Mom the Mom' does not feel her life is more complicated. I had three kids that preferred being in the jacket and car seat than being held, most of the time.
Enjoy the boat.

 

[sstone]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

I have neither kids nor a wife, nor do I remember my first time out but I'm told I was less than two months old. I've been going on the water as long as I can remember, and learning to drive the boat starting at 4. I'd say a short test run is the best gauge, just remember the obvious sun and life jacket precautions

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

My sugestion is, the baby will be fine any where it is, give mom time to settle in and it will all be good in a few mounths.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

Yep, took the little ones out when they were about 5 to 6 weeks old. They stayed happily in their carseat, just not strapped in. We tested the lifejacket in the tub to see how they reacted and to make sure it rights the child face up like it should, and it did. We read somewhere that the "Lil Legends" by Mustang got really good reviews for kids in that weight range. It looks like it's too big in the photo, but with the crotch strap, there's no way it can come off. The little guys did great. Today, they are 4 and 6, and going to the lake and swimming are their favorite activity.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

your primary mistake is trying to apply logic, reasoning and problem-solving to an issue that demands none of those things. These are things I am picking up after 30 years of marriage. It doesn't make one buit of difference how much you plan, how you plan for every contingency, or how right you are; you are still wrong.

One thing you fail to account for: a crying baby triggers an instinctive panic response in even the most civilized and logical mother. There is absolutely nothing you can do about that; evolution has not caught up.

You can either back off on boating for a while, maybe even this whole summer, or you can force it, and give up boating for the summer. Your choice. The difference is what happens next season.

If you still insist on taking your wife and 6 week old out, be sure she has her own car and you can get her back to the ramp in no longer than 3.5 minutes so she can take the baby home. Plan to sleep on the sofa that night.

Now, on the other hand, if your wife is interested in taking the baby boating, that is a whole 'nuther thing. go for it, do it her way 100% even if it doesn't make sense, shut up, and be flexible.

And if there's a grandmother (you mentioned it) involved you have a new set of dynamics that bandwidth restrictions won't let us address.

 

[flightdoc]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

That is the exact vest we have. My wife said it is way to big for him but it fits just like yours in the picture.

@Home cookin: I understand that whole thing and I agree that if my wife was going to be on the boat then yes the crying would be a problem. But she isn't is going to be me and Grandma. And we both realize that babies cry.
As for backing off of boating that isn't going to happen. I have two other children that love to boat. Looks like I will have to back off boating with the wife.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

Baby on board? Maybe I'm getting old and grouchy but no thanks. I don't want more hassle when its time to enjoy boating. My 7 year old was fussing today and that I can put up with.
Take him by yourself and tell me I'm wrong.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

remember, you can either be right, or you can be happy. if mamma doesnt want baby on boat, baby doesnt go on boat.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

Just don't see a problem with the little one, but 2 young kids, baby, grandma and the boat, all for you to handle? Unless your mom is an oldsalt (no disrespect) that's a good thing on this forum, then your over your head, if things go wrong. imho
huts

 

[possum2082]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

we took our second son on his first boat trip at 2 months. the rocking and noise will put him to sleep in an instant, guaranteed. however, we gentle with momma. check out the stearns hydroprene infant jacket. it fit our 12lb boy pretty well and it's a lot cheaper than the mustang someone mentioned (18, shipped, new on ebay).

if you use a carrier, make sure he is not strapped in. realistically, mom will be holding him most of the time. however, by accident, last boating trip, we made an amazing infant boating discovery...
these bouncy seats are amazing. take off the bar with the toys on it and just use the seat. it will bounce and absorb some of the chop. we put a life jacket under the seat so it wouldn't bounce as much and it worked amazingly well. mom felt great about it, too.

 

[flightdoc]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

That seat sounds like a great idea. I may be going to buy one of those tomorrow

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

Six weeks? Heck, we had ours in the boat at 5 days - and we only waited that long because Mommy had a c-section and that's how long it took for Mommy to feel up to it. Daddy (me) was ready to go the day we got him home! Baby slept through most of it and didn't cry so much as a whimper...

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

You can take him out but make sure his head and neck are secure in case it gets bumpy. It could be a short trip if he gets fussy. But if Mom is unhappy you will be unhappy.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Youngest age for a child to start boating

Flexibility is a big key with very little ones on board. Mom needs to be confident that she can pull the plug at a moments notice, and you have to be comfortable coming in off the water before planned. Infants need constant care and attention and on-board is typically not suited to the most convenient of either. Next year, things are different but still a little iffy.

I would probably not take a 6 week old on board, especially on big water - but I know plenty of people who do. By the time they are 2 (at least), there's plenty for them to do and enjoy on board ... and they're a crack up to watch.