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Old 16-11-2011, 14:57   #16
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Re: Babies on Board

Hi there,

Babies are so easy on a boat - it's when they get to be toddlers the fun starts! We live aboard our 28ft gaffer with our 2 kids (age 2 and 11 months) and are bound for New Zealand having left Britain in September. We've been living aboard since July. My son (the 2 year old) did his first race at 4 weeks old, and while not quite competent crew he's not far off now. My daughter doesn't know a different home.

My advice - don't think too hard about it, it's a whole lot easier than you think, kids are so adaptable. Invest in child harnesses as soon as they can walk which gives them the ability to explore on their own on deck with the safety of being tied on but not the encumbrance of a full life-jacket. We use life-jackets in port and on pontoons etc, but when the boat is moving it's always harnessed on - certainly once they can move. When they are still immobile (and stunting their growth may be worth considering here.... ) it's easy, just use their car seat as shown to great effect by an earlier poster. We lash the carseat in the cockpit for our youngest and strap her in there when at sea. But she's just about to be introduced to her harness.

Another great piece of kit we have is a Bumbo seat - babies can sit in one from a couple of months old and it serves as high chair, play seat, can be in the cockpit or wherever, is highly portable and made of rubber. Genius.

Enjoy - my babies love it so far.

Good luck
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Old 19-12-2011, 16:42   #17
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I came across this YouTube video the other day of a baby swing set up in the cockpit of a Gemini. Just another idea!


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Old 06-02-2012, 20:06   #18
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Re: Babies on Board

Thought I'd also update that I have a long list of boat blogs (most with children) on the sidebar of my blog now. Need add one or two more but other than that the list is current. Enjoy!

Rebel Heart - Sailing, cruising, liveaboard blog and website - Charlotte's Blog
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Old 06-02-2012, 22:47   #19
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Re: Babies on Board

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Originally Posted by Red Charlotte View Post
Thought I'd also update that I have a long list of boat blogs (most with children) on the sidebar of my blog now. Need add one or two more but other than that the list is current. Enjoy!

Rebel Heart - Sailing, cruising, liveaboard blog and website - Charlotte's Blog
Hi Charlotte - we DID have a baby on board, but they didn't have much of an internet 25 years ago! Our kids were 12 & 15 when we moved back on board in 2001. The website is svOcelot.com & the kids each have their own sections. We write more about Cruising with Teens than with babies. Lots of Cruiser-specific info as well.

Estrela had 2 young girls (on a Westsail 32!) although they've now finished their circumnavigation & are land based.

Vagabond Heart had 3 young kids on board for their circumnavigation.
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Old 06-02-2012, 22:50   #20
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Re: Babies on Board

Oh thank you! I will add those now!
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Old 09-02-2012, 16:05   #21
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Re: Babies on Board

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Originally Posted by Jon Hacking View Post
Hi Charlotte - we DID have a baby on board, but they didn't have much of an internet 25 years ago! Our kids were 12 & 15 when we moved back on board in 2001. The website is svOcelot.com & the kids each have their own sections. We write more about Cruising with Teens than with babies. Lots of Cruiser-specific info as well.

Estrela had 2 young girls (on a Westsail 32!) although they've now finished their circumnavigation & are land based.

Vagabond Heart had 3 young kids on board for their circumnavigation.
Your "cruising with teens" article was a very good read.
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Old 29-05-2012, 21:38   #22
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Re: Babies on Board

Hey all,we are expecting our newest crew member to arrive around the 11th November, just in time for the wet season. some very good ideas have been put here, especially the swing!! Our 5yo reckons that his little brother or sister is going to love it!!!
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Old 29-05-2012, 21:52   #23
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Re: Babies on Board

We just took our newborn on her first sail 2 weeks ago... She was at 9 weeks and slept the entire time. Put her car seat on the saloon table with handle upright. Tied off the handle to port and starboard handholds which kept the car seat stabilized during healing.
Wind was blowing at 10-15. A perfect sail...

Definitely be prepared for all "what ifs" but do so rationally. The "what if" preparation scenario can drive you a little crazy (and you could play the same game with every time you get in your car with your child). At some point you have to just take reasonable precautions and get out there and enjoy your life with your child.
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Old 10-06-2012, 18:44   #24
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Re: Babies on Board

Our 'Lil Swab is due in September. Was wondering about this. Lots of great info out there. Great blogs mentioned too...we follow nearly all of them for great tips and wonderful pics and adventures. Soon enough we'll see what stuff we are made of in the realm of kids....
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Old 25-06-2012, 21:22   #25
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Re: Babies on Board

Hello to all. I'm new to the forum, but my husband and I are both liveaboards. We expect our little one this August 31st! We live on an Islander 36'; we love it! Thanks for all the info. shared here. If anyone has any more- please feel free to send it my way. We'll be headed out for our first cruise (small from Olympia, WA to Port Townsend, WA in the South Sound) when our little guy is about 9 weeks.
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Old 25-06-2012, 21:26   #26
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Re: Babies on Board

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Oh thank you! I will add those now!
Charlotte- I found your blog online before I found this forum. What a wealth of information! My husband and I are having our first child in late August and are liveaboards. Thanks for taking the time to share!
Kat
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Old 25-06-2012, 22:16   #27
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Re: Babies on Board

Im sure these ladys know what their talking about! When Connie and i started our youngest was 5 our boy John, the girls were 8,7,and 6 all on a 42 ft Colvin ! we made it till all were through collage or went in the service, so ya can do it Im sure!!
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