Chartering with 6 month old - what to bring?

[maytrix]

So the title is a little broad, but I didn't want to make it too long - specifically - any thoughts on what to bring for him to sleep in that is easy to travel with?

We've been looking at various options, such as travel bassinets and they look like they might work - the small ones look great, but also look like we'll do this one trip and he'll be too big for it while the larger ones look too large. Another option we have is the v-berth off of one the cabins - would be a perfect spot to contain him while he's close to us. Just not sure I want him in the bow as there will be more walking around there that could wake him possibly.. although he sleeps very well.

So, for those that have done this, what have you used that worked well?

We'll be on a 48' Catamaran so we'll have a decent amount of room in the cabin.

[4archsmate]

There are a lot of models of travel cribs. The Phil and Teds one is the lightest that I know of and would be easy to check on a flight. I think a bassinet will be to small, they like to move around in there. If he will never use it again than look at consignment shops or ask on any parent userlists for your neighborhood if you can borrow one. Are there leecloths on the boat? you could contain him that way. good luck!

[FamilyVan]

We had a folding bassinette for our little guy. It worked fine, just put it right on the bed beside us. It was a little cramped so some times I'd leave mom and baby in the aft cabin and I'd go sleep in the forward cabin.

A few other items you'll need is an infant life jacket, which might be harder to find than you are expecting with one so small. We got ours from Mountain Equipment Co-op. We also have a folding high chair he's happy in, very useful. Also, bring one of those cheap $30 folding strollers, they are so much easier to deal with on a boat than the big ones.

Oh- and lorazepam or some similar sedative for yourselves, cruising with a baby can be stressful.

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[catnapcrew]

our baby niece came for a visit - there were baby furniture rentals nearby (used mainly for hotels and units I guess). Ask for size of smallest then give measurements to yacht rental co and see if they can fit. For feeding we bought one of those stable plastic chairs with small table and straps and "wedged" her in corner (someone was always with her at feeding of course - but no dramas of tipping if a boat went by). Mum took it home and used it for going to restaurants, friends and even had her sitting in it at the table when she was older and we went to visit (you may have one). They also brought one of those bouncy chair things - at happy hour we sat in the cockpit and "hung her from the boom" - kept her busy and burning up some energy and entertained us. Lightweight and compact to fit in luggage. Unless you are staying in marinas you wont have lots of water so pack plenty as you won't be able to handwash. Plenty wet wipes, sanitise hand gel, food - more than you think you need if you are sailing out on islands - if you are near shops then all okay - we tend to go remote. Have fun

[JanetGroene]

Are you sure the charter company allows infants on board? Some are strict about minimum age.

[maytrix]

Thanks for the input. We did the charter mid August, no issue with the charter company - I hadn't even considered that.


We ended up getting the smallest pack N play we could get from Gracco. Worked great and just fit in our cabin. We brought diapers, wipes, a water float, a chair to attach to the table and some of his toys. It all worked out great and he had a great time!


I think the only thing he missed was his jumper. We did bring one, but had no where to put it. Had we been on a mono, hanging it from the boom might have worked, but we were on a cat.

[FamilyVan]

Thought I'd share a pic, my little guy is 14 months. Here he is wedged in, in his car seat on the cockpit floor. Conditions: 25 knot head winds, heavy rain, air temp 15 degrees. My wife used one of the cockpit cushions to create a tent/fort that would draw up the warm air from the engine, and keep the spray off of him. Note the water beading on the cushion. Its clearly working. His bare hands were quite warm to the touch. This pic was taken yesterday on the great lakes.



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