Newborn Boating

[steelerguy]

The stork just delivered our 2nd child a he is 3 weeks old. We had my daughter on the boat at 4months old. Just wondering what everyones thoughts are on taking a new born on the boat. Do they make vest that little?
Do you just keep them in the car seat?
Do you secure a vest to the car seat?

Thanks

[NautiqueJeff]

I am interested in these answers too. My first child is due in December. I have heard not to use carseats because most of them do not float.

[Eggie]

I have three kids ages 11, 9, and 7 now. For all three of our kids we used the infant carriers secured to one of the jump seats in our old i/o. Before you scold me, please note that we boat at a private lake.

Once our kids were old enough to crawl and walk around, we purchased the life vests with the big pad behind their neck. They all hated these because they are so big and bulky and were happy to graduate into their own normal life vests.

Maybe with all the advances in vests there might be some better options now but the first year is rather ugly...

[Deuce]

We were taking our baby out at 4 months in the car seat. Would have been sooner, but she was born in the Winter.

I don't know if car seats float or not, but I didn't plan on it ever leaving the boat. Christ, I don't know what type of thing would have to happen to have it fly out of the boat....but in 30+ odd years of boating, I haven't even experienced anything heavier than a hat/shirt/towell fly out.....

[ZachR]

They do make vests for young children now, specifically made so if they fall in, the vest keeps their head out of the water.

[Hollywood]

I haven't even experienced anything heavier than a hat/shirt/towell fly out.....

My buddy "full throttle" was driving around the lake like you could probably imagine based on his nickname, and lost 2 wet barefoot suits. Granted, they have a much larger surface area to catch wind. Somebody got some treasure washed up on their shore...

[Hlymons]

Depending on where you ski and who you go out with will help you decide what’s best for your children. When our kids were young we used this thing called a babysitter. My original plan was to strap a car seat in one of the seats, however after my daughter was born I was way to neurotic to have her on the water.

[ajskier]

We just took my nephew out the other weekend for his first boat ride. He is three months old and we got an infants vest from bass pro for him. He wasn't real thrilled about it at first, but then he fell asleep. So there is vest out there for infants just have to do some checking.

[86SN2001]

We had both of our children out on the boat at around six months old. Make sure you go when the temp. is mild or it will be a miserable trip for you and the child. One other thing: BIMINI TOP! They are a life saver when you have small children out on the boat.

[AirJeff]

My daughter was on the water at 4 or 5 weeks last year. We bought the smallest life vest, which was still big, and put her in it. Then we put her in her little detachable car seat thingy(didn't strap her in) and put that in the boat. She just slept in the boat.

[MarkP]

My son was born March 1ST. He was boating April 30TH. Same thing strapped him in
a portable car seat with the smallest vest we could find and always took him out on days that wasn't so crazy! No regrets he absolutely loves boating and he was swimming at a year old!

[NautiqueNutt]

We took my son out at about 6 months. Bimini top was a must. But he will ride with his life jacket on either with someone holding him or on the floor as long as its smooth. He loves to ride, when we stop he cries sometimes. But overall it is a wonderfull experience. Let them hold the wheel. The pictures are priceless.

[Mikeski]

I was born in February and spent my fist week in June in 1962 on Lake Shasta plus many others. They told me that as long as the engine was running I was asleep. Outboard boat with bimini covered bassinet. You will sometimes see mom's with newborns on boats around the competition lakes with pro skiers.

[mmisarpt]

Last year when we bought our SV211 in August, my sister & her husband brought my three week old nephew on the boat during our trip to Lake Mead. I bought him the infant Body Glove vest and he did very well. My sister and the baby stayed under the bimini top while on the water and in the playpen w/the EZ-up on the shore.

[EchoLodge]

First born on the river at 2 months... Second born at 2 weeks. Both were summer infants! Fell asleep in their car seats almost as sonn as we were under power.