Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

[Admin5]

You all have helped out so many people with so many questions that I know you will give me the straight up. I am not trying to be sensational or start a thread to stir people up - I just need your cumulative experience and wisdom.<br /><br />My wife and I want to go boating on Lake Powell over July 4th. She wants to leave our 1 year old with a sitter and take our 2 1/2 year old daughter with us. I don't want to sound like a hypocrite because I love to go boating and think boating is a great activity for families but I am terrified about taking very young children on extended several day boating/camping trips. It seems like everyone I talk to has a personal friend who's child has drowned at the lake.<br /><br />What have you all done/are doing to ensure that your little kids stay safe? Don't take them? It seems like most of the accidents don't happen on the boat but that the child wandered away while camping on the shore. My wife thinks I am being anal, I just love my kids.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

Safety...Get a good child PFD and test it. You must be absolutely sure your daughter is upright and it is self uprighting.<br /><br />When you say extended boat/camping that can be labor intensive expierance for ALL involved. Consider the 4th of July boat traffic and what kind of ride you will have. I would imagine who ever is not driving will be "holding" on to your daughter.<br /><br />I love children w/boats but I too would be concerned on a holiday weekend unless there is past experiance under your belt.<br /><br />I would just hate to see it be a weekend of all work and no play.<br /><br />Bob

 

[Walter]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

I had to edit my first reply when I re-read your post.<br /><br />For me...a house boat vacation on Lake Powell would be the ultimate. I've wanted to go there for many years. <br /><br />If it were me, I'd be rather nervous with those younsters on a house boat... If they were my kids, they'd be wearing their PFD's 24/7 and I think they'd get tired of that. If Grandma could manage watching the two of them...I'd opt for that.<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br />Walt

 

[Spidybot]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

Absolutely agreed.<br /><br />Boating has to be a success to the child if it should have any chance of becoming a success to you.<br /><br />Eliminate ALL foreseeable problems. Get the PFD and test it to make sure you and the child know how it works (and trust in it). Remember that such a device is to be used at all times when the kid is anyplace near water (therefore focus on getting one that is pleasant to wear). Make sure you allow the child to take part and explain as much as you think the child benefits from.<br /><br />Depending on your type of boat, a life-line could be good. I used one when my son was 2 and he climbed any surface - vertical or horisontal - in our daycruiser. The line resticted him so he could move around, but not get into any danger. Used it for those moments when all adults were busy.<br /><br />Like a holiday, you must accept that you are doing this mainly on the kid's conditions.<br /><br />Have fun - you're up for a great experience.<br /><br />PS! My son, born i February, came along boating from his very first season at an age of 3 months - he's 21 now and we never had a problem.

 

[6MISFITZ]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

My family of only 4 at the time visited Florida in 96. My oldest daughter was 2 1/2 and my youngest was only 6 months. We rented a boat from a shop by John's Pass with all the requesit safety gear. It was only a 17' br but was a perfect size. We toured the intercoastal all morning and then ventured out into the gulf for the afternoon. It was only a 6 hour adventure so it was an easy choice. My oldest daughter who was a perfect angel in a car, was great in the boat as well. My 6 month old who was not a quiet baby (read: COLIC for 12-14 months) was great in the boat. She enjoyed the boat ride much better then any car/van/plane she was ever in and to this day still loves our first boat better than the other kids. Go figure! She is 6 11/12 now and we have a total of 4 children ( ages from 8-2 with birthdays only a few days away for the oldest 2).<br /><br />We have the proper LIFE JACKET's mentioned by Bob_VT for our boat as well as Vhf, cell phone, big medical kit, diapers, potti paper, tools and other safety gear.<br /> <br />Safety is always a big issue on the water and with 4 kids, I do frequent head counts. The kids know that there is no fooling around allowed in a car/van and especially on the boat and act accordingly. The boat is more kid proof then our house also. <br />My kids have been camping with us at a provincial park and although it was some work we all enjoyed ourselves. <br /><br />My point I am slowly getting to is that, NO boat ride is really just routine. Being a holiday weekend doesn't mean you can let your gaurd down. <br />Do your kids wander at all in stores / malls or at home. Do they try to get into things or do you have activities always planned to keep them satisfied. <br />Nothing like tired kids asking going to bed early because the great outdoors and fresh air(sometimes hard to find) took it all out of them.<br />I am not at all anal about safety that nobody ever enjoys themselves, fun is actually the important factor in everything we do as a family.<br />Just because our family made out OK on one trip doesn't mean we have not stayed far away from other things we had conrcerns over. If this were a house boat I would wait until my youngest could swim and was at least 4.<br /><br />Do what you feel is comfortable and safe and do not push your wife. This is NOT a win / loose situation unless made into one! <br />Try working up to a day trip on another weekend.<br />Then 2 day trips later. Like Bob said experience.<br /><br />Please let the forum know how you made out after the holiday and goodluck!

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

There's been good advise preceding me, and I'll just underline the safety aspects. Statistically, the drive to Tahoe will be much more dangerous than when you get there.<br />I have several friends who successfully raised kids on houseboats: one with 4 VERY active boys, but who all made sure they wore life jackets EVERY time they went on the deck or in a boat. Kids will adapt to safety measures well (ever been reminded by yours to fasten your car seat belt?!) and would much rather enjoy the boating experience than not. Sure, it's work for you, but child raising is the hardest and most rewarding work we all can do.<br />My two girls started boating with me at 2-3 years old and are in their 20's now, and still love it. My wife is still nervous. Go figure!

 

[DJ]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

Admin5,<br /><br />Go for it. Children love boats. Make absolutely sure you have the right PFD-as others have mentioned. Test it first. Also, there MUST be a set of adult eyes on the child at ALL times.<br /><br />We have a lot of swimming pools here and we lose upwards of ten children here every year because of inattentive parents. No amount of equipment is going to save a child from drowning 100%. That is the parents responsibility.<br /><br />Enjoy!

 

[suzukidave]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

Lots of good advice. I question how much she'd enjoy being cooped up in a boat all day wearing a pfd, or doing it for several days with only camping on shore as a break which is also tiring for kids. <br /><br />My son is 5 and boating gets more fun for him each year. Last year at 4 I took him on an overnight boat camping trip with a friend and his 3 1/2 year old where we ran for maybe an hour each way to the camp site. The combo of two hours in a boat and one night in a tent was definitely enough -- they loved it but were also very glad to get back to civilization. This year I'm thinking carefully about whether we can do 2 nights.<br /><br />At 2 /12 my little guy would not have been ready. He enjoyed watching the water go by for maybe 5 minutes, then he got hot, sweaty and sleepy in the pfd. Now a houseboat is different to a runabout if she can safely play inside without a PFD, but still it's a confined space and it will be tiring for the adults to keep that eye out.

 

[thornious]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

I would say go for it. Just be a normal concerned responsible parent and keep after your two year old and you should be fine. There is no amount of saftey devies that can take place of a responsible parent. Everything is else is just there to help you out <br /><br />I have been going camping/boating before I can remeber and I and I am still here, well am I??

 

[skier]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

I started boating at 2 and skiing at 3, I always loved the water and have VERY fond memories of the trips that we took. We went skiing every weekend in the Sacramento Delta and three times a year took a week and camped at Trinity Lake (300 miles each way). I started driving the boat at 4 and at 5 or 6 my Dad gave me the key and told me to go and get gas (The gas dock was accross the lake from the camp ground). I started to tow skiers after that (With at least one adult in the boat at any time. <br /><br />Just my experience, but I would not hessitate to take a child boating as long as the child had the correct PFD.<br /><br />Craig

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

Leave her at home for another year or two. She needs to be more conscious of her surroundings and have a better-developed equilibrium before you take her out. You only get one shot for this...making it a happy, non-stressful experience, that is. If it turns unhappy, then they'll always dislike the water/camping or whatever. Wait a bit and make it a good, happy first experience. I waited until after mine had learned to swim...age 4 in our case, but they can start the swimming thing as early as you/they like. They key is they must like it...if you are trying to share your loves/likes with them.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

Well, I have to be an old fart and say that 2 1/2 is a little dicey for an extended boating vacation, unless she is already used to the boating experience. Safety is a factor, of course, but I get the sense that your little one will be sufficiently worried over the whole time -- so it's probably not so much safety, but parents' sanity.<br /><br />Is a Lake Powell trip the kind of boating excursion that permits shore visits on a whim? I get the idea that when you are on the water, you are sort of there to stay....<br /><br />with a little one who will grow up to be absolutely delightful, but right now is going through the terrible twos....

 

[Ross J]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

At two years your little one won't be climbing too well so as long as the house boat has some "netting" around the handrails then you'll be OK. The little one will soon tire wearing a PFD all day so there'll be times when you'll have to specify this - ie; going ashore or playing off the boat. Otherwise there's no substitute for an adult keeping an eye on things at all times with no other responsibility at all - ie; cooking, cleaning.<br />I've got an 18 month who loves boating and we hire the appropriate PFD plus floating cot from our coastguard.<br />Take the holl and enjoy yourself, you'll be amazed the fun a wee one can have on the water in safety!<br />Ross

 

[sproz]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

Hi,<br />My sister used to tie her young son to a long dog lead mounted to a stake in the ground whilst camping,I thought this cruel but it worked well and the child didn't complain!!! and she got her free time.<br />I use PFD's with the crutch strap and handle around the neck with my 8 and 5yr olds so you can hook them out of the water when you've thrown them in!!

 

[Hooty]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

When our oldest were that age, we had no baby sitter or granny to keep them so they grew up in and around boats and boat races. Now we have grand babies (19 mos. - 19 yrs.) and they're all water babies and love it. Pdf's and a sharp eye are always a must. Treat all of you and take the 2 y/o. She'll love it.<br /><br />c/6 and enjoy<br /><br />Hooty

 

[crab bait]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

well, one things for sure , she's not goin' to put up with a pfd 24/7 or 12/7 an probably be 'cranky' wearin' one at best..<br />an what a chore watchin' a small kid can be.. it's CUTE for the first while , enormous job after that..<br /><br />only you can really decide.. base it on what type of kid is she... quite & shy OR jumpin' & tearin'.. this would be the deciding factor.. <br /><br />also, if you's can... get her swim lessons pronto for the next time around boats & water..kids who can swim have a good chance if trouble comes along..<br /><br />lake powell is SO BEAUTIFUL !! you's gotta love it .. take a compess readin' & plenty of drinkin' water ... let us know how things went.. AN HAVE A GREAT TIME ...

 

[suzukidave]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

see if you can get a boat with a swinging davit. Then you can rig yourself a jolly jumper by hanging the pfd on the davit with daughter in it and relax

 

[JB]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

Hi, Admin5.<br /><br />At 2.5 years one has an attention span of about 10 minutes. . . 15 at most.<br /><br />I think your daughter will be bored before the dock is out of sight and miserable in an hour. <br /><br />Wait 'til she is at least 5, maybe 7 for extended trips.<br /><br />My four all are avid outdoors people in their 30s and 40s, but they started on ten minutes at a time until they started catching fish and the fever got them.<br /><br />Good luck. You and she will be happier if she waits a few years.

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

ok, i've passed this one up for a long while. i saw it when there were 0 comments. i'm only a 3yr old parent. a short comment is difficult on this topic i think. <br />i came from a family of 6 all of us on the lake and skiing by 9yrs old. i remember the trauma of being thrown off a dock as my 1st swimming lesson. we were floated around in pfd's and told how to dogpaddle beforehand, but the trust was broken, if you know what i mean. then later it was interesting again. but i forget when i started liking/trusting the lake. couldn't of been more than 6mos/1yr i guess. so it will be up to your presentation, ability to pique the interest, build up the moment, all that stuff, i think. my best friend had his 2 little ones in my boat when they were toddlers and b-feeding. we sat a bucket of water on the floor in the boat that we'd dipped out of the lake and let them sit with their feet in it (to feel the coolness of the water). then sat them on the swimladder to stick their feet in the lake. then rode around in bays and calm water. then back to shore, and they wanted to wade. that was it. <br />as for my little (almost)3yr old, wife told me not no, but hell no, on taking her for a boat ride. that was last yr. on the other hand, my mother was telling me she took all of us & all the grandkids in the boat right after walking age... so of course i clue my wife in on what my mother is stating(lol), and let that sink in for awhile. then slowly the change. ok, granny is getting daughter for a weekend, and granny can take her in the boat, since she has the experience in doing this... tell mother, and she backpeddles- well, maybe not yet, you know if it frightens a child, it takes longer to bring them back to it. <br />i'm thinking - typical women... <br />SO, i took her to a friends dock, and caught fish so she could see the fun of the water, and put her in the boat(in garage)whenever i'm working on it (all the time), and will soon take her for short trips in it. <br />but in your case, i think all the info is great. i think if you're just gonna be boating then you will have to make short, smooth trips. and plan land adventures to deal with attention span limits. maybe tree/leaf/bug/shell identification, wildlife watching, shore walking, etc. i think without fishing, you're gonna be superbusy coming up with fun ideas. i think it'll be a 50/50 gamble on whether it is good/bad for the child, and you gotta remember that thing about turning around a negative opinion in a child's mind... may you be richly blessed if you goferit

 

[jollymon]

Re: Boating and my 2 year old - is she too young?

There is no time like the present to get your daughter use to being on a boat and the water. I'll compare it to the parents that will not take the children to a restaraunt until they are old enough not to make a fuss. Our daughter (now 8) went to her first restaraunt at 6 days old, spent 4 days at the beach, when she was 2 months, camping for a week at 4 months and on boats not much after that. She learned early what the rules are, how to behave around other families with or with out other children. This year we bought our first boat, she has no problems when we are on it. She entertains herself, has her PDF on from the minutes she touches the dock, until she is back on dry land and helps with the boat as much as she can. The younger you start your daughter doing things, the more adaptive she will become. It will require alot of attention on your part, both for safety, and entertainment but the rewards are beyond measurement. One thing that has help with everything we have done with our daughter, is she has a backpack filled with activities for her, ie coloring books, reading books dolls, etc. She helps pack it but we try to make sure that there is a good amount and varieity of stuff for her to play with. Good luck.