5 Tips for Boating With Babies + baby boating accessories
Summer is here y’all! And in Florida, we pack up our things and head to the boat ramp! Boating with babies can be a very safe and fun activity in the summer, as long as you are well prepared and follow certain safety regulations, such as always having a life vest properly sized for your babe! If you’re looking for a life vest for an infant under 30 pounds, Amazon (the place that has everything) has this one which is the most comfortable. We have a similar one, that was handed down to us but the size range is different, and we love it. I don’t consider this a tip, however, I do consider it a NECESSITY!!
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1. BE PREPARED FOR BOATING WITH BABIES
As a momma, this is basically the number one tip/rule in your life regardless of where you are going. Always be prepared! I can’t stress this enough for the boat! You are basically in the middle of the water somewhere, and the last thing you want to do is have to go back to land every so often to get whatever it is that you forgot.
When I’m packing my bag/diaper bag for boating with babies, my essentials go as follows :
- Diapers (duh! BRING EXTRA!!!)
- Wipes (another obvious – never go anywhere without these!)
- SUNSCREEN!! (an absolute necessity! Baby skin is so sensitive, this is a must!!)
- Towels (my favorite are the hooded – but anything works!)
- Extra onesies (I usually bring just plain white onesies, that I’m okay with getting salty and sweaty!)
- Reusable swim diaper (oh my goodness- this ones the best!! So easy for a dip, especially since the smallest size disposable swim diaper is 16 pounds!)
- Jelly shoes (since infants do not walk, this provides enough feet protection, with the ability to still get wet and cool when going for a dip in the water!)
- Hat (keep that babe nice and shady!)
- Fan (battery operated – but nice to give the babe cool relief in the heat!)
- Bouncer seat (not to be used when the boat is in motion at all! We use it when we are either anchored out and not moving, or anchored up to an island and we bring it onto the island under our pop up tent!)
2. WEAR YOUR BABY ON THE BOAT
I love this bit of advice. Baby wearing is basically the best, for so many different reasons and this is one of the atypical reasons! When getting on, and off of the boat – wear. your. baby. It is so important that during this transition from the land to water and vice versa that they are almost literally glued to you! NEVER pass your baby from person A to person B to get onto the boat! For mom it is SO much more comforting knowing that are right on you and basically can’t move without you. Accidents can happen in a split second, so always be extra cautious even with baby wearing them onto the boat. Make sure there is somebody on the boat guiding you down, and somebody on land behind you kind of hovering you! Safety is obviously key here, so you can never have too much help! Continue to wear your baby until you get from point A to point B! NEVER pass them around during the time that the boat is in movement. You can read more about my love for baby carriers (and get a little free surprise) by clicking here!
3. FIND YOUR SAFE SPOT ON THE BOAT
If you’re like us, and have grown up on a boat/the water you probably have never really thought about sitting in the “safest” spot because to us they are all safe! Which is true! But it’s very important that you sit in a sturdy seat. Mostly for the comfort of the baby aspect, but it does also make you feel much safer and more secure! Usually, depending on the type of boat you are on, there is a seat, kind of like a captains chair, just not behind the steering wheel! Usually this seat gets splashed by water the least, and is a little higher up so you don’t feel the boat hitting the waves as hard! If you sit in those lower seats, your little babe is going to be constantly bouncing up and down, and constantly shaken, which obviously is not good for their fragile bodies/heads!
4. KEEP YOUR BABY COOL ON THE BOAT
The Florida heat is no joke, and I’m sure wherever you are located 80+ degrees, is 80+ degrees! HOT HOT HOT! A risk factor of SIDS can be overheating, so it is so important that you keep your babe as cool as possible! Depending on the degree of the water, we will put a reusable swim diaper on her, and dip her in! Make sure you change them almost immediately after a dip in the water to protect against infections caused by sitting water, such as UTI’s (yes – boys can get them too)! Most boats have some type of Bimini or covering that you can set your babe under in their seat. If the boat you are on only has a T-Top or nothing at all I highly suggest bringing an umbrella. Shade is crucial in keeping them protected from the sun (as well as sunscreen)! and in turn keeping them cool! We also bring a handy dandy 02 Cool fanwith us. It is battery operated, so it’s great to face towards her when we feel like that she is getting too hot!
5. HAVE FUN WHILE BOATING WITH BABIES!
I know, such an obvious one! But really y’all! Have a blast! I know sometimes being a parent in these situations is nerve-wracking, because again, accidents happen in a split second! But enjoy these moments with your babe while they are still little! They grow up so fast, and these memories are ones you don’t want to miss! Take lots of pictures, as always! As long as you are being as safe as humanly possible, you should be just fine, and completely able to enjoy yourself!
All of these tips are based on boating with experienced boaters and passengers. If this is your first time on a boat, or your operators first time operating a boat, then leave that babe at home until you get comfortable and familiarized!
I hope you have a great, safe time, boating with babies!
Xo
-Amanda
Hi Amanda,
Thank you for your information, some of it was helpful. But I wish that you would clarify for your readers that you cannot wear your baby while the boat is moving. The law states that any child under the age of 6 must be wearing a life jacket at ALL times while the boat is “underway” but it excludes being anchored or tied up to something. And if your boat is over 26 feet long, this does not apply as well. I just want to make sure everyone is safe and knows the laws. Thank you for all you do.
Hey brandy, thanks for this safe info! I’ll be sure to keep this comment here to reference.