Jump to content

Cruising with kids


Recommended Posts

voom has been back on the mooring since Waitangi weekend. Was just there for the summer cruising period.

 

Since you came out a few years back, there is now new rig, new rags, new boom, new hard deck, new hatches.  Same boom tent though.  Awesome as always.  Unfortunately have unloaded all the cruising gear off the boat.

 

In terms of seeing her up for cruising with kids, we have one little one, and as she is not crawling yet, all pretty easy, not many mods needed.  Biggest change was taking a collapsible bath and a lot more water than normal  She slept on deck under the boom tent in her bassinet.  Next summer will be more of a challenge, as she will be walking around and able to fall in. Thinking of fencing off the back beam between the (raised) cockpit seats.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey IT, the content of this post is awesome - much thanks Booboo - do you think we could have a sticky page or something put up, maybe even attached to the front page for both regulars and visitors for all eternity?  

Link to post
Share on other sites

Rehab, Booboo made an awesome post right here, on this forum and suggested others do to, so that this community on this forum have the info right here.  

 

I don't really get your point... are you saying this wasn't a brilliant idea?

  • Upvote 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi all,

 

This will be our first summer cruising with a 10 months old baby. Just wondering what bed set ups you use/recommend.

 

Our son is crawling and standing, and almost walking making things trickier. Our kauri launch has two sets of bunks up front. A portacot can fit in between the bunks but this takes up a lot of room and is a pain to set up every nap. Thinking of sewing a breathable fabric barrier across one of the lower bunks to create a cot, but not sure what fabric to use or how to stop him crawling around the sides or over the top?

 

Heading to barrier for 3 weeks so also keen for any other advice or tips you have for cruising with a younger baby.

 

Cheers, sarah

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi all,

 

This will be our first summer cruising with a 10 months old baby. Just wondering what bed set ups you use/recommend.

 

Our son is crawling and standing, and almost walking making things trickier. Our kauri launch has two sets of bunks up front. A portacot can fit in between the bunks but this takes up a lot of room and is a pain to set up every nap. Thinking of sewing a breathable fabric barrier across one of the lower bunks to create a cot, but not sure what fabric to use or how to stop him crawling around the sides or over the top?

 

Heading to barrier for 3 weeks so also keen for any other advice or tips you have for cruising with a younger baby.

 

Cheers, sarah

A fish crate apparently works really well.

 

If your boat is a kauri launch, I'm guessing she's an old flush deck thing once you're out of the cockpit area thing that stinkpots have?  

 

I'm assuming you have a baby lifejacket?  - If not, please get one - my little darlings got used to them very fast. An idea that some have put forward here before, especially as the bub gets bigger/more independent, is having two - one for swimming in, one to keep dry/warm/when underway/emergency etc. 

 

Some form of containment is the ideal, you could just use canvas and make lee-clothes that go from the side of the v-birth.  Use double stitched, folded hems with eyelets that go onto these things: 

https://www.smartmarine.co.nz/products/hardware/fastenings/50742/canopy-toggle-fastener-horizontal-single/details/

Bungy along the top with gaps in the hem that fit onto hooks on the ceiling so it's easy to undo in a hurry but can't be pulled down by the bub.

Either make a tunnel or close the whole thing off, then pillows/cushions/squabs etc. 

 

Jackstays and a tether when bub's out the back/on deck.  

 

All of this has been deployed by us over the years and kept the kids safe and sound.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Just wondering if there is anything suitable for a 9 month old to help with sea sickness. Our little one got sick on the way back from barrier first time, have been kauwau and waiheke a few times and she has been fine so would just like to have something if she gets sick again

Link to post
Share on other sites

hi brendan 

Our two got a wee bit seasick on the way to the barrier a couple of years ago. they both just went below and had a snooze. I don't think its anything to be worried about they'll grow out of it and both of ours seem to be fine now.

It was fairly willing the day you came back from the barrier. I'm not surprised your wee girl got a bit crook. 

Don't worry she'll still be a sailer (not much choice eh) :).   

Link to post
Share on other sites

We have since found out she had a virus and was just recovering after we got back. A few doctors appointments later they worked that out so wondering if it was just a coincidence. It was a fairly comfortable trip home 110 awa and the swell was going with us so was pretty smooth amd made for a quick trip.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Fantastic post by all. Very interesting reading.

 

We have a 9 month old girl who just did not want to go to sleep on our trailer yacht till it was dark. In summer this was 10.00 when her bed time at home was 6.00!

After a few nightmare nights away recently we found that a walk in the carrier or pram at about bed time was enough to put her to sleep and although we had to wake her to put a life jacket on to get her back to the boat she stayed drowsy enough that putting her down was much easier.

 

Also at the start we were trying to structure our sailing around her nap times so she would nap before or after we sailed. again we had the light issue, cant make the boat dark. Then we tried (thanks to this forum) sailing at nap time and putting her inside, low in the boat (so she doesnt get thrown around) in her car seat. She fell asleep in 5 minutes and slept for the entire 2 hour passage. Brilliant. Sleeping baby = relaxed mummy= happy family.

 

Thanks to all who have contributed.

Link to post
Share on other sites

We took our 2 (3.5yrs and 1.25yrs) out on the boat (Y11) over the break, spent the first night in Westhaven with a view to departing early.

Neither would sleep until about 11pm, the youngest was teething too and we didn't have the Bonjela with us (amateur!!), he graced the marina with his screams from 12-2am, then dropped off.

Set sail at 9, after breakfast and coffee, me doing the boat stuff, and wa down below with them in the forepeak looking out the fore hatch, then all sleeping.

 

Owhananke the next night, same thing, we shouldn't have tried to settle them early.

Sailed home the next day (was only supposed to be a short trip), after a bit of an adventure to mates' boats and the beach. Youngest slept all the way home, the other was happy reading and playing, then coming up into the cockpit as we came down the harbour, then she crashed out on the drive home.

 

Thinking the future plan will be late night, usual wake up, sail and snooze till lunchtime then adventures at the next place. I figure that after a couple of days the novelty will wear off and they'll sleep earlier.

 

Assuming other families go through the same thing, do the routines settle after a couple of days?

 

JK

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...