Getting Baby/Toddler/Kid to Sleep on Boat

[bchaney]

Any tips from some fellow boaters? We've taken our 1 year old out 3 times now, and each time she'll fall asleep in her life jacket in my wife's arms while cruising but as soon as we try to put her down she wakes up. I have a small thermarest camp mattress pad that we tried laying her on in the shade under the dash or in a little pop-up beach tent in the back of the boat. She has a neoprene life jacket that she tolerates most of the time but she doesn't seem to be able to sleep in it except when being held. We can legally take off the life jacket but it seems a bit risky.

What has worked for your kids?

 

[roscoe]

Always hired a babysitter and left the kids at home until they were 4 or 5 years old.
Took them fish, from shore, but not in the boat till older.

They need to know how to listen and do what they are told before being out on the water.

Just way too much going on, too much to go wrong, to have them out there.

 

[southkogs]

When we boated with little ones, we just planned that sometimes they'd have endurance for a longer day out ... and sometimes they wouldn't. Sometimes they'd nap ... and sometimes they wouldn't. Not that they could get away with anything they wanted, we just had to plan room for them to be little kids. Some days, that meant we weren't out for very long.

I wouldn't take the life jacket off ... but maybe look for an alternative that she can sleep in.

 

[briangcc]

With my kiddos, wife held them as they slept. Worked fine as we were out for cruises to get a break from them being babies...ie. sound of silence!

Same went for both my cousins as they'd show up at the cabin with screaming babies saying they needed to go for a boat ride now. About 10 min in, utter silence.

Best advice, don't take that life jacket off and instead enjoy the silence...well at least enjoy the engine humming and the waves hitting the hull. How's that?

 

[garbageguy]

I remember our son, at about 1 yr, falling asleep, and staying that way, in his little seat (car seat or seat from an infant swing, not sure). Once asleep we'd put that little seat (with him sleeping in it), under the side console of the bowrider we had at the time. He was, and still is, able to sleep at a moment's notice

 

[cptbill]

At least your young one sleeps even if it is in your wifes arms, our middle granddaughter would start to scream as soon as she saw the life jacket and wouldn't stop till the jacket was back off. Needless to say the Admiral and I boat alone

 

[Homeafloat]

We've been taking my son on our boat since he was 4 months. We are now liveboards. We tried carsear method, no life jacket for longer stays out. Baby might be able to wear lifejacket and fit into a bouncer, will feel more like mama is holding him. Otherwise I would nestle inside pillows for support instead of a flat surface which may be uncomfortable against a puffy life jacket! Or, try and postpone nap time a bit, keep them up..so when they are really tired they may not care to wake up when placed down. Dont give up! Boating with babies can be stressful but so worth it. My guy is 2.5 now and talk about sealegs! And very responsible in our little dinghy! Its a lot of fun.

 

[Scott Danforth]

each child is different

if mama holding the baby makes baby happy......guess mama is going to hold the baby.

 

[PITBoat]

Our 2 1/2 year old loves the boat, just as a cool and fascinating thing. We took him out once last season (at 1 1/2) and he did well. We didn't stay for hours though - my wife came in a separate car because she knew he wouldn't be able to stay out long.

I started last year having him wear his life jacket just to be in the boat (in the backyard) to get him used to it, and now he asks to wear it sometimes when just out messing around in the garage or what have you. It's the body style one though, and not the orange basic one that goes around your neck and is supposed to float you face up. I have one for him, but didn't think he would tolerate that as well. Probably would now.

That doesn't answer your sleeping question though... I look forward to taking him more this year; I may suggest to my wife that we try the nap thing and see how it works out. I'm pretty much done after a few hours anyway since I'm not into fishing at this point.

 

[bchaney]

Thanks for the advice guys. I ordered the life jacket linked below in hopes that it'll be more comfortable for her. We went out yesterday and she fell asleep in grandpa's arms. You guys are probably right, I should be grateful that she falls asleep at all. She even stayed asleep when we docked the boat at the launch, so I guess there's hope that she'll be able to get a full 1-2hr nap without having to burn gas cruising that whole time. We will just keep taking her out and learning what works. Hopefully someday she'll be able to sleep independently and the adults can relax, but if not, oh well, it's still great to be out on the water at all.

Leaving her at home is not an option, we got the boat primarily for a family activity. My brother and I grew up on the family boat so I want to continue the tradition / family value. I'm not going to give up on that yet.

Level Six Puffer Baby Flotation Vest - Grotto Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L371QHC..._QR3hDbMHTP2RT

 

[briangcc]

IF that doesn't work for you, we use this style in a neoprene fabric:

https://www.iboats.com/shop/airhead-treasure-fish-vest-infant.html

No buckles where the head/neck are. No complaints from any of the kiddos I've used it on.