Boating as a family is always a fun and exciting activity that brings everyone together. I remember when we were young, we’d always look forward to doing something fun with our parents, and a lot of the times it involved being out on the water.
Does having kids mean you have to give up your active lifestyle? Of course not! But you do have to introduce your kids to activities at different ages and always have safety in mind. If your family is like ours and boating is a big part of your life, then you know your kids will be part of that. We’ve put together a list of the 10 ultimate tips for boating with a toddler. Enjoy it, share it, and remember to never forget about safety!
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#1 – Have a Toddler life jacket
You can’t take a toddler out on the water in your boat without the proper safety equipment. A properly fitted life jacket for toddlers is your best choice for good safety. Whenever you go out on your family boat, always bring the right life vest for your kids.
#2 – Proper Sleeping Gear
While young children may not want to take a nap when there’s too much excitement, they will tire out at some point and need a place to snooze. Toddlers, especially, can’t just be put into a berth on the boat as they might roll around and fall down. Most boats don’t even have berths and definitely not ones outfitted for the small ones! So bring along that little playpen or pack-n-play. Find a well ventilated and shady spot on the boat and you’ll be happy you have a secure place for your toddler to sleep.
#3 – Sun Hat or Make Shade
This can’t be stressed enough. The fragile skin of our young ones means it’s more prone to sunburn. And of course they won’t tell you they’re getting sunburned because they’re just having too much fun. A good sun hat for toddlers will allow them to keep playing and you won’t worry about them burning up. As an alternative, you can make shade on the boat. Most boats have bimini tops, so make sure yours is up and your toddler is under the shady areas at least some of the time.
#4 – Sun Protection for Toddlers
In addition to shade, you need good sun protection for your little ones. Make sure they’re well covered so they can stay in the sun. Re-apply often! And don’t forget to re-apply if they go in the water, even if the sun screen is waterproof, it’s always good to put on a new layer.
#5 – Swim Floats
What better way to get a toddler in the water and off your boat than provide them with a fun swim float? A lot of young children may be afraid of the water, especially if it’s a large body of water. Some are even afraid to get into a pool, so having a floaty they can sit in and be in the water gives them the confidence to get out there. With time, they will skip the floaties but to start we highly recommend having these at the ready.
#6 – Sunglasses
The sun is bright and strong, and that’s true even more on the water. The sun’s rays reflect off the water, so even if you’re in the shade, the sun can still get you. Providing sunglasses to your toddler while on the boat not only lets them feel cool, but it protects their eyes. This will also teach them long term that sunglasses are an important accessory to have while enjoying the watersport lifestyle.
#7 – Boat Toys
Nothing worse than a bored toddler! Having toys on board that are safe around water is a great idea. It will keep your kids occupied and also keep them out of trouble! You don’t want to be constantly telling them no as they try to entertain themselves by pressing all the control buttons and levers on the boat. Proper boat toys, similar to what you’d put in the bathtub, also ensure they can get tossed into the water without getting ruined. What kid doesn’t like to toss things off the boat into the water?
#8 – Check the Weather
Do you want your kids to enjoy going to the boat? You might need to be much more sensitive to the weather and watch the forecast more closely. Is it going to rain? Is there a chance of a storm coming through? Will it be a very windy day? These are all questions you should know the answer to before heading out to the dock and dropping the lines when you bring your toddler on board. In the beginning, before your child gets acclimated to the boating lifestyle, you may need to be a fair weather boater only! This is also true if your guests bring their toddlers, you may need to be extra cautious.
#9 – Safest place? Your arms!
Yes, that’s true. There are no seatbelts on a boat. Unlike a car, there are no “car seat hooks” to attach a car seat to. So rather than letting your toddler try and sit while the boat is under way and rocking back and forth while going over the waves, hold them in your arms. You can prop yourself in the right spot, and keep your child safe. It’s a good idea not to let your toddler roam around free while speeding across the waves.
#10 – Mint you say? Yes. Mint.
What do we mean when we say mint? Even toddlers can get a bit motion sick. And a boat is the ultimate place for discovering you have motion sickness. While adults can take things like dramamine and other pills, we don’t want to be giving our little ones these types of drugs. So a great alternative is peppermint. It’s good in helping to get rid of nausea and queasiness without resorting to any pills. Just have a peppermint stick or some essential oils and the smell will help combat that feeling!
Let’s all have some fun
That’s our list of the 10 ultimate tips for boating with a toddler. We hope you enjoy the list but remember to pin or share the checklist with your friends and family. Have a safe and fun time out on the water and with the right approach, those toddlers will grow up to enjoy this lifestyle too!
