www.iFourWinns.com

For those of you who have had babies while being boaties, how soon did you take them out on your boat?

I have a 1 month old and am trying to figure out when to introduce him to the boating experience! Naturally, I'll have to convince my wife also

Thanks all!

Erik

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

We waited til our daughter was 16 months old before we introduced her to boating, with minimal success. With our son, we waited til he was 3 and I think he was born to be on a boat. In other words, all kids are different. I think it is personal preference though. Sorry I'm not more help. Make sure you get one of those special infant PFD's though...

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2008 H220 Frenzy - 5.7L VP SX Drive
2013 Tahoe LTZ Tow Vehicle (admiral's ride)
2011 Ford F150 XLT Ecoboost Tow Vehicle

Our son is now 19 months, but we began taking him on the boat when he was about 7 months. We got him an infant life jacket that he wasn't too fond of, but eventually got used to it. We didn't do a lot of driving around. Basically went to a cove and floated, but at least we were on the water. To keep him out of the sun, we either put his car seat under the dash or draped a towel between the sun deck and the passenger seat in additon to the bimini top.

We took him out about 6 times last year, but made sure it wasn't an extremely hot or cold day when we went out. He was a little timid the first time out this summer as I'm sure he didn't remember last summer, but now he loves the water. As long as you are careful, get the proper PFD, and keep them out of the sun, I say take them out. The rocking and engine noise put our son to sleep faster than anything else we have tried at home.

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2001 Four Winns Horizon 180LE, VP 4.3GL/SX
2006 Ford F-150 Extended Cab 4x4, 5.4L

We took my son out at about 6 months old. He is now 22 months and is a little water bug. Can't keep him out. Just had another son who is now a whole 4 days old and he won't be going out until next season.

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

Wow....congrats....!!!

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Yes - congrats on your new addition!

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

Our first son was out last summer for the first time at 15 months or so. This May 1st we had twins so we are not using the boat this summer. Next summer, with the twins about 13 - 14 months is when they will be introduced to the boat. Make sure they have a proper PFD and they do not get too cold or hot and you will be good. I have never been a fan of taking kids out when they are still in car seats.

Congrats first off!
Our son is about 21 months old now. He was on the water for the first time when he was about 5 months old. He loves the boat! Last year we would ski very little then go to the cove and tie up and let him float in a pool style floaty, which had a canopy. They year he is too big for the floaty so he just swims and climbs up and down the ladder with his life jacket. He knows he has to wear his jacket to go anywhere on the boat and he doesn't have a problem with it. Just remember the sun screen!!!!! Knock on wood, Blake, our son, which is a red head with very fair skin, has not been sun burnt yet. And I want to keep it that way. Plus we usually spend the whole day on the water. But we do not go out on holiday weekends either. Don't want to take any chances, I don't agree with drinking and driving at all!!!! If you drink that is fine but don't get behind the wheel!!!!! And on holidays there are too many people drinking and driving and taking their boats out for the first time and don't know how to handle them. Better safe then sorry!

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Troy
2008 Centurion Avalanche
1994 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE 5.0L OMC Cobra (Sold)
2002 Ford F150 Harley Davidson Edition (http://www.nhtoc.com) 378 hp & 465 tq at rear wheels
2008 Honda Accord EX-L w/Nav

Our son was 8 days old when we started taking him to the boat for the weekends. From 8 days old, we would pretty much spend each weekend on the boat as we had before he was born.

We planned our boat trips around nap times when we could and always paid extra attention to his safety and weather conditions.We have air conditioning on the boat so that helped with controlling the heat.

Our son is turning 7 years old at the end of this month.We have many a wonderful memories of boating as he grew older. We hope to have many more years of family boating before he is of the age to start with part time jobs etc.

Mike.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

2 weeks old for us. We took her out for the last afternoon of the year. When summer came around she has been on the boat nearly as much as us (is now 10 months and has been out all summer). If she's up top she has to be "driving" and will fall right asleep if she is in the cabin when we start going.

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2005, 268 Vista, Table Rock Lake "Choices II"

I think it depends on the type of boat the area you boat in and your comfort level with the safety of the child. In a large cruiser I would feel more comfortable at a younger age. Less than 3 months. I would make sure I have a safety plan for just about every conceivable situation with a little one on board. (This would be true for any infant age or toddler.)

I think 3 months is about the youngest for a smaller open bow. For 2 reasons. First you shouldn't really use sunscreen before the age of three months,(no protection like found on a cruiser) and second I don't think the vests fit very well before that age.

That being said our youngest was about four months old. His birthday was in January. Our second youngest 6 months March birthday but we didn't get the boat until August of that year.

My next will be born in 10 days or so. I doubt he/she will make it out until next season.

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2008 Horizon 260 VP 8.1 Gi

Hmm...3 months old puts us in mid-Oct....Still pretty nice here in San Diego in October!

Protection from the sun is my main concern as I would only be bay-cruising with my boy on-board and much of Mission Bay is a 5MPH zone. San Diego Bay is a different matter - much more interesting, but also more to be concerned about (more boat traffic, less sheltered, larger ships/submarines, etc).

Thanks for all the feedback!

Erik

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

William is just shy of 6 months and has still not been on the boat. First and foremost, he is still on a little bit of oxygen so the mess of the small o2 tank, the nasal canula, and such is just a bit much. If I had to "abandon ship", I don't need to have to worry about his O2 tanks too. I'm also looking for him to be able to hold his head up better to help with any big bumps we may encounter. He can wait until next season and I'm sure he will love it. We know he likes the outside and wind, He loves my wifes' convertable.

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

Hello Everyone

We take our son on the boat for the weekend and have been doing so since he was 2 months old. We also have a daughter that is 22 months old, they both seem to love it, the gentle rocking is enough to put or son sleep, we also take our bouncey chair out as the car seat tends to be too warm for him to spend time sitting in. We had a 225 sundowner and just upgraded to a 248 Vista as we found it was too time consuming driving back and forth to the lake. Spending the weekends there is so much easier.
Just remember that life is better at the lake, A bad day at the lake for me is better than a good day at home

Cheers,

Mike

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

My son is almost 6 months old, He was 3 months old the first time out. It probably would have been earlier, but the weather here in the northeast was terrible. He doesn't mind th life vest and he loves the water.

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2005 Horizon 200 LE - Volvo Penta 5.0GXi 270