New Addition to boat

Zorba

Zorba

Active Member
May 21, 2008
1,324
East Harbor, Lake Erie
Boat Info
2006 340 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 8.1 Mercruiser
So a few months ago my wife tells me that next year i'm going to have to clean out the aft cabin. I ask why. She says because she's going to have to set a pack and play up back there. I said what the hell is a pack and play. She says. It's where you put the kid that is growing in my stomach making me pissy all day.

Long story short come next March i'm going to be a dad!:smt101

Any suggestions on how ease in to boating with a newborn would be great.
 
Congratulations! Don't ease into it just do it - my 2nd daughter was on the boat when she was 11 days old. We waited a little longer for my 1st daughter but really at that age they don't care where they are sleeping and don't even know they are somewhere different. I can tell you this, a 380 is crowded with a pack and play in the way so you may want to start looking for a bigger boat!
 
congratulations!!!

If your wife is like mine the entire boat will have to pass CRAZY safety standards! Boating with a newborn is a bit of a challenge...
 
Congratulations!!!!! I wish you, your wife and soon to be born baby all the best.
 
Congratulations!

Don't worry about having the kid along. Like mentioned above, babies are happy just about anywhere. I had mine out with me within the first couple of weeks. In fact, I think they liked the boat quite a lot! The rocking motion, and all.

Yes, there's more stuff to bring a long... a lot more... but it's all good. I would recommend against the pack-n-play, though. Just use something to block off the berth opening so he/she doesn't fall out.

Although, at that young age, babies pretty much stay where you put them, anyways. Enjoy that part while it lasts...:smt001

Heck, we used a duffle bag with a pillow in it! Worked great - we could easily move her around to different spots in the boat, too! Laid her right in there on her back - looked very comfy - I wish they made adult-sized duffle bags! We only used this when she was top-sides with us - I wouldn't leave her in this if you're not watching her.
 
Zorba said:
So a few months ago my wife tells me that next year i'm going to have to clean out the aft cabin. I ask why. She says because she's going to have to set a pack and play up back there. I said what the hell is a pack and play. She says. It's where you put the kid that is growing in my stomach making me pissy all day.

Long story short come next March i'm going to be a dad!:smt101

Any suggestions on how ease in to boating with a newborn would be great.
Click to expand...

CONGRATS! Our second son was born this past April. We was 3 weeks when he first came out w/ us. We found the Mustang brand life jackets fit the best for infants their size. He LOVES the boat, actually when i slow down in 5 MPH zones he gets pissy. I really think he loves the breeze in his face.

As previously mentioned, i would nix the pack n play. They are huge! We normally laid our son on the forward birth all the way up top w/ his life jacked opened but still on. (obvioulsy at anchor). This allowed us to keep an eye on him from the deck and the life jacket stopped him from rolling. Also, the Mustang jacks have that piece up my the head that acts like a nice pillow.

You'll get the hang of it... powered formula (or a breast feeding wife) is the best when boating. You don't have to keep anything cold! :)

Good Luck and congrats again! :thumbsup:
 
:smt038csr will have a New member, remember they like cars boats anything that moves will put them to sleepzzzz
they like to be on there back and never on there stomach,too young to turn over..:thumbsup:
 
As a new, first time Dad myself, I have to say CONGRATS! I couldn't imagine how much better life was going to be with my girl here. The fatigue isn't so bad and melts away when they smile at you.

I have no practical advice to give re: boating other than you have a good chance to set your child up for a boating future. Some of my earliest memories are of my Dad's Trojan cabin cruiser (31' or 32'? wood hull) going up to Tides Inn. I still remember the excitement I had when I realized we were going to the marina. Great times!

Interestingly enough he named his boat 'Lazy Daze'. I heard it was scrapped. Dad only talks of the teak every where. hehe...

Sorry, I ramble. I'm now his age when he got the Trojan and I am looking for a boat to take my girls (Wife and baby) out to relax.
 
I say congrats too. My twins were on the boat at 2 weeks. Ditto for the lifejacket suggestions.

The twins are now 3, will jump off the swim platform at every opportunity, and are not scared of the water. The worst year was last year. They want to be mobile, and aren't old enough to sit still. Our voyages were few and short. We did put a pack-and-play in the stern area and would put them in it with lifejackets on. They could stand up, look over the transom, and watch the water. This year is so much better, all 5 kids were pissed it rained last Saturday.

Mike
 
Both my kids were on the boat at about 10 days. They are 3 yo and 5 weeks. The 3-yo LOVES boating, swimming, and fishing. The great thing about infants on a boat is that they don't move from where you put them, and they don't need much extra stuff. It gets interesting when they are older and can move around on their own. That's also when then they have more stuff. Be prepared for them to find most every surface they can trip over, fall into, or bump their head on.

Seriously, I would NOT recommend a PacknPlay in a 260 DA, or most any boat of similar layout. There's just not enough room to fit it in there, and if there is there'd be no way to lift the baby out. An aft cabin is a great contained place for them to nap, and much better than the v-berth I had to use. If you are worried about the baby crawling / rolling out, put up some type of mesh barrier. It will work far better than a PnP.

Enjoy boating with kids. It's great!
 
Thanks guys and gals for all of congrats and advice. The pack and Play was just a cool way my wife told me that she was pregnant. No way would one of those things fit anywhere on our 260.

Hopefully this moves up the 330 Express purchase!!!!
 
Congrats. Our son, now 5 months... was on the boat w/in a week or two. I got a Mustang Lil legends vest for him. It says in the car when not on the boat. When we get to the Marina, it goes on. When we get back to the car, it comes off.

Coasties gave me a thumbs up on the brand and said they were the best out there... and to avoid the cheapie ones FWIW.
 
Our pack and play is smaller than a normal one, still not ideal. My 3yo sleeps in the aft cabin, I mean "conversation pit" as they call it. Can't wait 'til they can safely sleep in the same bed...
 
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