Babies: how soon is to soon to hit the lake?
 

whats the earliest you guys have had your kids on a boat? I know about all of the recommendations of 18 lbs and what not but was curious how soon you guys put the little ones on your boats.

Both of mine were around 6 months and love it still[ATTACH=CONFIG]545189[/ATTACH]

My wife made me wait till mine was 18 months, but he was a late summer baby, so it worked out. My little guy is 4 months now, he will be going out next season. Biggest reason unfortunately here in Texas is the heat. Upgrading soon to a larger, ACed boat for the kids.

First one was 5 months old and second one was 11 months old.
The second one would have gone sooner but he had a spinal surgery at 2 hrs old.

Mine was on the water at 1 month old on my fountain. 1 week on the houseboat. He was almost an 11 lbs baby.

1 week he was on the cruiser, and every weekend since

They come out of a living swimming pool. No reason you can't take them out anytime.Take them out as soon as your comfortable or more importantly when your wife (said swimming pool) is comfortable. We have raised and continue to raise dozens of water babies!!

How soon is too soon??? Maybe on the way home from the hospital. Lol...

My daughter was 4 weeks for her first trip out on the Allison. Now she's driving it...12 years later. ;)

All I know 5-6 is to young for a gofast, I screwed up a couple of kids for life with a mild under 60 mph ride. Maybe it was the sound...

Small pocket cruiser......first one was 2.5 weeks old. Late May so the weather wasn't too hot and we went with the understanding it could have been a 10 min boat ride (stayed out about 5 hours). Overnighting on the hook at 3 months old, took a 5 night trip at 11 months old. Got caught for several hours in a nasty storm during that 5 day trip. My wife was FREAKING OUT.......baby slept through it all.

we have our daughter on the checkmate at 3 months. The car seat bucket fit perfect between the bench seats in the cabin and the boat rocked her to sleep. She is 4 now and loves the boat

My daughter was on the water in a matter of weeks.

Bring the donzi up to cumberland donzi1979!!! Its Wes. Around 6 months for us too. They love it the faster we go!

One of mine was 9 days and one was 10 days. One was born on a Wednesday and one was born on a Tuesday. We didn't go the first weekend (mainly because my wife didn't feel up for it) but we boated the following weekend. Neither one of them could have been over 10 lbs at that point.....

My kids where born in the late summer. I took them out the following spring. The biggest worries are the heat and the sun.

My daughter was 3 months old, and my son was 1 month old when they first came out on our 288.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...30&oe=566CEB25

I believe the best approach is common sense.

When our son was born we waited a few months to take him out on the boat - and then was a very slow ride- my concern was a lifejacket for a newborn - we were on an inland lake but the DNR still visits us quite regularly. I agree with those that commented on the heat and sun being the biggest issues. Don't want to bake these little guys (or gals)-- dehydration is a real possibility. Also, (maybe a couple of physicians could chime in) I don't think it would be wise to have a new born bounce around in a boat - possible retina detachment - at such an early age could be damaged.

just my 2 cents

3pointstar

My son was out with us at 10 days old, only because the weather the weekend after he was born was a complete bust. He spent 14 days sleeping / staying on the boat for our annual Boyne Thunder vacation when he was only 8 weeks old. This was his second full boating season, and he loves it! He even participated in the Buffalo Poker run this year. :ernaehrung004:

:p

Who makes the best life jacket for newborn/ Infants ? Found this o'niel but don't know if it's really for newborn. I called Lifeline but they don't make any. Thanks in advance.

http://www.amazon.com/ONeill-USCG-ny...t+under+30+lbs

You're points are spot on. The life jacket you see my son in is approved for 0lbs and up. Heat and sun are real issues, and sunscreen is a tough one for new new borns, they do make infant sunscreen, but even that is really only good after a few months old. A/C and the genny were a huge plus when he was very young.

For what it's worth, my wife is a pediatrician and she wanted him out on the boat as badly as I did! :bananalove:

SkaterMike: That's the one you want for an infant. We used that same one for my kids.

Life vest came from WalMart of all places. We tested it to make sure he would remain face up and it works great. He still wears it and it doesn't bother him a bit.

There will be a lot of opinions on this. My biggest concern would be the amount of idiots on the water. You can take every precaution in the world, but it only takes one other boat to cause an accident/incident.

Yes, but that is also true when the kid is 1 year, 5 years, 15 years...

I prefer not to live in fear.

Plus we were just out on the river with ours, not crossing Lake Michigan or anything.

100% true, but no one thinks twice about putting them in a car :helmet:

The worst thing you can do with kids is over 'shelter' them.

Just look at the teens and early 20's (kids) of today. Prime example of being oversheltered.

Might want to keep your kids away from those Chicago Clowns though !!!!!

Man, I am behind in the times compared to some of you. I blame the wife. Big one has enjoyed this season for sure.
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Was that pic taken at the Buffalo poker run? lol

I saw you and your wife with the little ones at the run and I thought it was great to see you having them around the boats and being involved at an early age. My father did with me and I am better for it. If had kids mine would be almost immediately.

its never too early, the boating style changes a little bit but they kids love the boat and someday will force you into taking them out

I'm not saying "over shelter" by any means as I am the last person to advocate that. I am saying up until a certain age all a child can do is lay there, so I would want to be removed from all other boats if possible with a child that young. I have seen people out with 3 month old kids doing 40 mph next to other boats. I am not saying right or wrong or on the soapbox. Just my $.02, that is not something I would do.

Sure was. He was at Boyne Thunder 2 years in a row, but Buffalo was the first run he rode along with us.

I think you should wait till they are at least 18 to 20 years old so they can bring their girl friends and not cramp your style, otherwise they are a pain.

We had our daughter out on Lake Anna on a Pontoon when she was about 7-8 months. Great times & remember it often...even as bad as my memory is now.

Start'em young & common sense- Captain Obvious.

Took our boy our at 3 months. My wife said " if he cries one time we are going home and not buying this" Never cried once:drink: he has been hooked ever since!

Our little one started when she was about 5 months(born Nov 1st) so had to go thru winter. Our cabin is on a smaller lake so I'm not to worried about other people, heat is alawys my biggest concern. Getting a life jacket that she was comfortable in was a challange they all seem to want to choke her. We ended up finding on at Fleet Farm.

She loves the boat now, have the time the waves put her to sleep but hay a sleeping baby is a happy baby.

For the guys that waited 10 days I applude you my wife could hardly walk for the first three weeks let alone get on a boat. :(

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...psvslehh7u.png
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As infants we had both of ours out -- my wife called them the "fun governors", but I was extra careful and drove like a human. Nothing puts a kid to sleep like a boat.

First one is due in the next couple of weeks. He'll be on the water come next June. Not sure he'll be in one of the go-fasts, but we have other boats more suitable. Will be a prime concern of mine getting him (it's a boy!!) learning to swim ASAP.

^^^^Fully agree^^^^

Yup, a family rule of ours for generations is to go to swimming lessons, for, get this, minum of 5 summers. It's not just because of boating, but we live near/on a lake, many ponds/lakes/rivers/swiming holes nearby...not too mention houses with pools and etc. Oh, the ocean not too far away either.

And that's #1.

#2, they need to be able to help rescue us 'old folks' (we all took the classes young too) if we run into issues.

Water is a part of our lives - liquid and frozen. It's a must to not only know how to swim, but swim to save your life.

Carry on.