Have you taken your toddler in a boat? We are on vacation on a lake and would like to take our 2 year old out on some kind of boat. Would putting her in a double kayak with us be a disaster? Small motor boat or something? Also do you use a puddle jumper type floatation device or a regular little life jacket?
It's a very calm lake where we are, if that makes a difference.
pomelo / 5326 posts
We were at our cottage a couple weeks ago and it is boat access only. LO who just turned two was on the big boat, a canoe and a paddle boat. We just made sure someone had a hand on her at all times and she always had a life jacket on.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
@delight: so he was ok in the canoe? Our place had kayaks or a canoe we can borrow. I'm 6 months pregnant so Dh would be doing most of the paddling anyway, realistically, so I can keep hands on her.
nectarine / 2085 posts
We took LO kayaking at 2. It was awesome. He wore a life jacket and sat in the front of a double with my husband. I stayed close to them in a single. He loved it! Have fun!
pineapple / 12793 posts
Always regular life jackets.
I've never taken LO in a canoe but she's done well on motor boats.
cherry / 157 posts
Always always regular life jackets. There was a boat crash nearby a few weekends ago and the whole family got thrown over. Luckily the baby was wearing a life jacket.
My 2yr old loves boats of all sizes!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
I would think he'd be okay in a canoe or a motor boat. Definitely go with a regular life jacket - not just a puddle jumper. And have fun!!
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
Will definitely do a real life jacket, thanks!
Hoping she will be chill enough to go out today!
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
Puddle jumper isn't enough but definitely go out with a life jacket!
pomelo / 5326 posts
@Foodnerd81: oh yeah she loved the canoe it was her favourite. We just paddled around the bay. I didn't even bring an Oar. Just DH paddled and she and I sat in the middle on the floor of canoe. She loved it!! If your LO hasn't worn a life jacket before I suggest getting her used to it first a few days before your trip. We practiced putting life jackets on our stuffies.
ETA we got our life jacket at Costco but I don't know if they'd still have them.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Agree that on boats I prefer the safety of a real life jacket. We did do a pontoon boat ride once and had puddle jumpers on but she was sitting on someones lap for the ride and then we were on a sand bar.
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
We did a puddle jumper on a pontoon boat this summer, and she's also worn on a smaller motorized boat. We were on a calm lake as well and someone always had a hand on her/she had no opportunity to fall out. I would probably use a normal lifejacket in a paddle boat/canoe/kayak although *most* puddle jumpers are USCG approved for open waters like lakes and are just as safe if worn correctly.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
@delight: too late to get her used to it- we are already here! But if she sees mom and dad wearing them too hopefully she will be ok with it.
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
DS has been on a boat since he was about a year? We just put him in a life jacket and he's good to go! The way the life jacket bunches up around his neck/face looks super uncomfortable, but it doesn't seem to bother him. He's even fallen asleep in it.
honeydew / 7283 posts
We have a small motor boat and LO wears a regular life jacket (although I think that some of the puddle jumpers are coast guard approved for boating - I'd have to double check though). M is almost 3 and this summer has been the first time that she's really enjoyed the boat. The last two summers she was just too small and it made the life jacket really uncomfortable - she couldn't bend at the waist.
Now she has a blast!
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
Update- we took a small motor boat and a little zip up life jacket for her and she had a great time. She did get kind of squirmy, but snacks fixed that. No issues with the life jacket, surprisingly. She kept yelling "I'm on a boat!"
Going to try taking her in a canoe or kayak this afternoon and see how it goes. Likely won't get far from shore at any point.
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