Boat Question

redneckmomma25

This is probably a really dumb question.  I saw a recommendation for a life jacket from Target.  I'm going to go this weekend I hope.  I assume the baby wears the life jacket the whole time on the boat right?  We are renting a pontoon boat and will be on a lake for a full day.  Fishing and or docked on the beach.  So just really relaxing. 

hmp1

It is the law here and in TX, probably every where that a child wears one the entire time.

redneckmomma25

I can just see this boat trip sucking royally.  There is no way she will be happy in one of these things.  Or nap...or sit in a stroller in one.  Of course I want her safe rather than happy.  I just would love to be able to enjoy some part of this trip and not have to stress over every single detail!

 

hmp1

This is what I found for NY:

Children under 12 yrs must wear a life jacket at all times when not in an enclosed cabin while vessel in motion 

redneckmomma25

hmp&mrj:

This is what I found for NY:

Children under 12 yrs must wear a life jacket at all times when not in an enclosed cabin while vessel in motion 

 

In motion for sure.  If you are docked on a beach would you still as well? 

JennH28

If there's a chance she could fall into the water, yes. If you're moored or docked and she needs to nap and she is strapped in her stroller or whatever, and the law says it's ok, I'm sure you're ok to take it off her. If it was a canoe or small sailboat or motorboat it would never be coming off my kid.

hmp1

redneckmomma25:

hmp&mrj:

This is what I found for NY:

Children under 12 yrs must wear a life jacket at all times when not in an enclosed cabin while vessel in motion 

 

In motion for sure.  If you are docked on a beach would you still as well? 

I would anytime she is on the boat. Playing/napping on the beach, no.

We rented a lake house and boat a couple of summers ago when James was 7 or 8mo. I didn't take him on the boat. We played in the lake and left him at the house with others while we took the boat out, but I didn't want to deal with him on a boat.

redneckmomma25

JennH28:

If there's a chance she could fall into the water, yes. If you're moored or docked and she needs to nap and she is strapped in her stroller or whatever, and the law says it's ok, I'm sure you're ok to take it off her. If it was a canoe or small sailboat or motorboat it would never be coming off my kid.

Thanks.  She is a pretty easy going kid...I just don't envision this being easy though.  

redneckmomma25

hmp&mrj:

redneckmomma25:

hmp&mrj:

This is what I found for NY:

Children under 12 yrs must wear a life jacket at all times when not in an enclosed cabin while vessel in motion 

 

In motion for sure.  If you are docked on a beach would you still as well? 

I would anytime she is on the boat. Playing/napping on the beach, no.

We rented a lake house and boat a couple of summers ago when James was 7 or 8mo. I didn't take him on the boat. We played in the lake and left him at the house with others while we took the boat out, but I didn't want to deal with him on a boat.

I don't have this option.  We will be a half hour away from the camp site.  If I need to I can leave and take a vehicle back.  The beach is in a completely different part of the lake though.  So I would have to get back on the boat and go to the marina to get to the Jeep.  

Holly_1007

My parents have a boat, I brought Keagan as an infant and brought Colby this year as well. The life jacket sucks at first, it is not comfortable in a sitting position, but laying flat is ok, and standing is ok (ok- as in the boys both tolerated it in these positions). My kids put their life jackets on in the parking lot of the marina and don't take them off until they are back in the parking lot.  when they (the boys) aren't mobile I am comfortable with them being taken off if we are moored/ docked only when they are in the cabin part (less chance of them falling off) Typically this is when I nurse or change diapers/ clothes, then the lifejacket goes back on.

I recommend the Life jacket that has the head support if G still fits in that weight wise!

ETA clarity, hopefully

redneckmomma25

Holly_1007:

My parents have a boat, I brought Keagan as an infant and brought Colby this year as well. The life jacket sucks at first, it is not comfortable in a sitting position, but laying flat is ok, and standing is ok (ok- as in the boys both tolerated it in these positions). My kids put their life jackets on in the parking lot of the marina and don't take them off until they are back in the parking lot.  when they aren't mobile I am comfortable with them being taken off if we are moored/ docked only when they are in the cabin part (less chance of them falling off) Typically this is when I nurse or change diapers/ clothes, then the lifejacket goes back on.

I recommend the Life jacket that has the head support if G still fits in that weight wise!

Head support is under 30lbs and she is 24ish... 

You guys are not giving me hope for this at all....

Holly_1007

redneckmomma25:

Holly_1007:

My parents have a boat, I brought Keagan as an infant and brought Colby this year as well. The life jacket sucks at first, it is not comfortable in a sitting position, but laying flat is ok, and standing is ok (ok- as in the boys both tolerated it in these positions). My kids put their life jackets on in the parking lot of the marina and don't take them off until they are back in the parking lot.  when they aren't mobile I am comfortable with them being taken off if we are moored/ docked only when they are in the cabin part (less chance of them falling off) Typically this is when I nurse or change diapers/ clothes, then the lifejacket goes back on.

I recommend the Life jacket that has the head support if G still fits in that weight wise!

Head support is under 30lbs and she is 24ish... 

You guys are not giving me hope for this at all....

It really isn't that bad. Its like the babies that need helmets, they adapt. G will adapt.

Holly_1007

jlk6:

redneckmomma25:

Holly_1007:

My parents have a boat, I brought Keagan as an infant and brought Colby this year as well. The life jacket sucks at first, it is not comfortable in a sitting position, but laying flat is ok, and standing is ok (ok- as in the boys both tolerated it in these positions). My kids put their life jackets on in the parking lot of the marina and don't take them off until they are back in the parking lot.  when they aren't mobile I am comfortable with them being taken off if we are moored/ docked only when they are in the cabin part (less chance of them falling off) Typically this is when I nurse or change diapers/ clothes, then the lifejacket goes back on.

I recommend the Life jacket that has the head support if G still fits in that weight wise!

Head support is under 30lbs and she is 24ish... 

You guys are not giving me hope for this at all....

I actually thought the head support looked uncomfortable on him but the water park only had those in his size so I didn't get to try one without.

If you are going to try to have her nap in the life jacket you will want the head support. I would imagine it would be uncomfortable at a water park though

CdnFarmGirl08

I took DS to the cabin and on the boat for the first time and he hated the lifejacket. It rides up around his chin and looks super uncomfortable. The only time it was tolerable was when he was standing. But sitting on my lap was pure he!l. Sorry. I don't have any other suggestions. I could never see him wearing it while napping, even in a stroller. It's so hot wearing it too.

Sorry, I know that was no help whatsoever.

redneckmomma25

CdnFarmGirl08:

I took DS to the cabin and on the boat for the first time and he hated the lifejacket. It rides up around his chin and looks super uncomfortable. The only time it was tolerable was when he was standing. But sitting on my lap was pure he!l. Sorry. I don't have any other suggestions. I could never see him wearing it while napping, even in a stroller. It's so hot wearing it too.

Sorry, I know that was no help whatsoever.

I found one life jacket that looked really great but it was $80...no way for a one time use.  Yeah.  I think I will just plan for the worst and hope for the best.  Have a few back up plans in place.  

KTC926

Redneck I will give you some hope!

 

I took Charleigh out on a boat a couple weeks ago. She did awesome. She didn't mind the life jacket at all, she was too busy pointing and yelling at the water propelling up. I was worried the entire time leading up because DH couldn't come and I was worried she would have a melt down. She usually is a calm baby but you never know.

 

Once we got on the beach I took her out of the jacket till it was time to load on the boat again and she was fine with it. 

 

I hope G enjoys it and you get to relax once you are there!

MarisaKathleen

I have no advice for you.  I can only hope that G is in the happiest of happy moods and that she loves the life jacket and the boat.

We took Nancy out on the boat a couple weeks ago and she didn't mind the life jacket at all.  She's worn one several times in swim class though when they do safety weeks.  She lasted a good 45 minutes on it before starting to get cranky and want to get out of the contraption.

If it were me, I would not be going.  I would be staying at camp and saving myself the stress.  All day is just too long.

redneckmomma25

I will try at least for a couple hours before asking to leave haha.

The camp site is not a campground. It's my IL's property with nothing on it. So neither option sounds fun.

Hopefully g will be good for a whole.

L8kissie

What about getting out of the boat and hanging out on the beach for nap? If she can't fall in the water, it would be safe to remove the jacket.

AKB090609

It may go much better than you think, we always give DD  a favorite treat when we put her life jacket on. We also put it on her at home to 'build her up' to wearing it for longer periods of time. She is not easy going and normally hates being harnessed, but cheese has helped greatly. She also gets so distracted on the boat that she forgets about the jacket most of the time.