What is the youngest you would take your child on a kayak or canoe?

NarwhalBacon · May 2014

If you were an experienced swimmer and paddler, everyone would of course be wearing life jackets and you would be no more than 20 ft to shore on very calm water.For a kayak, they would be sitting on you and you would be doing all the paddling, not on a tandem.

kellyrn9956 · May 2014

Hope I don't get flamed for this, but I plan to take J out this year at the OBX on our sit-on-top kayaks, with a life jacket, in still, shallow water. He will be 16 months.

NarwhalBacon · May 2014

@kellyrn9956 I'm thinking of taking DS around the same age and it will also be on a sit-on. I'd never double on a sit-in!

I just need to know if I'm crazy for considering it.

Smootchy · May 2014

I don't know what the allowed age is. As long as they have a life jacket on and you're not going into the rapids, I don't see a problem. Maybe I'm crazy.

thebanich · May 2014

I think if you're on calm water its NBD. Just remember that when they are that small, life jackets don't really work all that well. They have a tendency to roll onto their faces.

DH keeps making comments about taking DD (3) tandem in a whitewater kayak.

No.

kellyrn9956 · May 2014

I don't think you're crazy at all.

kellyrn9956 · May 2014

Cuz if you are, I am too.

bensmommy518 · May 2014

DS is 2 1/2 and we are considering taking him out in our kayaks this year. They each only have one seat but the opening is wide enough for him to sit in front of us on the bottom of the kayak while we paddle and it would only be on calm streams. I dont think you are crazy as long as you keep safety in mind.

NarwhalBacon · May 2014

Well then I guess I'll be crazy with all you people. I'd say if we actually do it, we'll rent a canoe rather than taking kayaks. DH and I like to do a lot of activities in the summer and I'd like to include DS in as many as possible. He loves going on our outdoor adventures so far. He is really well behaved and likes to take it all in.

BluepointToasted · May 2014

In calm water, sure i would

ByeBabyBunting · May 2014

DS has actually been on tons of boats already. Kayak, canoe, air boat, whale watch. all with a life jacket and it was NBD.

DreadLoc · May 2014

we took her on a canoe in a calm lake when she was 2 with her puddle jumper on. with proper floatation devices on, a calm setting, and responsible adults present, i really don't see an issue.