Would you take a 17-month-old on a boat?

[kershnic]

How big of a boat? What are the sleeping arrangements?

My parents did it with me on a sailboat around that age. Looking at my own children it seems a little stressful, but depending on the circumstances maybe.

[lilac05]

Like a house boat? Sleeping on the boat or just going out on a boat during the day?

Honestly it would really depend on the kid and the other people going.

[runblondie26]

We've done it. It's not particulary fun at that age, but our extended family was helpful. If you have others helping you out, it is surviveable.

[spk926]

A couple hour outing on a boat or a boat that you live on for the weekend?

Couple hours - yes totally. A boat that you live on? Eh, possibly.

Before my FIL passed my in-laws had a very large boat on the river. 3 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, etc. We would often spend long weekends on it and it was a blast. FIL passed shortly after DD was born so it was never an issue but I did put a lot of thought into what we would do once she was born. Water safety is a huge issue for me. I came to realize that I just didn't feel comfortable with her being on the boat without a life jacket on and I couldn't expect her to wear a life jacket to bed and 24/7 for 2-3 days at a time. But plently of people do it so it's just a matter of what your comfort level is.

[dancingirl21]

I don't think I would. Just the sleeping arrangements alone sound like a nightmare. But we also make sure we have a 2 room suite every time we are in a hotel with J, so we are not breezy about sleep. At all.

[kershnic]

The problem here is the overcrowding not the boat.

[Deleted]

I would but I love boats.

But it also depends which family? Because I would not want to be on a boat for a weekend with pretty much most of both of our families.

[zarapipe]

Sounds like a total PITA. Where will everyone else sleep? Eat? If I'm going to sleep on a boat I need a yot.

[zarapipe]

may I suggest..

or even better

[spk926]

May 22, 2015 8:46:41 GMT -5 @bunnybean said:

May 22, 2015 8:43:55 GMT -5 @starry said:

Would the boat be docked? How often would it be "at sea?"

I think sometimes docked, but mostly "at sea," which is a river and not like scary deep open water. 

I get your point here but don't underestimate the strength of a river. The current can be quick and in an instant pull someone under and away.

[jeaniebueller]

It sounds awful.

[nomad]

Day trip sure. My girls took 2 boat rides at 18m. Over night? No. They did not want to wear life jackets that long, containing them, so many things just sound bad.

[bazinga]

I would do a day trip, but definitely not overnight.

[stacyb1983]

Maybe on a bigger boat, but what you are describing sounds like no fun. A mobile toddler in a cramped space is not my idea of a good time.

[ladygrey]

I was prepared to come in here saying absolutely (we are a big boating family and DD has been on our boat since 6 weeks old), but that sounds miserable for everyone involved. Nope.

[anna7602]

The extended family part sounds like the worst of it. I can do small spaces with my kids and DH. Once I throw in other people, even whole houses don't seem big enough. It's more an issue of people wanting to eat at different times, not respecting my kid's nap schedule, etc. 

[Deleted]

Non breezy checking in.

I was all ready to come in and say we've taken DS on a boat lots of times, he even has a tiny life jacket! But overnight on a boat with a mobile toddler? No way I would get any sleep.

[heygrey]

no. R is 15 months and we spent a lot of time on a friends boat (speed boat where we wakeboard, etc.), but staying out overnight would get a hard pass. i would hardly be enjoyable for anyone.

[laurenh]

I would go for the day but echoing everyone else - the sleeping arrangements sound like they'd be super annoying.

[Deleted]

Nope. But I hate boats and am terrified of my kid drowning.

[babyrn]

We take our toddler out on the boat all the time and it is a lot of fun but I definitely would not do an overnight on a boat. No thank you.

[biogirl21]

I would take him on a boat in a proper life jacket. I would not sleep with him on a boat for the whole weekend. Being stuck on a boat that long seems like one if the circles of hell

[Deleted]

Does it have an area for them to run around free safely? I just ask because dd is good for maybe 30 minutes on our boat and then I have to let her be free.

[livinitup]

I would and did. My rule of thumb - if YOU have done it and enjoyed it, bringing a baby is fine, too. I LOVE boating, so my fun-meter is pretty high on boats that others would bail.