What to do with kids?

pet575 · Posted: Sep 01, 2006 1:37 pm Post subject: What to do with kids?

I have an 11 month old, and he is my only child. Along with my wife, the 3 of us spend a LOT of time on the water. Here's my problem, if no friends/family come out with us (which happens) it leaves my wife to pull me. My wife is a decent driver-no problem there- but my son is into EVERYTHING and will not sit still. Neither of us feel safe turning him loose inside the boat while my wife pulls.

At the same time, neither of us feels all that great about somehow restraining him in the event something were to happen to the boat. He wears a life jacket, but I don't want him tethered to a boat that could sink. Anyone have any suggestions/experience with this? It is an older boat with a loose throttle arm that won't stay put and we can't figure out how to repair that problem cheaply, so it takes 2 hands to drive. Putting him in a lap just doesn't seem to work right now.

I'm losing valuable board time, if anyone can help I'd love you forever.

BigGator · Newbie Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 27

I've got a new Malibu with speed control - and it isn't really any easier. I've got one that just turned a year - and my wife and I have the same issue... always need a 3rd/4th. We tried the 'in the lap' trick once (and there was a 3rd in the boat just in case) and it was pretty tough to do.

I figure I've only got another two years of this before she starts riding too.
"-)

buckthis · Posted: Sep 01, 2006 1:45 pm Post subject:

i don't think 11months is old enough to be a spotter

kmagnuss · Posted: Sep 01, 2006 5:25 pm Post subject:

At 11 months, I think they're a little like my lab puppy. No attention span, into everything, running around (or crawling) and such. I'm not a parent obviously, but do you have a open bow that you can stick him in? Maybe barricade it off somehow and childproof it? If not, maybe there's a small crib/playpen that will fit into your boat?

T-Rex · Posted: Sep 01, 2006 5:44 pm Post subject:

If I don't have a third I'll break out the baby carrier and strap him in...He's usually falls asleep in a couple minutes

Justin 25 · Addict Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 797

Like kmagnuss said, maybe you could put a small playpen in the boat with no top to it so in the event that the boat starts sinking he would float right out.

K-dub · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 14760

It's part of being a parent, sorry to say.

My 19 month old has been out on the boat with us since he was 3 weeks old.
My riding time has been drastically cut down because of the fact that he freaks out when either my lady or I get in the water....while he's on the boat he's pretty mellow, but does tend to want to climb around, and get into everything.
At his age now, he's pretty much satisfied with sitting in my lap while I drive...he likes to push the buttons on the dash. I have perfect pass, so driving one handed isn't an issue....

You don't have too much longer until the little one wont be such a burden on the boat, you'll get riding time when that happens. Until then, rmember that the little one is the most important thing, not how often you can strap on the board.

boobybunny · Guest

At 22 months, our littlest is getting better. He was given a flag, (says show your tits, he is still nursing after all) He watches the person behind the boat, and while he is not our offical third or spotter, he has been given that job. It helped more than anything. He actually does a great job of putting his flag up when someone falls, he yells "down." It helps to give a toddler a "job" they feel useful, and part of the team.

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

I didn't like to take kids on the boat until they were out of diapers. I would call grandparents or hire a babysitter to watch jr at your house if you want to keep riding with your wife. If that doesn't work I would go for strapping him in a portable car seat - it would seem he is much more likely to crawl out than the boat is to capsize.

Don't worry there is light at the end of the tunnel - all 3 of my kids ride and 2 of them can drive the boat for me now!

J_DOGG · Posted: Sep 05, 2006 7:58 am Post subject:

Sounds like you need to put the kid up for adoption..... JOKE!!!!!!

The car seat idea sounds the best to me....

mastercraft205v · Posted: Sep 05, 2006 8:44 am Post subject:

I have a 12month old and at first my wife was sketchy about pulling me with him in the boat. The first time he was asleep and i put him in the walkway in the bow. Now he just sits on my wifes lap and doesn't take his eyes off of me. He started to wave a few months back and it's awesome to see my son wave at me while i'm boardin. All -n-all I've been very lucky that he's so cool with the water and boat. As well as the life jacket. My wife and I are waterdogs and he seems to be falling right along in with us. But if that wouldn't have went so smooth I would have been bringing the carseat Very Happy

Willy · Outlaw Joined: 01 Feb 2004 Posts: 159 City: Montreal

Pet575, how close do you live to your riding spot? If it's close enough, I would strongly recommend that you set regular times every week when you can go out and ride with your spouse, and hire a baby sitter to stay at home with your baby.

I think it's important to spend some quality time on a regular basis with your spouse and without children - it helps to solidify your couple. If you share a passion for a sport, then don't miss this opportunity! Besides, there's no fun for a baby to go out on a boat for so many hours. It'll just make your life and your riding so much more frustrating.

If you live far from your riding spot, you may want to consider other options like we did. We now actually live near our lake during the summer months (we used to rent, now we bought). Even if the driving takes longer, traffic is much better during this perdiod, and nothing beats arriving home every evening and catching a couple of wakeboard sets before having dinner by the lake with the sunset.

Willy

brew · Posted: Sep 05, 2006 9:35 am Post subject:

I've been fighting this battle with my wife also. We have a ten month old and my wife doesn't want her in the boat right now, so my riding has been greatly reduced this year. If you can't find a babysitter or third, I'd say you may just have to wait until next season. Then do like boobybunny said and find him a job to do. Toddlers are much more manageable when they have a defined job that can keep their attention. It doesn't matter how simple the task is, just as long as they can keep focused on something.

Also, like k-dub said, remember what is important because the riding can wait.

boobybunny · Guest

Brew, and the rest

Our baby was easiest while he was 5-8 months old on the boat, then we put it away for the winter. This spring he was a total pain in the butt. It only got better when we handed him an extra flag and gave him a job. This last trip out, he added rope duty to his job list.

He has slept in the walkway of the bow, on the shotgun seat. What also has helped us I think is the fact that we are still breastfeeding. He will sack out on the boob, fall asleep and then we put him in the bow.

Bring lots of treats that are not usually given. Full strength juice, chocolate milk, lollypops. (dum dums are great because they are so little)

WakeSyco · Soul Rider Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Posts: 338 City: avondale

boobybunny, Thats funny, because I still get sleepy after a little booby!

Tmac1 · Posted: Sep 05, 2006 10:19 am Post subject:

We used to drive around for 15 minutes and our little one would fall alseep -- sometimes. Never thought of putting one of those pack n plays in the boat -- with the V drive -- it could fit..

oh yeah -- taking them to the beach at that age is fun too Rolling Eyes

picking up old cigarette butts and eating then Shocked

yummy

pimp559 · Newbie Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 49

We take the walker and just sit our girl down in it. That way she can still play a little and she won't flop around in the boat when we turn.

brew · Posted: Sep 05, 2006 11:55 am Post subject:

Do any of you or your spouses have any reservations about putting your kid in anything while they are in the boat, such as carriers, walkers, etc? That is what my wife can't get past, and after thinking about it I see her side. We hit some huge rollers out of knowhere this weekend that tossed everyone in the boat, and I was glad my kid wasn't with me.

Luckily my dad lives on a lake, so we have a house we can go to, but without it I wouldn't have been on the water any this summer. I'm thinking of picking up a used pontoon to use when we go to the river. That way the wife and kids, friends, and everyone's junk will have a place to stay while we are out riding.

J_DOGG · Posted: Sep 05, 2006 11:58 am Post subject:

One thing I have noticed while riding with my boys who have kids......

You guys with kids have an instant fan club!!!

They are like daddy is jumping, daddy did a spin, daddy took a crash what ever it is they love it and daddy is the KING!!!!

I wish I had a fan club...LOL....

boobybunny · Guest

We have never put Jack in anything but a lifevest and loving arms. But then we are very anti baby buckets anyway. When he does fall asleep, we make a nest in the walkway in the bow. (usually the boat cover, covered by a big soft towel) What is wrong with holding your child? Or someone else that your child trusts holding them? I think my inlaws set up a hammock under their closed bow, and the kids just swung.

There is nothing better than getting up, and hearing your baby yell whoo whoo for you.

sl8w · Newbie Joined: 12 Apr 2003 Posts: 11 City: Winter Park

I'm glad to see others are having the same problems my wife and I are. Maybe we should all form a group so we can have someone watch our kids while we ride, then switch off. A play date! If any of you are in Orlando, hit me up. Smile

Steve

gmarkham1 · Addict Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 505 City: janesville

here is what we did. our daughter is 9 months old now and this has worked great! Fortunately we have a playpen style walk through. Basicallly we took a portable crib/changing pad(eddie bauer from target), this has sides so your baby cant roll out of it, then we bought a beach style sunmat with shade, added an extra strolller shade extension to the beach shade. this ensures shade for her all day regardless of where the sun is in relation to the bimini. about a month ago we started to put her bumble in there so she can be a seated position looking out the back(at me while I board).

My wife had the same reservations about strapping her into a carseat or stroller(very paranoid, but hey you never know what the jackass coming at you is going to do), but she has been very happy with this solution and so has the baby. the beach sunshade comes with dangly toys to play with that hang from the shade as well! we have spent over 6 hours on the boat and other then changing the diaper and feeding her she has been great to have on board!

gmarkham1 · Addict Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 505 City: janesville

oh yeah... she is always wearing her life jacket. which makes a pretty nice hollder for the bottle if she is laying down, just have to stick some towels under the front of it to incline her head!

HomeBoy · Guest

sink em