View Single Post
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 03-31-2008
JohnRPollard's Avatar
JohnRPollard JohnRPollard is offline
Sailor
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Chesapeake
Posts: 1,677
Rep Power: 3
JohnRPollard has a spectacular aura aboutJohnRPollard has a spectacular aura about
Sailh34,

Ditto the advice on sunscreen. SPF sun hats and sunshirts too.

I'm sure you will have a nice time, and can make it work. Just be forewarned that the toddler age is one of the trickiest for kids aboard boats, and stressful for their parents. Infant children and pre-schoolers actually have an easier time. Infants, especially those that aren't mobile yet, can be kept in car seats or portacribs, and held by parents. Preschoolers, after an initial adjustment period, can do pretty well on their own, because of their better balance and low CG. But toddlers have a lot of things going against them -- don't like to sit still, still learning to walk, not much upper body strength, lack of judgement and balance, etc.

We found the toddler stage the most stressful for boating with our kids (but we had a pre-schooler along with toddler twins). Once they get through that stage, things improve quickly.

Good luck to you! Here's another thread, not specific to chartering, but full of advice for sailing with tikes:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/cruisi...king-good.html
__________________

Pacific Seacraft Crealock 31
Reply With Quote