baby seat attached

[schdennis]

I had some wood left from the new cockpit floor and built a tilting attachment for a baby seat:



It rocks! Our newborn daughter will be sailing with us from the very beginning

Anyone else sailing with infants on a pocket cruiser?

[sailingdog]

Very cool. A gimballed baby seat swing... Only one suggestion, put something over the ends of the hooks so that the baby seat can't hop out of the hooks if the boat comes down off a wave or such.

[schdennis]

In that case, I'd have to secure the wooden frame, too, as it rests there only with its weight. We don't expect waves bigger than some inches on our lake.
The most simple way would be an additional cord from the handle to the wood or mast foot.

[Spinsheet08]

FYI....CHILDREN under the age of 13 must wear a PFD at all times while aboard a boat. Only exception while the boat is NOT underway, and below.


I have a 23 month girl. A year ago, we got her a PFD, put it on her. We had her get used to it by filling our bathtub with water, and her float in it.

[sailingdog]

It depends on the state you're in. Different states have different requirements. It also depends on the boat you're on, since different size boats have different regulations apply to them.

Originally Posted by Spinsheet08

FYI....CHILDREN under the age of 13 must wear a PFD at all times while aboard a boat. Only exception while the boat is NOT underway, and below.


I have a 23 month girl. A year ago, we got her a PFD, put it on her. We had her get used to it by filling our bathtub with water, and her float in it.

[JohnRPollard]

Very nicely done!! She'll probably love it, and so will the parents.

Originally Posted by schdennis

Anyone else sailing with infants on a pocket cruiser?

Not anymore. But when we started out, we had a potty-trained toddler and twins in diapers aboard our 24-footer. Those were great times!

[schdennis]

@Spinsheet08:
I have a PFD for children above 22lbs, which was the smallest I found. In my area, wearing lifebelts or vests depend on the directives of the responsible skipper, which is me. This includes adults and children as well. The mandatory part covers equipment only.
And believe me, I am responsible enough to secure my daughter ;-)

[Mimsy]

We've had our now 3 month old out twice. The PFD is an issue. We purchased the thinnest PFD we could find but still- its just too bulky and hot for her and she screams the entire time. We strapped her into her seat which we attached to the cockpit floor via padeyes. We were willing to take the hit from the Coast Guard if need be. She was not in any jeopardy as she was secured to the boat and we were sailing in almost perfectly flat water with winds no more than 5 knots. Had it gotten a bit rougher, we would of course donned PFD's or taken the baby below. It should be easier once she is a bit bigger but tiny babies and PFD's do not mix well. The smallest PFD was still too big and had she gone over, I bet she would have slipped out, even with the crotch strap.

I like your baby seat idea! We had a similar idea and were going to use the Arm's Reach Cocoon sleeper. That was before we discovered that all of our chain plate bulkheads are rotten and must be replaced. Can't see us sailing again for oh, another 6 months or so. Ah well, at least we can skip the sea cradle lol.

[saltydawg]

[Mimsy]

That works great solong as you areb't heeling!