Baby's 1St Vacation Next Week - Airplane, Resort, Sailboat?

Wow, I've vacationed with a baby and sailed with a toddler but never sailed with a baby... I wouldnt' take bumbo for hte same reason the other poster mentioned. When I traveled with my 8 month old, I took foam mats so the baby could crawl around and get his exercise that way. Given that will be hard to do because you're flying, I would buy a thick beach blanket that you could lay out so the baby would crawl around there. At 8 months, he should be able to sit on his own, with some back up from you, so I would just have him next to you, wherever you are. Will you also bring a floatie thingie that you can sit him into (like a tube) when you are in the pool or sea, with a canopy? That was a lifesaver for us when we went to the Caribbean and my son adored it! Have a GREAT time!

Get an infant life vest. They have a strap that goes between the legs and they have a float piece that goes behind their head that flips them over to be face-up and keeps their head above water. I think that here the law is all children under 8 have to wear a life vest at all times on a non-docked/non-anchored boat.

Lots of sunscreen, a big floppy hat and UV protection shirts are a must (you can get them at Target for like $8).

Try to stick to normal routines/schedules as much as possible. If your little one is used to napping on the go, great! I know not all of them are and you surely don't want a miserable little one while trying to enjoy vacation.

Sailing wise... I would be holding your little one all the time. Also have a life jacket that properly fits your little one. If he is throwing a fit for having it on either don't go or put up with the crying. My daughter got use to the life jacket after awhile and loved the boat movement, but for safety reasons I would NEVER go without a life jacket. I have seen babies fall off board without life jackets on and it is scary, at least with a properly fitted life jacket they will stay floating if something happens.

NO, NO NO to using a bumbo on the sailboat! a life jacket is a good idea - I'm not exactly sure of the rules, but we are avid sailors and when ours were that little I just put them in the bjorn so the were physically strapped to me - once they were walking and otherwise more independent (and too heavy for the bjorn!) that's when we switched them to a proper life jacket - can't use a life jacket and a bjorn together though so be sure to find out what the rule are