Helpful Hints for Canoeing with Baby

I've been canoeing for years...LOVE IT! If your baby isn't big enough to sit on her own, then I wouldn't take her, or...put her in one of those front/back carriers, etc.

If she can sit up well, then I'd put her in a small chair in the middle...and strap the chair in so it doesn't tip. DO NOT strap her into the boat. (just incase you tip over...then she'll bob up, instead of being trapped under the boat upside down.) Put her in the middle of the boat and low to the bottom so her center of gravity is close to the bottom of the boat, but in a small toddler chair to keep her stable and in one place or she'll rock the boat with her weight.

Good luck.

Put a folded blanket in the bow of the canoe, the narrowness of the boat at that point will kind of cradle her and keep her from rocking around. She will be able to see your face and you will be easily able to attend to her without moving around in the canoe. Of course make sure she has sunscreen, sunhat, and sunglasses :) But be aware, some little ones hate those lifejackets. Let her get used to wearing it around the house before heading out. I don't agree with previous posters that say it is too dangerous. If you are experienced canoeists and aren't going out on really windy days, I see no problem with it. Have fun and let us know how it goes.

Disclaimer: We are a wee bit outdoorsy. Our 4 yo was rock climbing at 2yo, fishing from a canoe at 11 months (he could stand and hold the pole on his own and even caught a fish), and this spring has started paddling a C2 with his daddy (a C2 is a very shallow decked canoe for 2 people with sprayskirts like a kayak)

J., I have some friends who have been taking their little girl canoing since birth. Here are some of the things they did. They bought an old car seat at a garage sale and stripped it down to let their girl sit in in camp so she wasn't on the ground. They let her lie down in the middle of the canoe in a life jacket when she was really small and they have a canoe where they can have her sit right in front of the front seat now that she's 4. I think you just have to get creative. They said the hardest part actually was making sure there was shade. They tried all kinds of things to shade their girl and they said that was the hardest part. Good luck!

J.,

We have taken our babies motor boating, and I will be honest, it is hard. Our baby (who normally goes with the flow about everything) really disliked the life jacket. I know that he would eventually get used to it, but it made for unpleasant trips.

We had him sit in the infant carrier unbuckled in the center of the boat on the floor. Granted it wasn't a canoe, but you don't want him anywhere where he can fall over or fall out.

If it was me, I would stick to small lakes and stay closer to shore. I would also probably wait until late or end of this summer. If you did tip or your boat leaked, a baby that little can't handle being submerged in cold water for long.

The happy side is that we did take the children canoeing when they were a little older (1,3,5) and had a much, much better time. Next summer (and all the ones after that) will be much more enjoyable for canoeing.

Have a great summer,
S.

I don't have much to add but would that get your little one use to the life jacket before you go canoing. My daughter has been on boats since she was little (never a canoe, because my hubby has not done that in awhile) but we never got her adjusted to the life vest before hand and the first boat ride was horrible. She was screaming because she hated the life vest but we were in the middle of the lake so it took time to get back.

I would suggest getting your little one use to the life vest at home and hopefully there will be no fuss on the day you go for that first canoe ride.

Just to add, my parents took me out canoing when I was under one and I am still alive. If you know what you are doing and don't tip (cold water that is deep is not good for a child/baby to float in) then you will be just fine. In case you do tip get that little one above your head ASAP and find a dry blanket ASAP to wrap her up in. Keep a towel/blanket in a waterproof bag so you have something dry to wrap your little one in. the more you are prepared for situations like this the better the ended.

We strapped the baby in her carseat while we paddled. It was really tight with the life vest on, though, so sometimes we took it off and kept the carset between our feet. Otherwise we kept the carseat in the middle of the canoe. It's tough to do either way. Good luck! We love canoeing, but haven't been for a couple of years with our little ones.

In response to another post, do not use a car seat to secure the baby in your canoe!! If the car seat should become dislodged, the life jacket wouldn't be bouyant enough to keep the baby and the seat afloat. Surely, the seat could sink, and if you're not quick, you may not be able to catch the baby before she goes down, let alone get her out of the straps in time. If the canoe tips, and the seat remains in tact, she could be trapped and held face down under water until help arrives, or you are able to get her released from her seat.

Just remember, they (infant floatation devices) are designed for the weight of a child, not a child and something else. Also, most infant vests are designed to keep a baby's head above water, not their entire body.

As for where to put your child, and how should you secure her in a canoe, I'd strongly recommend contacting the State Department of Natural Resources or your local water patrol office (sheriff's department water unit) and talk with them about their recommendations on infant water safety in a canoe.

If you're in the Twin Cities, I know folks at Hennepin County water patrol (offices off lake Minnetonka) would be very happy to take the time to talk about which type of floatation devices you should use, and what you should or should not do in case the boat tips. They'd probably be able to give you a recommended age range for safe/appropriate water safety with a really young child. Perhaps if you're elsewhere, you'd want to call your local sheriff's department.

In short, get your advice for this one from the experts!!

I would start by getting her used to the life jacket well in advance of your first canoe attempt. Many babies have trouble getting used to them. We took my youngest on a pontoon boat starting at about 9 months old and he really screamed over the life jacket. What about calling a canoe supply store to see if they sell any special kinds of seats for young children to use in canoes? Would a bouncy seat fit in the canoe (without using the straps)? That said, I might actually wait if I were you just because canoes can be so tippy. Life jackets are wonderful, but not fool proof. Most infant life vests are designed to flip the baby on their back and hold their head above water (you should double check yours), but that isn't a guarantee that it will actually happen depending on the way you capsize, the water conditions, etc. If she landed face down in the water would you feel comfortable that you would be able to get to her in time? Maybe take her on another kind of boat at first so you can enjoy being out on the water and she can get used to it? Good luck.

I am interested to see what you hear. I am planning to do the same with my son born in March at the end of July. Good luck. I plan on getting him in a safety vest and putting him in the middle of the canoe.

I would wait to canoe with your daughter until she is older. Even if she has a life jacket on it is still dangerous. Next year she will be able to sit up in the middle of the canoe and enjoy the ride. Sorry if that is not what you wanted to hear!

Hi J.,
We started canoeing with our daughter this year. It was a blast. She loved it! I know everyone says to put her in the middle, and for safety, I think that's the right answer. However, my daughter just would not do it. She freaked out. So, I just kind of had her in my lap, standing but still between my legs. Then she loved it and "helped" me paddle.