Life Jackets for Infants and How Young Is Really Safe for Boating?

I would love to hear the replies. I am due with my 2nd child in Mid May and we also love to go boating. We took my 1st child with us all the time but she was born in December so it was June before she was out for the 1st time. I was able to buy a life jacket with no issues because she was 6 months old and fit in it just fine. We have a boating trip planned in July and I too am looking for good advice about what type of life jacket to buy and how young is too young to be on a boat. :) Looking forward to the replies.

I grew up on a lake/boat I don't think there is a magical age. I have 2 daughters and if we did own a boat we'd take them out by like 2mos.old probaly. Boating like you say is very safe and relaxing the baby would probaly love it. I think the biggest challenge you'll face is finding comfortable good fitting lifejacket that's about it.

My 3rd child was born end of January and we took him out boating quite a bit in the summer. Granted, that is a little older than your child. Just see what feels right. Good luck!

First of all, I would like to say that just because the life jacket says 0-30 doesn't mean it is made for an infant. My daughter is barely over the 30 lb mark and she is almost three. The other thing to consider is that if my 2 1/2 year old could wear it, it probably isn't going to fit a 1 month old very well! I think that you can most definately enjoy this past time. There is nothing that you have to give up because of kids. It just might take extra planning and extra flexibility. The good thing about taking an infant on the boat is that you don't have to worry about them running around! I would just plan on taking leisurely trips, nothing crazy (although it sounds like this is what you do already). Pack lots of sunscreen. I don't know what type of a boat you have, but a shade cover would be great. They have these outside "pack and plays" that have covering for the shade. If you have a deck boat, you could bring that onto the boat.

I know this is late, and you may not even see it, but I get alarmed when I see parents say "it's your decision, you'd know best."

In the case of water safety and infants, I'd definitely error on the side of extreme caution. You might even consider going through a water safety course or meet with a water patrol officer in your area. If you're not sure how to contact one, most water patrol units are officed out of your county sheriff's department. They will be very happy to help you choose the appropriate life jacket etc.

Until then, NEVER rely on a carseat combined with a floatation device or life jacket as has been suggested by others here. Many parents make the very tragic mistake in believing the "bucket" will somehow float if the child is wearing a floatation device - they will not float and are not designed to be floatation devices.

Keep in mind, even the life preservers designed for infants are not totally reliable. The life preservers (especially for young children) are designed to hold their heads above water and that's all. If the child is not properly secured in the device, there is still a risk of drowning. Many youngsters have been known to slip through or be held face down by the "jacket". With this said, it's pretty clear the weight of the car seat would be more weight than the life preserver could support.

Worse, if the child is strapped in the car seat, and something should happen, the child could be trapped and drowned before you could ever retrieve it(seat) from the water since its weight would cause it to sink quickly, and the life preserver could become an entanglement danger to the child.

Using the bucket seat could also create a false sense of security, and parents might be apt to leave the bucket seated on the floor unattended, and if for some unfortunate reason there was a boating accident (most are the fault of other rec boaters/vehicles in the area crashing into you, not the other way around) the child would be at risk for injury or worse. I guess what I'm saying here is that while there are dangers on your end to prepare for and be aware of, most tragic water related accidents involving children are the result of others (recklessly) boating and jetting in the area. In some cases many of those operating boats and jets skis aren't even skilled or experienced enough to handle these powerful machines, yet they do and in many cases under the influence of alcohol. And unfortunately there is nothing you can do to prevent that.. your only defense is "preparation" which goes only so far.

Think carefully. If you can't give your full attention to the child and still enjoy the outting, perhaps the previously shared advice of leaving the child with a sitter IS THE best advice.

As for myself, I say young children have no business being included in water activities until they can swim and fend for themselves. As infants they're too vulnerable. As toddlers they're too unpredictable, and as teens they're too unreliable. Your best defense is to get them swimming lessons, and as many safety chips on their side as possible before putting them in situations like that. And even then parents must use extreme caution and take appropriate safety measures...unfortunately because you can bet of all the others recreating that day, someone (and guess I'll it's more than less) out there is not exercising caution. Remember water related accidents are one of the leading causes of child mortality.

I took my son boating last year without any problems. We have pontoon and a cabin, so I brought him from May to September, he was 5 months to 8 months old. He did fine! I really think he liked it! I always put him in the baby life jacket and he didn't seem to mind that too much. I'd suggest also a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses to keep the sun out of his eyes. Last labor day wkend I even took him for a short ride on a friend's jet-ski (I held him in my lap-in the life jacket of course- and went slow-he giggled!) I decided to bring him everywhere from a young age so he'd be used to it and not frightened when he's older, and that seems to have worked so far. I also brought him swimming in the lake, and he liked that too! I would have taken him even younger if he was younger, I'd suggest just wear the lifejacket! But, I grew up living on a lake, so to me it doesn't seem like a big deal at all.

I am a march baby, and I know my parents have pictures of me out on their boat the summer I was born. That was in 1974 and I'm pretty sure they did not have a life jacket for me though--seems silly in hind sight! But my point is that I know people take their babies out young! Start with a short trip and gradually increase time (for possible sea sickness???) Have fun!

I had my baby girl on July 8th of '08 and she was on my parent's fishing boat at 1 month old! Although I didn't put the life jacket on her, we did have the smallest one I could find along on the boat. It was just way too hot to have her confined to a jacket. We kept her under a big sun umbrella and made sure she was feeling a breeze and she slept the whole time! People had even commented to me, "That's so cool you're taking your baby with you - some people put their life completely on hold when they have a baby". Don't put your summer fun on hold because you had a baby - enjoy those memories!

We had our first child in the boat when he was four months old for our annual boating trip on Memorial weekend. (He was born in December.)

We brought our children as young as about 2+months. They should be able to support their head well before you bring them. Remember, they do get very hot in those life jackets.
Have fun.

babies normally shouldn't be on a boat until over a 1 year old because i seen some horrible things when kids are on boats and nothing good comes out of them.. but good luck.. i'm not goin to say to not have your kid on a boat but because he is your first be careful,, i see alot of new parents get their children riped out of their lives so fast due to mistakes

My cousin and his wife did not allow their son on a boat until he was 2, so I asked my doc about this. She suggested exactly what you said--calm rides, not out in the whipping wind, and watch the sun, since they don't typically recommend sunscreen for kids under 6 months, just lots of shade. Depending on the boat...we took our baby on a pontoon at 8 months...we took our other son in a canoe at a little over a year...if it's a pontoon, could you even bring like a pack n play and tie it down? Part of what has scared me is how awkward it is to hold a young child when you're both in life vests. Also...I found it was difficult to find--and fit--a smaller child in a life vest. If you're in a metro area, it might be a different story, but we live a way out of a city, and it was difficult to find a vest even for my chunky 8 month old.

I know she was probably too young but we took our one month old -two month preemie that weighed 5 lbs- on a pontoon. She wasn't a fan of the wind and just snuggled in to us. We had bought a baby lifejacket but it was HUGE for her and we're hoping she actually can wear it this year at maybe 17 lbs :)

I think the biggest thing is waiting until they can hold their head up on their own. One, the life jacket will be more comfortable to wear; two, if the boat does take a spill, a baby who cannot hold its head up would simply be at greater risk (of course it should still work since life jackets should save a person who has been knocked unconscious, but it is so much harder to get that super good fitting lifejacket for an infant who gains weight constantly).

If you work with the new baby on holding head up exercises (these actually exist!) and put the lifejacket on the new baby often so he gets used to it before he even gets on the boat, I can't see why end of July - Sept would be out of the question :)

PS - If you decide to try boating sooner, and you feel comfortable about it, then it is the right thing to do. Everyone has their own opinions and you know what is best for your child. Good luck!

If you talk to your pediatrician or read the labels on the bottles, you'll find out that sunscreen isn't for use in children under 6 months old. This really restricted our outdoor activities that first summer with our May baby, too. Looking back on it, though, I can't imagine taking everything you need for a baby that age out on a boat. It sounds like a wonderful thing to do with a child, but they'll never remember it and it might just stress you out. It's also very hard to tell when a baby is getting overheated, and that can be very dangerous. As a very protective and cautious person myself, I'd be tempted to find a babysitter if I wanted to be on the boat this summer.

The day you can handle the boat ride. Have all the adults wearing a jacket even Dad yeah how can he or you help if ever an accident. Get a newby jacket with a handle on the neck pad and enjoy the summer. Two things remember don't use toxic sunscreen as a cancer survivor it is the cause of cancer. check out non toxic sunscreen for babies at Linda Chae ask for AJ tell her M. sent you. Secondly as child gets older never allow them to use a life jacket with a plastic bow up ring my nephew almost drowned on his third birthday and the DNR revived him. The ring went around the jacket when he was walking and he went too deep and he held up his arms and the rind held him under. Use only one floatation device at a time and an approved one!!!

I'm not a boater, not overly familiar with life jackets, and my son is 13 months old and has never been on a boat. But, I just wanted to comment on your statement, "It must be ok to take them out at a young age if they make life jackets for 0-30 pounds, right?". To me, that's like saying, "It must be ok to smoke cigarettes because they make them, right?".

It's good you're doing your own research and some experienced boating parents have offered their advice here. However, just because a product exists does NOT mean that it is "safe", or even a good idea. I would be very leery of putting a newborn in a life jacket that is rated for 0-30 lbs. My son is 30 lbs (give or take a pound). He is huge; I can't imagine it would be safe for a newborn to wear a life jacket he could fit in to.

Pontoon boats are perfectly fine right away. However a speedboat I would not do due to the jossling and bumping over other waves even at medium speeds. They are so delicate especially their necks. I guess if you are doing a no-wake type boating in a speedboat that'd be like pontooning. My daughter was born June 29th and she was on a pontoon (first boat of any kind) on Labor Day, so she was a little over 2 months. We just took her in her carseat asleep and boated 40-50 yards to a shallow area where even my 8 yr old could touch. I know.. I can't believe that she had no life jacket! I am thinking to myself "did I really do that" cuz I am normally a paranoid safety mom! But I believe I got talked into it by my mom cuz we went from one shallow area (her dock) to another shallow area very close by (swimmable distance away) and had a few good swimming adults in case the boat would sink within the 40 yards of boating (yeah right).

Anyways, you should not put sunscreen on a baby less than 6 months... not even baby sunscreen. Their skin is very sensitive and there are many chemicals in sunscreens. You should keep them shaded and comfortable. Remember even cloudy days can sunburn and your baby will sunburn very fast, so I wouldn't even take your newborn swimming outside for the first 6 months. Inside pools I have done at 5 months though. I know... there is chlorine, so it was a one time thing and I gave my babies a bath right away after and lotioned them right away head-to-toe.

We have had our kids on boats from infants. We would laugh be if she wasn't on my lap she was in her car seat sleeping w/ lifejacket on and other jackets straped to her seat so it would float. We love boating and I'm married to a husband that thinks of safty all the time so he felt fine with that.

Two pieces of advice: purchase a life jacket that's a "face UP" kind, meaning that regardless of how the baby goes in the water, the jacket is designed so that her/his head will face up and out of the water (without anyone holding him/her). Also, you should always make sure you're wearing one at all times as well. Good luck and have fun:)

We had our little guy out on the boat with an infant jacket on at around 3 months....it's actually very nice because they will sleep most of the time from all the fresh air and don't mind the jacket. My little guy was born in the middle of June for a reference point...the next summer when he turned one, he didn't enjoy it at all because he was still in the infant jacket which is very constricting due to the large neck support that goes behind their head.....fast forward to the next summer when he turned two and could be in the next life jacket up and he started enjoying it again. So take advantage of this summer because it might be the easiest one you have for a while as far as boating with a little one :)

We took our twins for their first boat ride in August (they were born in May prematurely).

My father in law has a boat, so my kids have been going out since they were babies. We had life jackets for them, but it takes a while for them to get used to them. So you can expect the first few trips to be unpleasant - your baby will probably scream the whole time he has a life jacket on. My in laws took our family boating when one of our babies was a week old. I decided to stay on shore with him. There are life jackets that would have fit him, but if we did end up in the water, it would have been so cold he wouldn't have lasted long. I was a little paranoid, I know. Most of my friends just took their tiny babies without a life jacket and were careful and slow on the water. It worked out fine for them; I am just a little paranoid.

Congrats on the expected little one,
S.

My son was on his first boat ride at 1 month old. I kept him in his infant carrier the entire time. If you are concerned, maybe you can bring the car seat attachment and strap him into the boat like you would in a car? We never kept our hands off of the carrier the whole time on the boat.

We are avid boaters and have taken our infants on the boat many times. We bought infant life jackets for 0-20 pounds with the head pillow so it flips them face up if they end up in the water. As an experienced boater I would start with short trips on lakes that I am familiar with and never think twice about it. Boating accidents are extremely rare so I would feel very safe doing it. Just watch the amount sun and alcohol consumption and you'll still get to enjoy the boat this summer.

Oh yea - and put the baby in two- piece swimsuits or outfits so you don't have to take off the entire life jacket and everything to change a diaper.

We took our daughter canoeing when she was 4 months old. She loved it and slept most of the trip.

We bought the life jacket at Dicks Sporting goods and tried it on in the store and tipped her upside down. She seemed secure so we baught it. We just layed her on padded surface in the front point of the canoe. Some people suggested taking an old car seat but I was worried this would trap her if we tipped.

Hi L.,
I am now 52 yrs old but was raised on the lakes and oceans along with my other 5 siblings. We were in the boat before we could ever even crawl! My parents were very active outdoors, hunting, fishing etc AND waterskiers so yes our boat pulled skiers when the fishing was bad. We all learned to respect the boat and the body of water we were on. My father in the Air Force (was a lifeguard also) and he had all of us in the pool/lake/ocean before we could walk and was learning how to swim. Even back then they made small lifejackets for smaller children and we all had to wear one. I would think that today's lifejackets are much more supportive and safer than those 50 yrs ago.

I have fair skin so even today I wear the children's SPF 30 or better when I'm out fishing or whatever. It works wonderfully and you can always make a little shade for your baby when you think they've had enough sun with a beach towel etc.

I wouldn't worry about how young is too young - I would think more on the lines of it's NEVER too young if you both are responsible (which is sounds that you are) and respect both your boat and the body of water you are in.

Good luck and have fun!
D.

PS: All 3 of my children were also in boats at a young age and now we've had our grandchildren on boats at a very young age too.

We are also avid boaters, but I was fairly leery taking out my little one at first, but we would spend full weekends/weeks out on our boat, and I wasn't sure if that was practical with a little one. We have a cruiser, so I could take him downstairs when we beached if it was too warm, and use the A/C. When upstairs, we kept him covered and kept a wide brimmed hat on him (find one that fastens under the chin). With your due date being Spring, I'm really not sure if I would have taken him out quite that early unless you have a larger boat where you can escape and get away from the sun. Or maybe smaller "cruises" of a few hours versus being out on the water all day. My son was born in Sept., so he was nearly 8 months when we took him for the first Memorial Day trip of of the season. My biggest concerns were getting my husband to slow down and not bow slap, to tell you the truth, and at least you don't have to deal with that! Happy boating!

Like a few of the other responses...

My little guy was born May 22, 2008 and I too was wondering if I could take him to the lake. (We're not a big boating family, but since we live in MN, there's plenty of lakes around!)

1. It doesn't matter what SPF you're looking at-- it is NOT recommended to put on children younger than 6 months old. For me that meant I couldn't take my little guy out in the sun too often last summer.

2. Babies have a very hard time telling you what they want. For starters, they like to be swaddled, since they were in a tight place for so long. In the summer time, it's hard to keep them swaddled and cool when you are outdoors.

Then again, he is your child and you can do what you like, but even though I was a licensed lifeguard a few years ago (let the license lapse) I still didn't feel comfortable taking my little guy to the lake with his older siblings. I didn't take him into a pool until he was six months old and that was in a hotel kiddie pool where he just sat on my lap.

I know that people say that there are life jackets out there for babies little enough, but just remember what you would do in a worst cases scenario. I don't mean to scare you and keep you away from doing what you love to do during the summer, but I agree with what someone else suggested--- get a babysitter to watch your little guy so the two of you can go out on the boat without having to worry.

All of my kids were out on a boat really young. Our youngest was born in May and she was out there in July. We didn't take her out for very long. I am a freak about my kids' skin so she didnt' have sunscreen on, but we had the shade up on the boat. I think we had her out there for half hour then we went back to the camper. It just didn't want her to get too hot. She did have a life vest on it was really big on her though, but I had a vest on and kept a hold of her. It's good to know there are other boating families out there!

Hello - We bought a special life jacket that had a doughnut around the top that would hold the baby's head above water which was connected to the jacket. Took both of our children (2 years apart in age) on the boat as infants without difficulty. This was a lot of years ago as my children are grown now. If an overprotective parent like myself did this :-), you can too. Just do your research and be alert when boating, keep them shaded and watch for heat issues. BTW, we lived in Florida at the time as well! Start slow and see how you and your baby handle the experience.
G.

My son was on a boat a week old!

Well....let's see....my middle son was born on April 20th, and he was on the water Memorial Day weekend!!!! Maybe once before that for a little while. I took an umbrella (big one) with us to make sure that he didn't get burnt, and had him dressed in a long sleeve onesie...not hot but protection from wind and water reflection also. I honestly can't remember the name brand of the life jacket for him, but we never had problems...and like one other mom said, it was the bow slapping I had to worry about more than the baby!!! Happy boating and good luck!!!!

I am pretty sure that it is against the law to have a child under the age of 6 on a boat without a life jacket on there body. You can do a search online for the boating laws for your state. I know that for adults they just need to be on the vessel, one for each rider. If you can not locate a life jacket that is with in those requirements, then I think you may have to wait. The DNR for your area would have all the information you need, or would apply directly to you.

I would assume that any age is appropriate. However in your email you said something about SPF 50, babies under 6 months are not supposed to use sunscreen.