Thursday, March 07, 2013

Bringing up Baby (...on a boat)

Call us "irresponsible", but we didn't worry one bit about bringing up a baby on a boat.  Despite the warnings, the leery eyes, the sympathetic nods of caution and the flat out "you're insanes" from well-meaning people, we never thought twice about bringing Isla on the boat.  Not even for a second.

First and foremost, turns out we're pretty laid back parents*.  I say that only because I think this is a very large part of why this is working so well for us.  We don't hover, we let her take her tumbles and we're very relaxed about most things.  We don't feel the slightest bit of angst at not being able to give her the latest clothes and toys, nor do we feel that we're missing out on a single thing by skipping out on organized "baby classes".  Scott and I believe strongly in the less is more approach, particularly when it comes to baby stuff (aside from love and attention, of course) and, so far, our methods have produced one seriously awesome child.  Isla is incredibly smart, fun, and sooooo happy and while "nature" is part of it, I think we have a pretty hefty hand in the matter as well.

But this isn't a post about parenting style and how amazing our daughter is, this is a post about how we manage to live on a boat with an incredibly active eleven month old.  So far, for us, it's been smooth sailing.  This is not to say that having a baby on a boat is not without challenges, but we know no different and to be completely honest, having her on board makes cruising even more fun.  Keep in mind we're only making short hops, have a very "easy" baby and we have the luxury to move only when the weather is good.   Add that to the fact that the current adult to baby ratio is 2:1 and you have a pretty good foundation to begin life at sea with a little squirt.

With no further ado, here's how we do it:

Where does she sleep?  We bought a Phil & Teds Traveller Crib with the intention of using it when we traveled, not necessarily on the boat.  But we loved this thing so much that we have semi-permanently mounted it into the v-berth.  It's perfect because it's big enough for her to move around and play in, but small enough that when we're underway she's completely secure.  It packs up small (less than seven pounds and slightly larger than a yoga mat) and is relatively easy to break down and set up again if necessary.   Another great feature is the fact that the front of this pack & play zippers open so we can access her easily without going over the top.  We have been bashing into 5+ foot waves in 20+ knots of wind and Isla has slept safe and sound in this little bed with no problems.
Where and what does she eat?  I am still nursing, but in addition she eats three meals a day with us.  Isla sprouted teeth early (4 months) and thus started eating early.  She eats lots of fruits and veggies as well as small pieces of whatever it is we are eating (hummus, stir-fry, ratatouille, curry,etc).  We have two "high chairs" for her that are boat-friendly.  One is the Inglesina compact high chair which clamps on to almost any table, and while we used this a lot in our travels, we have yet to use this on the boat.  The best meal time seat that we have found, however, is our Bumbo chair with tray addition.  Babies are messy, especially when they insist on feeding themselves, so being in the cockpit is ideal.  If we are underway, I put this on the low side or on the floor and she happily eats away.  When docked or at anchor I like to put her in the top of the companionway steps where I can see her at eye level, put food on her tray, and continue doing whatever it is I'm doing while keeping a close eye on her.  I also brought with us a pretty hefty arsenal of organic baby snacks that we bring with us everywhere.

What about bath time?  Isla bathes in a Safety First Inflatable Tub and it's great.  Depending on the weather, we can bathe her on the aft deck out in the open air or, if it's windy and chilly, it fits in the base of our aft head shower.  What's great about this tub is that due to it's inflatable nature, it takes up very little space and it has a drain (many inflatable tubs do not).  Isla bathes with a view 90% of the time.  She's a whole different type of spoiled!
How do you keep her contained?  As I wrote in an earlier post, boats are pretty well baby proofed by design except for the whole "surrounded by water" thing.  Keeping her contained is key and there are several ways we do this:

Down below:  We have a baby gate which separates our main salon from our galley/nav station area.  So far we haven't needed to use this too much (unless I am using the oven), but I envision it will be an absolute necessity once she knows how to climb up the companionway stairs (which is right around the corner I am afraid).
In the cockpit:  Center cockpit boats are great for children because the cockpits are so well contained.  Isla loves to play in the shaded cockpit of Asante and all we need to do is put in the hatch board for 360 degree security.  She LOVES to play peek-a-boo by "hiding" behind the board and popping up, and throwing toys down the companionway is a favorite pastime.  We have learned, however, that we are going to need to add six inches to this VERY soon as it has become apparent that we have a climber.  The child is fearless.

On deck:  We installed lifeline netting.  It. is. awesome.  She roams free under close supervision and we have been known to have little dance parties on the bow (have I mentioned this baby has rhythm??).
Underway:  We have a West Marine child safety tether for her and keep her clipped in at all times in the cockpit.  We also have two different infant life jackets but have found the tether is more practical for long periods of time when there is not a direct threat of her going overboard.  She has no problem wearing either, but prefers the tether.
What about when it gets rough?  We brought along our infant car seat and base and jury-rigged a way to secure it both above deck and below.  It has come in handy plenty; particularly when the weather gets rough, when we are about to set sails, raise or lower our anchor, or when we catch a fish.  While Isla is not a huge fan of being contained in a carseat, we feel good knowing she is safe and secure.


What about ashore? I have been a HUGE fan of "baby wearing" since Isla was born, and while she is too active to be worn most of the time, I still love wearing her in the dinghy and ashore.  We have found our ERGO baby carrier to be perfect, she can be worn on front or back and it is light, simple and easy to store.  She is usually worn when we are going anywhere in the dinghy, and we wear her on shore excursions as well.  We also have a Maclaren stroller that we use from time to time if the roads are paved, but have found that the baby carrier is much easier.  If we are exploring via kayak, we usually put her in the Bumbo seat and life-vest and she happily watches the world around her as we float by.

How about playtime?  I could (and probably will) write a whole blog post on how this lifestyle offers so many incredible opportunities for child development - but suffice it to say that the world is her playground.  In comparison to most of her landlubber peers, she has very few "toys" and it is our preference to allow her to use her imagination and play with simple, everyday things.  She is constantly out in nature, looking at waves, birds, trees and lizards.  She is seeing physics and teamwork in action all the time when Scott and I work to keep the boat moving.  She is exposed to different voices, cultures and people on a daily basis and, as a result, has virtually no fear of strangers and loves making new friends.  Of course we listen to music, read books and play with toys in the boat just like any normal baby, but we find fun everywhere and spend most of our time outside.  In addition, we are very mindful to give her a fair amount of "alone" time where she plays and explores without us urging her on with the primary goal being self entertainment and this has worked very well for us.

The thing is this:  babies are incredibly adaptable.  They are the most 'go with the flow' little people on the planet.  This is Isla's life.  She knows no different.  According to her, the world rocks back and forth pretty regularly, "home" is surrounded by water, our "car" is a dinghy, her modest bag of toys is plenty, and the scenery changes almost daily.  We feel so lucky to be able to give her this life and be with every step of the way.  It most certainly isn't for everyone, but we cannot think of a better way to start off in this world. 







* Except when it comes to sleep, I am a HUGE fan of this book and devout believer in "healthy sleep, happy child".  We adhere to a pretty rigid sleep schedule which is another reason I think this is working so well for us.

29 comments:

Corey said...

Isla is very blessed that you are raising her in this manner. She is going to experience things the majority of us will not and this will no doubt be a blessing to her later in life. Too much of this world is caught up in a faster is better, materialistic lifestyle. I, for one, am uber jealous of your lifestyle. Thanks for this informative blog posting.

Carol Florida U.S.A. said...

Thanks, Brittany, for this lovely "window" into your lives, and daily comings and goings! You and Scott have thought of everything, and I can see that Isla, and her safety, are your number one priority!!! She is such a beautiful and happy little darling, and is so fortunate to have you two for parents, and to have you close by, and able to experience both the security that brings, and also the freedom to explore and be inquisitive on her own!! Keep up the good work!!! <3 Carol Florida U.S.A.

Carol Florida U.S.A. said...

How could I forget to mention the beautiful photos that you've posted along with today's update!!! They are wonderful, and the photos of Isla are absolutely gorgeous!!! What a beautiful child she is . . . and the picture of health!! <3 Carol Florida U.S.A.

Chels-pup said...

omigoodness! just precious! you all look amazing and happy and I'm just sooo happy for you that it makes me want to jump out of my skin! love you sisto! big kisses to that little sea monkey. I'm gonna be visiting before you know it!

xoxoxox
C

Carolyn Shearlock said...

Having met a ton of cruising kids, I think it's a wonderful life for them. They are so mature for their age, and deal so well with change and new surroundings. Great problem solving skills, too.

If she's a climber, that gate may not hold her back too long, either. But just think, she'll be able to go up the mast for you in a few years.

Michelle said...

I think what you guys are doing is awesome. She gets all of these awesome experiences and I know she will love you forever for this. Great pictures!

Unknown said...

Caption for last Photo:

"Dad! did we miss the last WAYPOINT?"

Sarah said...

Love this! That is my FAVORITE book - our son was raised on it and he is a great sleeper, and our daughter is following in his footsteps. Isla has the life!! She is just the cutest little thing too.

Naomi said...

My parents cruised with me on their boat from the age of 3 months to 4 years (1984-88). I have to say that as a little girl I used to be so proud to tell people that I "sailed the world three whole times". It gave me an incredible sense of my own unique identity which I carry with me today. I dont remember to much, but when I am near the ocean I get this incredible sense of calm. I also spent those early years with 24hr access to my mother AND my father, which not a lot of kids are able to have. I think your situation is such a gift, and I wish your family the best.

Chelsea said...

Hi Brittany (and Scott and Isla)!

Thank you so much for sharing all of this with us, your readers! The information was super useful and I feel a lot more comfortable with the idea of bringing our future young kids onto a boat. I feel like I have a much better idea about what to expect and what works well. I've been particularly wondering what you do with her during rough weather as she toddles on her newly walking legs, so I thought your car seat idea was great and makes perfect sense. Thank you again!

What a dream for little Isla to begin her life in this way :) I'm sure she will treasure it the rest of her life!

Cheers,

Chelsea

Ken said...

Fantasic, thanks for this one! Lucky girl.

Unknown said...

Hey Brittany, what kind of sunscreen are you using on Isla? It's hard to find a organic sunscreen that doesn't break the bank, and some have all sort of suspicious chemicals in them. Just wondering, as we charter in the caribbean with our 4yo girl who is very fair skinned.
PS-what happened to the Google Plus link? Tough to access in the Bahamas?

mone said...

So excited! My sister with her family and my little nephew of 11 months will come to visit us in a couple of weeks. I am so so much looking forward to that and loved to read your post which gave me some very helpful tips. thanks and save journeys! xx mone

2316169 said...

Hey Brit,
Speaking of dance parties…have you heard the Curious George soundtrack? While I’m not a fan of most children’s music, this album was done by Jack Johnson and makes the groove in your soul jump up and dance.

Lisa Hanneman said...

Miss you guys, but love the life you're living. Can't wait for Becks and Isla to have some climbing time together soon. Sweet little monkeys...

Unknown said...

It is amazing you are able to raise a babe on your boat! My husband and I are in the planning phase of a similar adventure and your blog has made the thought of raising a child more realistic.

What do you use for diapers? Cloth prefolds/pocket/AIO's or disposables? If you cloth diaper how do you wash and how often. If disposables, do you find it difficult with waste, and are they easy to find in local stores?

Allison

Anonymous said...

My best friend from childhood is currently aboard SeaSchell in the Virgin Islands they are also raising a baby as well as a 7-9 y/o Matt and Erica are amazing individuals with a wealth of knowledge in this arena, you look to about their age which is always nice to find when cruising.
Happy Sailing
Jason

Jacob and Kalli Hiller said...

Hey! We have been traveling for years and have a 1 year old baby too! And lo and behold, he uses the same blue blow up bath tub! LOL Enjoyed the post. Hope to meet you one day!

Anonymous said...

Great, informative post and congrats on the twins! One question....did you worry about Isla getting to jarred from being in the V-Berth and taking the waves? Would you be concerned with a younger baby and all of that pounding?

Michael Cuthbert said...

The best quality of boat covers are available at boat shop.

Heather said...

Hi, I looked up the book you suggested, Healthy sleep, Happy Child but only found Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. Can you please tell me the author?

Thanks so much!

Windtraveler said...

Heather, that is the book!

Anonymous said...

Super helpful information for a live-aboard couple hoping to start our own family! Fair winds!

John K. Keenum said...

Bringing up a baby it is a careful period every mother. Your article may help this time.

Unknown said...

I really recommend those couple who are suffering different kinds of pregnancy issues should go for this perfectly select baby gender because it is really good one.

Kate said...

Your lucky baby girl is really blessed that you are raising her in this manner. You are awesome parents! It's the best way to gain experience and learn more about our world. On your photos I've seen some kind of pack and play yard. Maybe you can advise me which model is the best. You may navigate here to see may favorite models. My husband and I are planning a similar trip, so I think that pack and play is a must, isn't it?

Briton said...

Great post. For new moms, you may also check some of the best Play yards
on this blog.

Maheen said...

Wow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It's so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also. feeding chair

Anonymous said...

Completely agree.. Well said!!

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