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-   -   how young is too young (http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=774293)

dking13 02-09-2010 2:39 PM

bought my first boat this fall when i shortly there after found out my girlfriend was pregnant. we already have a 2.5 year that i have no problem taking out. just looking for some opinions on how young they take there kids on the boat. i am also very experienced on the water.

cshell 02-09-2010 2:54 PM

Hahaha you may need to change your topic title. Kinda creepy..

stephan 02-09-2010 3:01 PM

Last weekend my friends took out their 3 month old for his first day trip. Little dude rocked it. It always seems like the boat just makes them fall asleep. Another friend took his daughter out at two months, now at two years she looks at us and says, "Dada, uncle, go boat, wan wehbird".

alans 02-09-2010 3:08 PM

I took my kid out at 2-3 months in his car seat. He has been out on wakeboard boats, center consoles, yachts, and sailboats. Boy better have some good sea legs. <IMG SRC="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0> He is turning 2 in April.

rio_sanger 02-09-2010 3:20 PM

Both our boys were on the boat at around two to three months. That just happened to be how old they were when summer rolled around. They pretty much slept the whole time, maybe something about the movement on the water reminds them of the womb? <BR> Having kids and boating go great together, it's a perfect way for dad to spend a day or weekend with the family, plus he's doing something he wants to do! Pretty tough to do that with most any other activity at that young age. <BR> Win, win situation if you ask me. <BR> <BR>(Message edited by rio_sanger on February 09, 2010)

bendow 02-09-2010 3:58 PM

I didn't read anything but the subject line. I was always told if there's grass in the field you can play ball...

benjaminp 02-09-2010 4:35 PM

Old enough to count...

thor 02-09-2010 4:38 PM

Both of my boys were around six months old when they first started going out on the boat with me. Now they are nine and six years old, and they are veterans. They are some of the most considerate and well trained boaters that I ride with. It is never to young to start. The only thing to consider is when you are ready to begin changing diapers and feeding the kids on the boat. Luckily my buddies were willing to help out because quite often my wife would stay home to get some time to herself.

nuckledragger 02-09-2010 4:44 PM

I think it depends on where you are taking them. If you are going to a lake that is relatively smooth and not a lot of chop, they can probably handle it in a car seat at the ages others mentioned. <BR>If it is going to be choppy as hell and the boat will get bounced around a lot, probably not a good idea. At that young age they are pretty fragile (head and neck as you know) so to me its not worth the risk unless the conditions are going to be buttery.

akman 02-09-2010 7:26 PM

Had the boy on the boat at 7 weeks old, in the river at 7 weeks and in the pool at 6 weeks old. <BR>Now he is always asking "daddy when are we going to the river" <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/1/774346.jpg" alt="Upload">

irishrider92 02-10-2010 12:26 AM

out of the womb, onto the board!

rallyart 02-10-2010 6:48 AM

By the time Mom is ready to go on the boat the baby will be. Of course they are so much bigger after 6 weeks that anything is easier and their strength is better. Bring a car seat that they'll sleep in and put it somewhere shaded. There are a few threads on here about infant vests. Pay close attention to the noise level in the boat. A newborn's ears are more sensitive and any hearing damage at a young age carries on for their life. Congratulations.

eubanks01 02-10-2010 7:39 AM

We had our daughter on the boat at 4 weeks old and she did great. We had been given this crazy UV cape thing by some friends. It looked really stupid but did a great job of protecting her from the sun. You aren't supposed to put sunscreen on them at that age. <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/1/774407.jpg" alt="Upload"> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/1/774408.jpg" alt="Upload">

brett564 02-10-2010 7:41 AM

Ya, our kids were on the boat pretty early too. My only suggestion is to understand how horrible those baby life vests are. They will keep a baby afloat, but they always rotate face down.

bboozer 02-10-2010 7:52 AM

We took ours out at about 6 months, but that was how old she was when spring came around. Like was said before, be careful about sun exposure. and it will take extra hands. We usually wanted to have a 3rd adult if we were going to do any riding. That way one could attend (hold, or watch) to her and one to drive. By the end of the summer, she was was 10 months, and a handful in the boat. I am really wondering what this year will be like since she is walking and climbing now. I did get her a nice lifejacket from Walmart (it was a Stearns and was only $20)that was comfortable for her and we made sure that she was wearing it almost always when the boat was moving. If we were just sitting still and eating or something, we would take it off of her. But, what has not been said, is prepare for the days to be shorter and it will probably be harder to find friends to go with a little one (I really do not know why, she was great and almost never cried on the boat). Gone were the days of going out and staying out til dark, we were usually heading back by 4:30 or 5:00 so that we could keep her on her schedule.

1niceharley 02-10-2010 9:27 AM

We took our son out when he was 5-6 months old. "They" say infants need to be 6 months old for sun screen. Now our son is 2 years old and Loves the boat. When we bought our new boat in Jan and went out on the water in 50 degree weather he had a blast, couldn't hardly move do to being bundled up, but still had a good time. He knows he has to sit down when we are moving, he has to have his life jacket on before we will move and can't get off the boat with out his jacket. Good kid and loves the water! <BR> <BR>(Message edited by 1niceharley on February 10, 2010)

norcalbordr 02-10-2010 12:51 PM

I was on the boat at 4 weeks.

swampboy 02-12-2010 7:11 AM

I took my boys out as infants. When they are very young they sleep alot on the boat. It's more challenging at about 18 months when they are very mobile and don't have fear. All children on my boat are required to wear a lifejacket from the time they touch the doc. I love family boating. <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/1/774767.jpg" alt="Upload">

bendow 02-12-2010 9:40 AM

"I was on the boat at 4 weeks." <BR> <BR>I was conceived on a boat...beat that!

norcalbordr 02-12-2010 10:17 AM

^^^I may have been too. My parents were Delta rats long before I was born.

patrick232 02-14-2010 6:57 AM

Jacob was 4 weeks old on his first boat ride, May baby. <BR>Dylan was 16 weeks old March baby and no boat was the reason for the age. <BR> <BR>Best picture we have is them both asleep in the cuddy and the wife and I relaxing on the hook.

jame04 02-14-2010 11:50 AM

ok, I was just thinking about this. I know that Parks has the world record at 6 months 29 days for skiing but what is the youngest wakeboarder?? I am thinking that it can be right around 1 if a custom board and bindings can be made??

westsidarider 02-16-2010 4:32 PM

My daughter's first day trip was at 3 weeks old and her first camping lake trip was a 3 day trip at 3 months old <BR> <BR>While I can't compete with the conceived on the boat part she was conceived at spring ride 2003 <BR> <BR>(Message edited by westsidarider on February 16, 2010)

jame04 02-17-2010 9:07 AM

so does anyone know what age is the youngest wakeboarder?

mcclure_kevo 02-17-2010 3:18 PM

parks was six months when he first waterskied if i remember right ha ha and there is no such thing as to young for the boat imo <BR> <BR>(Message edited by mcclure_kevo on February 17, 2010)

helinut 02-17-2010 4:00 PM

6 months 29 days for Parks. Pretty amazing. My girl was 2 weeks old on her first trip. That year was nice. She just slept almost all the time on the boat. Now at almost 3, she has no fear and will jump in the water with no encouraging at all!

jame04 02-18-2010 7:47 AM

I know that was Parks, which is amazing, but anyone know of the youngest wakeboarder, or have any stories?

wakescene 02-18-2010 11:07 AM

I pulled my boat for the winter on Sept 13th at 4:30pm. 11:30pm that night, my wife went into labor. 5:14pm on the 14th my daughter was born. The boat goes back in the water in June, so we will be well into her first year before she gets the first boat experience. I'm looking forward to this.

waketx05 02-18-2010 2:07 PM

I know for a fact that I have been on a boat since birth. FACT! I grew up on Lake LBJ and thats where the love for wakeboarding came from. After I learned how to ski, slalom, kneeboard, and barefoot that is. I think any age is fine as long as they are protected from the sun and not jolted around on some horribly rough lake. I turned out fine.. For the most part. <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/proud.gif" border=0>

mastercraftboarder 02-18-2010 4:21 PM

My sister was 8 days old when we strapped her into a baby vest and she swam(screamed and cried).

coz 02-19-2010 4:35 AM

My kids were babies and we got my grandson up on a wakeboard when he was 3.....he's 5 now. <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/1/775690.jpg" alt="Upload">

dan_lorenze 02-19-2010 6:10 AM

Coz, that's awesome... This is my daughters year for sure...

moon 02-19-2010 11:30 AM

My wife had our third daughter last june, so I believe she was about 4 weeks old when we first took her out on the water.


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