Kayaking with Baby

[canadianhippie]

Have any of you ever brought your baby kayaking? Any tips you can give?

[hildare]

we've talked about it.. we live on a river that is very friendly for the wee folk. are you talking a river with rapids at all or just some smooth paddlin?
what made me balk was thinking about the smallest size of life jacket -- it isn't really made for a tiny person and i would want some sort of tether to link us together. i think i remember (not sure though) that the smallest life jacket goes up to 30 pounds so wouldn't fit a small babe. i am a little too fearful at this point to try, but we'll probably get to the kayak stage sooner than most.

[PatioGardener]

nak

i white water kayak, so no way would i be able to bring baby!

[andlee]

I am not a kayaker, but have put a lifejacket on my LO. We were renting a pontoon boat and they had a lifejacket that was almost too small for his 18 lb. body. My aunt said she had put one on her newborn at one time, too.

That said it made it almost impossible to hold him comfortably (let alone feed him), and he was unhappy with having the lifejacket come up around his face.

[SeattleRain]

Unless you could get a lifejacket that really, really fit him, I wouldn't do it. It's just not safe.

[Pippi L.]

We like kayaking but are considering looking into canoeing instead for the next little while. We live by the ocean and have a toddler and one on the way. It seems like it would be easier to manage than wearing a skirt like you do on the kayak.

[nextcommercial]

We did it in Hawaii often. But, it's pretty calm waters with no real surf. She was about seven months we we started. We used a life jacket, but in all honesty, I didn't do much more than that. Looking back, I'd probably find some way to attach her to me, but I didn't think of that.

[mckittre]

We take my 18 month old packrafting. They have little infant life jackets, and that fit him fine as of 4 months old or so (we didn't try before that). With a toddler, it gets exhausting keeping him entertained though. Literally needs a constant supply of rocks and sticks to throw overboard! So we mostly backpack, with a bit of rafting

[canadianhippie]

My LO is 11 months and I wouldnt be going on white water rapids! Its on rivers that lead to the lake. I am an experienced kayaker and canoer but havent picked it up in a while. We have a life jacket that fits him ok, but he hates it, I normally let him swim without it and I thought about using the wrap to tie him front facing on the front of me? Im not worried at all about tipping, its a flat water kayak and its wide and stable. I know Id probably have to make frequent stops (but you never know, he might be calm and peaceful). I was reading some put the babe in the car seat and pop that on the kayak between your legs, I could do that too. I didnt know if there was any mama's that have done it on here, thats a great tip mckittre to bring lots of sticks and rocks to throw. I can time it with his naps and meals so he's not so active in the boat. My only concern about having him in the front of me is paddling, i feel like I would find it difficult