This summer, I booked a trip away with my family to live out one of my dreams; living on a houseboat for a week so I could sit back, relax, drink wine, soak up some sun, and spend some quality time with my family away from it all’. However, since being a dream I’ve held for several years, life has been lived since then, and now I have two toddlers.
Of course, toddlers aren’t going to say no to living on something as exciting as living on a houseboat for a week, but there’s obviously a safety concern to think about. We don’t want to be dealing with soggy toddlers, so here are some tips from my trip to help you enjoy yours fully. Check this website for the best houseboat options!
Get a Proper Life Jacket
First things first; don’t even let your toddler get onto the houseboat unless there’s a proper life jacket for them and they’re wearing it. If you’re in the U.S., the U.S. Coast Guard requires life jackets to be worn by everyone, children included, so make sure you get a working one and one that fits.
Designate a Safe Zone
Every boat has a place you can designate as a safe zone. This safe zone is the bit you don’t really need to go when the boat is being driven or steered or anchored or any of the other things you need to be doing on a moving boat. When these tasks are being carried out, toddlers need to be in the safe zone.
This helps to keep them out of the way while you’re busy working, and you’ll have less stress to worry about because you’ll know exactly where they are.
Naptimes Aplenty
Due to the rocking nature of the boat, get ready for lots of nap times. Perhaps one of my favourite aspects of the boat, getting my toddlers to sleep was so easy thanks to the waves, so expect sleepy babies and be prepared to put them to bed at a moment’s notice.
Don’t let them sleep too much, though. Otherwise, they won’t be able to sleep at night!
Create Some Shaded Areas
Depending on the boat you’re in, you may have designated shade areas already setup. Whether this is an overhanging piece of fabric that creates a natural area of shade, or you’re getting your toddlers to wear hats and sun visors to keep the sun off their skin, shade is essential.
The sun can be relentless when you’re out on the open water, and for a little child, it can be even more overbearing, so don’t forget other essentials like lots of bottled water, juice (try to avoid fizzy sodas because these can cause further dehydration), and sunscreen to protect your child’s skin, says Tim Gilbert, a health writer at Writinity and Last Minute Writing.
Bring Lots of Supplies
Hand in hand with what I was saying above, you do not want to be an hour away from the coastline only to realise that you’ve run out of snacks and food. This is going to result in a very unhappy toddler who is going to cause very unhappy parents; aka. You.
There’s a bit to consider here. For example, bring your diaper bag in a waterproof bag so they don’t get wet (I learned this the hard way), as you should do the same with your food. Think food, snacks, water, sunscreen, pacifiers, and lots of toys. You don’t need to bring everything, but enough to keep your toddler satisfied.
Start Slow and Go from There
If your toddler has never been out on the water before, you never know how they are going to be, whether they’re going to get seasick or nausea, or even if they’re going to be absolutely terrified of the experience, explains Hillary Adams, a blogger at Draftbeyond and Researchpapersuk.
When you first get onto the boat, be as supportive as possible and set off slowly. Depending on what you can do in the area where your houseboat is, take a few laps of the harbour or go up and down the river a few times and see how they get on.
As you build up into it, you can start to go faster and further away from the shoreline. Try to make the experience as entertaining and as exciting as possible to really get your toddlers onboard.
Victoria Munson is a lifestyle and family writer at Nursing Assignments and Gumessays. She likes inspiring other families to try new experiences together and to help improve family bonds and relationships.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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