Boating is one of the most freeing forms of travel. Personal vessels have fewer rules and regulations to follow than road vehicles do, and can also enjoy nearly unlimited routes along the water. Bringing children and babies onboard can bring complications but as long as everyone is careful there’s no reason why you can’t travel safely. Here a few short tips to help you do just that.

Safety tips and advice for taking children on a boat.

One of the best ways to prepare your children is to teach them how to swim. Knowing how to swim will give them some confidence near the water, as well as the skills they need in case they go overboard. From there, your children will need the correct sized lifejacket. Even if the jacket fits your child, it’s important to read the safety instructions and select a lifejacket with the right buoyancy rates.

The best way, however, is to simply teach your children the safety measures to take. Prevention is the best form of safety. Making sure your child is sitting down whenever the boat is moving is a good rule. So too is banning running anywhere on your boat, in case the floor is wet and slippery. Buying kids children’s travel insurance is a great way to protect your children before you start your boating trip.

Designate a secure, protected area on your boat. 

 Often when you’re out on the water, you need all hands on deck­—whether it’s when you’re docking, dropping anchor, or even in the rare case of an emergency. In these situations and in cases where you only have one or two additional people onboard, it might not be possible to have one person holding and caring for the small child while the other(s) perform the necessary actions for the circumstances. By designating a safe area on your boat where you can seat the baby without the risk of them falling or moving around, you’ll reduce your own stress and have a solution in place before this type of situation arises.

Do babies have to wear lifejackets on a boat?

Everyone on board a personal vessel must wear a lifejacket. The only exception to this rule is when you are under the deck or in a secured cabin. Babies are not exempt from this and require a baby-sized lifejacket.

Ways to baby-proof a boat.

How you baby-proof a boat will depend on the type of boat and where you are going, but here are a few short tips.

• Unpack everything and put it securely away
• Cover all sharp corners they can reach
• Watch them at all times
• Pack a cot, to allow for naps
• Create a sheltered or shaded area away from the heat of the sun
• Make sure there are others on board who can help look after the baby

Get ready for naptime.

You should always bring a portable rocker or pack-n-play with you. This will assist with creating that safe area on your boat and will also give you a great place to put down your baby whenever you need to be hands-free. And as soon as naptime rolls around, you’ll be very happy that you brought it.

 Create some shade.

The last thing you want is for your little one to feel overheated or sick when you’re miles away from the dock—by supplying some shade, you can easily prevent that. A bimini top usually works well to block the sun and keep a large portion of your boat cool. It’s also not a bad idea to bring along a sun hat and an extra beach umbrella to give your baby another layer of protection, especially for use off the boat when the bimini top can’t provide coverage. And of course, don’t forget to bring plenty of sunscreen—but we’ll touch more on that later.

 Choose your boating hours accordingly (and be cautious of bad weather).

Just like rush hour traffic on an interstate, all waterways have primetime boating hours. Generally, most boaters will head out around mid to late morning and then stay out until late afternoon or early evening. To avoid the rush, it’s a smart idea to either start your day as early as possible, or wait until most boaters have made their way back to their docks later in the afternoon. Not only will this cut down on boat traffic, but early mornings and evenings tend to provide cooler temperatures and smoother waters—both of which are ideal conditions when boating with an infant.

It’s also important to be conscious of the weather. Check the radar before heading out, and if it looks excessively windy or there’s a chance of thunderstorms, consider shortening your trip or rescheduling for another day.

Pack plenty of supplies.

Make sure your diaper bag is waterproof and stock up on the essentials: food, water, baby formula, juice, snacks, pacifiers, waterproof diapers (also known as swimmers), sunscreen and whatever else you think you might need for the day. It’s a good rule of thumb to pack more than you think you’ll need—it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Remember that the safest seat for your baby is in your arms.

Boats, not being cars, don’t have car seats, which can sometimes raise the question: where should my little one sit while the boat is in motion? The answer is: right on your lap. Keeping the child in your arms when cruising assures that they will not fall or injure themselves on any part of the boat. Don’t forget that your baby should always wear his or her infant lifejacket at all times while the boat is moving.

Plan for fun in the water. 

When it’s time to drop anchor or pull up on a sandbar, that’s when the fun really starts. You’ll love seeing your baby’s eyes light up as they splash around in the water or crawl around in the sand. Don’t forget to bring along a small float that you can tie to the boat to keep it in place. Sand and bath toys are also good options to help your toddler have fun in the sun.

Plan for fun on the boat.

To keep your little one happy and occupied while onboard, bring along plenty of their favorite toys from home. Just one suggestion: even though they’ll be playing with these toys while onboard the boat, it’s a good idea to stick to the waterproof toys. Nobody likes a soggy teddy bear.

Recruit an army of ready and willing babysitters.

Every parent needs some backup every once in a while, so be sure to invite plenty of friends and family members out with you. These volunteer babysitters will usually be more than willing to take the little cutie off your hands with little to no persuasion. Not only will this make handling the boat easier, but it might also give you some extra time to relax.

Although boating with a infant can be difficult at first, it won’t take long to create a routine that will make the whole experience easier. Consider taking shorter trips until you’ve gotten more confident and comfortable boating with your baby. Before you know it, they’ll love boating just as much as you do. As your child gets older, Bring a camera!