2morrow we are bringing my 2yr old nephew on the boat!?

Question

the last time he was on the boat was when he was a few months old. any ideas what we can do on the boat with him. he hates the life jacket what should we do?? he is going to be 2 in 10days!! i need help fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

Answer 1

Keep him in the life vest period, if you don't want to put up with a tantrum then don't take him on the boat but do NOT take him on the boat without a life jacket. That's like not putting him in the car with no car seat. You do it PERIOD.

Answer 2

You have 2 choices, either make him wear the life jacket or find a babysitter for him.

Two year olds are famous for being a pain in the butt (that's their job, you know!) but look at it this way, who's bigger, smarter and stronger, you or the kid?

He'll never remember being on a boat when he gets older, but you'll remember what a nuisance he was "way back when"...

This is a holiday weekend and all sorts of people will be out there in boats including people under the influence behind the wheel. Have you considered what would happen if the boat were to flip over? What kind of fun would that be for a 2 year old?

For safety's sake, leave him on dry land with a responsible sitter!

Answer 3

Make sure he wears that life jacket. I don't care how much of a fit he pitches, DO NOT LET HIM TAKE IT OFF! I live on the Northwest Coast of Oregon, right on the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean, my Dad is a retired Coast Guard Flight Mech, you have no idea how many people drown because they weren't wearing a life vest. Every year there are kids and adults who don't wear a life vest, something happens with the boat, it goes down, and they drown. Even experienced swimmers get tired and hypothermic and drown. Please be safe on your boat. I'll get off my soap box now.

As for entertaining a kid his age, how about buying him a kids fishing pole? You don't have to put a hook on it, a lot of them come with a plastic casting plug that looks like a fish. You can teach him how to cast a pole and reel it back in. When that gets old, have him color a picture of the boat, or of fish that you caught, or of fish he thinks might live in the water. Bring plenty of snacks and water as well as a blanket so he can rest. Make sure you ask the parents for a few of his toys so he has something familiar he can play with. My boys love to fish, so we've never had a problem keeping them entertained. When they got bored, they'd go below and take a nap. Another thing to think about is motion sickness. He may not have had it as a baby, but he might get it now. Bring some Dramamine, or pressure point bands to put on his wrists. My oldest gets motion sickness and we used the bands. We told him they were his special lucky fishing bracelets. (They weren't very lucky, but they kept him from getting sick.) Hope that helps. =)

Answer 4

Don't take the 2-year-old on the boat. If you do, the life jacket is a drop-dead deal breaker, just like a car seat. Take plenty of toys. Try strapping their car seat onto the boat in a safe place. Provide snacks and drinks.

Try delaying your own wants and being the kind of aunt or uncle that puts their nephew's safety and well-being first. Find something else to do. Having a screaming child on the boat will make everyone else mad at you for putting them through that kind of hell. It is very selfish of you to put your desire to go on a boat ride ahead of your nephew's safety and your fellow passengers peace of mind.

Answer 5

I have been taking my daughter out on our boat since she was like 6 months. She loves it. rules are she has to wear a life jacket at all times. No life jacket, no boat... NO FISHING! ( this devestates her.. she loves it when we bring fish on board.. gets so excited)
I make sure that I bring toys and coloring pages/crayons, snacks and drinks.
Make sure that we point out all the wild/sea life that we see.. porpoises ..birds.. seals..etc..etc..
Try and catch a fish!! that would probably go over quite well with your nephew!
Children that age get bored .. and there is only so much to do on a boat, only so much room to move in..its pretty isolated, So keep the trip fairly short. Its about 4-5 hours on average that we go out.. after that we all get a little tired of it.
You should see if the "captain" will let him steer the boat.. that might be fun. My girl gets to do that. She sits on poppies knee and drives!! Keeps her entertained for a few minutes :)

As for not wanting to wear a life jacket.. are other people around him wearing theirs? If he is the only one he is going to feel pretty "picked out" Show him that everyone has to wear a life jacket.. explain how it is so that we can be safe on the boat, like seatbelts in a car.
Just stick to your rule...
" NO LIFE JACKET..NO BOAT RIDE"
Another handy little thing.. when my daughter was younger than two.. and sometimes still, we tie a rope to her life jacket and then secure the other end somewhere on the boat so that there was no real worry of her going over. ( like a leash)
good luck and good fishing to you !

Answer 6

Life jacket is a must and is the law here in TN.There are several style improvements over the years.Some more slim fitting and not so likley to ride up like a cervical collar.Just look for the official coast guard approved stamp on it. I have a 2yr old that we started with the vest in the swimming pool.It takes time but like a car seat it's a device that will save his life in a emergency.Seeing adults wear theirs is not such a bad idea either :)

Answer 7

wait till the moment comes. our little man just got on a boat this summer. he was a little nervous but once were on the boat he was cool!
we have a vest that he has been familiar with since he was 1 1/2 years. we never had a problem with it. I know that every child is different, however we tell him that we wear these (like seat belts ) so we can be safe! like Dora...it works....Good Luck.

Answer 8

Please keep the life jacket on that child. No matter how much he hates it! Please. So many accidents happen to children that don't wear a life preserver. I hate to hear another one of those stories. But bring some toys on the boat. Point to clouds and play the name game. That one looks like a puppy... etc. Bring a puzzle. May be a radio so he can hear songs he likes.

Answer 9

I think it's too young to bring on a boat, especially in the ocean.
Well, if you take him, be sure he wears the life jacket even if he hates it!!!

Answer 10

Tell him the jacket is called a life jacket because it possesses secret powers. Then tell him he doesn't have to wear it but you will. Then wear it and pretend to have superpowers. If he doesn't want to put it on by then he's not very cool and I suggest finding a new nephew.