C_H_2015_02_

48 Februar y 2015

practical: families

A pram was another useful purchase
while we still live in the marina.
As there is not room to store it on
the boat, we leave it in the car and
transition our son from the baby
carrier or backpack into the pram at
the car and then reverse when heading
back to the boat.
We are lucky because there is a
grocery store and a park within
walking distance from the marina, so
we often do both in the same trip, using
the pram as our shopping trolley.
Plastic storage containers are
fantastic baby baths and are relatively
inexpensive compared to baths
designed specifically for babies.
As a newborn, our son started off
in a square container that we used for
washing up when we were camping.
He has graduated into larger storage
containers as he has grown. We popped
in a non-slip mat into the container to
give him the confidence to sit in the
bath on his own. Once the splashes got
too big we moved bathing him from the
saloon table to the cockpit.
Our son still has a bath when we are
at anchor, but with much less water.
We alternate him between a bath and
a shower in preparation for when he
showers on his own, but he still prefers
the bath.

We followed the usual guide of

baby toiletries to purchase, e.g. soap,

shampoo etc. The only difference was

the consideration of the impact on our

son’s skin and the marine environment.

We try to use organic or natural

products rather than artificial or

chemical based products when possible.

I would feed our son anywhere that

was safe and comfy to do so. An electric

steriliser made life easier, but was not

critical when he was bottle feeding. While

sailing or at anchor we used the old school

method of boiling bottles and equipment.

We learnt to save water by timing the

boiling session with washing up the

dishes so we could reuse the hot water.

Rather than using a blender or food

processor, we just used a fork to mash

up food when our son started to eat

solids. A reliable fridge allowed for an

increased variety of foods to be stored,

particularly dairy. A reliable freezer

allowed for more flexibility with the

ability to make up bulk food and freeze

it or store expressed breast milk.

Prior to going on a sailing adventure,

I store single meals in snap lock bags as

they are flexible, cheap and do not take up

much space in the fridge or freezer. I then

defrost them ready to heat up and eat.

As our saloon table has a lip, we

couldn’t use a ‘clip on’ feeding chair like

so many other sailing families, so chose

to purchase a high chair. We found one

that was compact, folded up and easy to

clean and as an extra bonus, fit under

the saloon table. We only feed our son

in the high chair when we are in the

marina or at anchor, it is too dangerous

in a boat under sail or motor. When

we are sailing or motoring and if the

conditions are appropriate, our son

eats in the cockpit. If not he eats down

below, tucked into the settee with one of

us next to him.

Another worthwhile purchase was

a portable baby chair, for the same

reasons why they are great purchases

for babies being raised on land.

Baby planning

Baby proofing a sailing boat follows the

same principles of baby proofing a house

or apartment.

Two areas of concern (apart from

the usual drawers, cupboards, doors

etc.) were the companionway and

galley. Similar to most sailing boats,

our companionway is one of the most

busy and dangerous areas. It is at the

top of stairs and opens to frequently

busy areas, either the cockpit above or

galley down below. As we have a centre

cockpit, popping in a washboard was

all we had to do to keep our son from

Already learning the ropes. In the backpack, the fast

way of getting from A to B.