Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say to DH that our 2 year old shouldn’t be doing this activity?

169 replies

Yeqpll · 21/03/2025 08:50

DH has booked a lovely trip for us. He does minimal parenting day to day due to work and i can tell he’s booked nice lunches and activities to make an effort

Last night he informed me he’d booked a boat trip for 1.5 hours, for today. We are in the UK so this will be a windy and choppy event and it is open to the elements. I think DS is going to be extremely bored after 15 mins.

My main concern however is that DS is not yet potty trained and obviously there’s nowhere to change him on board.

I feel strongly this is a bad idea but maybe I’m being dramatic… thoughts very welcome!!

OP posts:
Bearbookagainandagain · 21/03/2025 12:29

Bellaphant · 21/03/2025 12:18

Im surprised this is allowed: there is a very calm lake near us and they were really clear that we couldn't take my daughter, then 2, on anything till she was 3, but even then, as she was small, she still may be below the height/weight requirements for the life jackets, etc.

It depends on the boat really. We went on a private river cruise on the Thames, on a very small boat for only 6 people but very stable, and it was perfectly fine to take young children.

In my experience any boat that requires life jacket did not let children under 5-6 on board, some would even restrict to teens.

CautiousLurker01 · 21/03/2025 12:31

MyUmberSeal · 21/03/2025 08:51

You should go. Your son will be fine. You will be fine. You might all enjoy it. It’s 90 minutes!!

This - just change him before you go and pack a few toys in your bag. DS will be fine and if you telegraph your enthusiasm, he’ll love it.

rosemarble · 21/03/2025 12:34

DeclineandFall · 21/03/2025 12:14

That sounds like a nightmare for us. I would've been sick. Ds would've been sick. He would've shouting to get out from 10 minutes in and I would've been toddler wrangling him for the rest of the time while he cried. Stressing myself and any other passengers. He was always trying to leave wherever he was to go somewhere else.

Well I'm hoping OP's DH has some knowledge as to whether 1) his wife gets seasick and 2) the nature of his son, and only booked it knowing she doesn't get seasick and that their son would enjoy it. If he knows his wife gets sick and their son is a bolter or going through a challenging phase then then problem isn't one of boat/not boat.

OP is concerned because he son isn't toilet trained and might be bored. Plenty of people have shared their experiences.

MrsSunshine2b · 21/03/2025 13:02

We took DD on a boat trip in Portugal when she was just turned 3, she had a lovely time and still remembers it. It was me that got sea sick and had to lie very still at the back of the boat 😂You're over thinking it, and it's unlikely that he will need a nappy change in a 90 minute window provided he's been changed before getting on the boat.

Caterina99 · 21/03/2025 15:37

The nappy part seems irrational. Have you never taken your DC anywhere where you don’t have proper changing facilities? It’s not very long and you’ll be fine!

However - a 2 year old on a boat in the sea in March! That massively depends on so many factors. Might be amazing, might be 90 mins of stopping your toddler throwing himself overboard whilst he and you feel hugely seasick and are absolutely freezing!

ThatLemonBear · 21/03/2025 15:39

Voted YANBU purely because I’m 54 and out of nappies, but would no way set foot on a boat that doesn’t have toilets for a 90 minute journey 😂

Mh67 · 21/03/2025 15:45

margegunderson · 21/03/2025 08:52

I’d have thought your child would love it and if he doesn’t your partner can entertain. Aren’t you nappy changing on laps by now? Live a little.

I could never change a nappy on knee my kids would have been upside down. I tried many times 😂😂

Houseofpainjumparound · 21/03/2025 15:46

Did you go Op?

CannotWaitForSummervibes · 21/03/2025 15:49

Yeqpll · 21/03/2025 08:55

Ok thanks! It’s obviously me being overly anxious. @margegunderson weve never nappy changed on laps, would that be possible on a boat?!

I just worry he will poo within minutes then be stuck in it for over an hour

Does he poo that often that you’re worried about this?
it’s only 90 minutes.

RedRiverShore5 · 21/03/2025 15:57

We went on a short boat trip in a small boat to see the seals in Norfolk, it was very rocky, I was hanging on to the side, I doubt there would be any lap nappy changing going on, I would be more worried little-un might end up overboard. Did you go, was it alright, it was a bit breezy today

Realtalking · 21/03/2025 16:04

Yeqpll · 21/03/2025 08:50

DH has booked a lovely trip for us. He does minimal parenting day to day due to work and i can tell he’s booked nice lunches and activities to make an effort

Last night he informed me he’d booked a boat trip for 1.5 hours, for today. We are in the UK so this will be a windy and choppy event and it is open to the elements. I think DS is going to be extremely bored after 15 mins.

My main concern however is that DS is not yet potty trained and obviously there’s nowhere to change him on board.

I feel strongly this is a bad idea but maybe I’m being dramatic… thoughts very welcome!!

Hard no from me! DD would not have stayed still or sat for that long. Sounds dangerous and would be surprised if they allowed 2 year olds on a small fishing boat with no facilities.

2JFDIYOLO · 21/03/2025 16:08

Hand your DC and the feeding / changing bag to your DH as soon as he sits down.

Then get your phone out, take video, binoculars, anything else that means you can't possibly deal with child yourself for the duration of the trip.

Moonnstars · 21/03/2025 16:13

No I wouldn't do this. I am surprised he was allowed to book for a child that age (assuming he has booked?)

HereintheloveofChristIstand · 21/03/2025 16:17

He will survive for 90 minutes.
However I literally hate boats and would be horribly seasick so don’t blame you for wanting to find an excuse not to go.

PeloMom · 21/03/2025 16:18

We went on a boat at a similar age and man, was a complete nightmare! As you said, 15 mins started complaining of boredom and the whingeing didn’t stop until it ended. I strongly recommend against it.
yes, your child will ‘survive’ 90 mins in a boat but if yours is anything like mine, it will be utterly miserable for you. Use the time and money for something else.

KindLemur · 21/03/2025 16:21

And how do you think you’ll manage when you are potty training? Just never go anywhere in case he needs the loo? You just have to do stuff with small kids or you’ll never go anywhere except bloody soft play

AffableApple · 21/03/2025 16:24

Yeqpll · 21/03/2025 08:55

Ok thanks! It’s obviously me being overly anxious. @margegunderson weve never nappy changed on laps, would that be possible on a boat?!

I just worry he will poo within minutes then be stuck in it for over an hour

I've never managed nappy changes on laps! But if you've a nappy mat in a nappy bag, surely you can pop that down somewhere and use that in case of a poonami. If no poonami, no need to change.

I think your gut feeling that he'll be bored after 15 minutes is a bigger problem though. You're a bit screwed if he is. Nowhere to take him if he's bored/overwhelmed/anything else a toddler feels, on a boat... I'd cancel. Do something else.

MystyLuna · 21/03/2025 16:41

My son is 13 years old and disabled and still in nappies.
If we worried about where to change him when out and about we would never leave the house.
Baby changing rooms became too small about 10 years ago.
However, we have always managed to make do and change him somewhere if needed.
I wouldn't let the nappy thing stop you from going

FuckityFux · 21/03/2025 16:45

An open boat in this weather? Is he mad?

I live on the coast and there’s not a chance I’d be going on a boat trip until the summer. You’ll be freezing. 😂

FusionChefGeoff · 21/03/2025 16:49

Take a towel then change him in a corner / on the (closed) toilet seat? Use pull-ups to make it easier

JoshLymanSwagger · 21/03/2025 17:00

Yeqpll · 21/03/2025 08:56

It’s like a fishing boat so it’s open to the elements and reasonably choppy. No facilities on board

I wouldn't want to go on this trip, let alone take a baby with me!

Has your DH thought about life jackets??

PurplGirl · 21/03/2025 17:13

Yeqpll · 21/03/2025 08:55

Ok thanks! It’s obviously me being overly anxious. @margegunderson weve never nappy changed on laps, would that be possible on a boat?!

I just worry he will poo within minutes then be stuck in it for over an hour

What do you do on long car journeys? There are multiple times per week when my toddler could end up staying in a pooey nappy for a little while. But you could change him on board - lap, your seat and you kneel, floor. It would be much more difficult if he was potty training (though even then you could take a travel potty).

Goldbar · 21/03/2025 18:12

PurplGirl · 21/03/2025 17:13

What do you do on long car journeys? There are multiple times per week when my toddler could end up staying in a pooey nappy for a little while. But you could change him on board - lap, your seat and you kneel, floor. It would be much more difficult if he was potty training (though even then you could take a travel potty).

Show quote history

You presumably don't change him while the car is moving?

Maybe the OP can ask the boat's captain to pull in and turn off the waves if she needs to do an emergency change?

Groundhogday2025 · 21/03/2025 18:14

Createausername1970 · 21/03/2025 08:55

I wouldn't have taken my very active 3 year old on a boat trip for that long.

I know I would have had difficulty keeping him occupied and in one place, and I would have been concerned he would have been a nuisance, and as a result I wouldn't have enjoyed it either.

We did do a couple of much shorter trips around the bay, at a slightly older age. But an hour and a half I would personally have thought was too long at that age for a first trip on a boat.

I agree with this. My 2 year old is far too energetic, completely incapable of sitting for any length of time, fears nothing and this would be far from a fun activity for us (though she’d have an absolute blast trying to unalive herself at every turn and disturbing everyone on the boat). It would be stressful as hell for us though I’m sure there are plenty of two year olds this would be fine for. I guess it depends on the toddler.

PurplGirl · 21/03/2025 18:15

Goldbar · 21/03/2025 18:12

You presumably don't change him while the car is moving?

Maybe the OP can ask the boat's captain to pull in and turn off the waves if she needs to do an emergency change?

Show quote history

You ‘ve misunderstood. When I asked OP what she does on long car journeys, I meant, surely you manage on a long car journey. I followed it by reassuring that sone times toddlers have to stay in a dirty nappy for a little while. I then went on to explain how age could in fact though change him if she really needs to.