canal boats and babies

[comeonbishbosh]

We're having a week's canal boat holiday when DD will be 7 1/2 months. In many ways I think this will be reasonably easy, as we'll have everything with us all of the time, and she isn't old enough to be clambering around so less stressful than with a toddler. We have a spare single bed for her and the hire company will put up cot sides so that they provide a full length barrier.

Just wondered if anyone here has done similar and has any tips. My biggest concern is the sleeping. I'm wondering if we need to take a narrow cot to put on the bed in addition to the cot sides (DD is quite small so might get away with a bit size fabric mosesbasket type thing we have, but difficult to know how big she'll be in 6 weeks time). We'll take a clip on high chair so she can look out and about and sit at table with us.

Thanks!

we went first when dd was 9m
have been back many times, most recently with ds (4m) and dd (2.9)

a week is a long long time, plan lots of excursions off the boat
don't aim to go too far
take a sling as there's unlike;ly to be room to store a oushcxhair on board
have a Plan for locks and mooring when you'll both need 100% of attention to the boat

have you boated much before?

Sling, good idea. We have two baby-tolerant friends coming too, so hopefully between the four of us we can manage locks even if one of us is tied up with DD. And DH has been boating many times before so he can take care of all the tricky stuff.

ah I see, that sounds more mangageable

two adults and two kids is Hard Work, but the boat is PIL's so free, and dd adores the outdoorsy bits so we keep going back [mugs]

look in advance at the Nicholson's - rubbish disposal points are v important when you have one in nappies, and for a week's cruising you'll need to fill up with water at least once.