Rules for Sailing with a Baby

What changed, what stayed the same, and how we plan to keep things safe and (mostly) sane at sea. These are our essential rules for sailing with a baby.

When we decided to return to our sailboat with our baby in tow, we knew things would be different, and our approach to sailing would have to change. Things that once felt like adventure, like getting caught out in a squall or arriving without a backup anchorage, now feel a little reckless.

Sailing with a baby requires more structure, clearer boundaries, and a lower tolerance for unnecessary risks—because our newest crew member depends on us to keep her safe and comfortable.

Over the years, we’ve developed plenty of informal rules for living aboard and sailing together—guidelines that help us make decisions and reduce stress. these rules have helped keep us on the same page even when we are struggling under pressure or with decision fatigue.

Now, as we imagine life afloat with a little one, those rules need to evolve. Some are being tweaked, others are becoming non-negotiable, and new ones are emerging—all of them designed to keep boat life manageable, safe, and fun for everyone and to give us the confidence that we’re prioritizing what matters most. Even before we set sail again, having these shared expectations helps us feel more prepared.

At the end of the day, the overarching rule is simple: we’ll prioritize safety and comfort over speed, schedule, or budget.

These are the rules we plan to follow (or try to) when sailing with our baby.

🧭 General Safety and Sailing Rules

Two yeses to sail, one no to stay
If one of us doesn’t feel good about the conditions, we don’t go. This rule served us well before the baby, and it is even more important now. It takes the pressure off one person to “tough it out” and prioritizes mutual comfort and safety.

We don’t sail tired
Sleep deprivation is part of the parenting deal—but when you add sailing to the mix, it can quickly become dangerous. If one of us had a rough night with the baby, we either shorten the route, delay departure, or scrap the day’s plan altogether.

Head for protection if winds are forecast above 20 knots
This was always near our threshold for comfort and a discussion was usually had when weather above 20 knots was predicted, especially mid-week when we are working from the boat. With the baby aboard it’s now a firm line. Strong wind sailing is not worth the stress (or potential mess) anymore.

We always have a backup anchorage or marina planned
We never assume we’ll be happy with our first-choice anchorage. With a baby, a rolly night or exposed spot is a recipe for a sleepless disaster. Having a fallback helps us avoid panic or pushing on when we really shouldn’t.

No tricky docking solo
If conditions or the marina look challenging, both adults need to be hands-on. We avoid situations where one of us is managing lines and fenders while the other is stuck on full-time baby duty. To this end, having somewhere where we can lash the kid down is essential, in our case a secured baby car seat is the prison of choice.

A good day is one where we can line things up to complete tricky maneuvers during nap time!

Anchor early
Babies can be chaotic, and the risk for chaos increases as the day goes on. To avoid a perfect storm, we aim to be settled and on the hook by early afternoon so we have time to unwind, prep dinner, and get into our nighttime routine without scrambling.

Shorter sailing days (ideally 4 hours max)
We try to keep passages short and sweet. Anything longer starts to become a logistical and emotional struggle for everyone involved. If we need to cover a long distance, we break it into manageable chunks with stops along the way, or babies disembark.

👶 Baby-Specific Rules

Baby wears a life jacket anytime she’s on deck or in the dinghy.
No exceptions. Even for quick dinghy rides or calm anchorages, we stick to this rule to keep it consistent.

One adult is always “on baby duty.”
When sailing, we divide responsibilities. One person focuses on the boat, the other on the baby. No one is doing both at once.

All sailing maneuvers now begin with securing the baby
Before hoisting, dropping, reefing, tacking, or adjusting sails, the baby must be securely placed—strapped down in the cockpit or safely down below. It’s too easy for one distraction to turn into a risky situation.

Mum and baby skip longer or overnight passages.
For multi-day passages or overnighters, mom and baby hop off and meet the boat at the next port if possible. It’s safer, less stressful, and allows one adult to focus entirely on sailing.

Plan around nap times.
We aim to start sailing either during or just before nap time (for peaceful stretches); shortly after nap time is also an option (to avoid tired meltdowns underway). Sailing while wrestling with a tired, cranky baby is not our idea of a good time.

Of course, babies don’t always follow the plan, but having one helps.

Create a baby-safe zone in the cockpit.
We set up a padded, shaded area where the baby can safely sit or lie down while we’re underway. This is her “deck space,” and hopefully, it will give her a sense of familiarity while under sail.

Keep baby gear ready to go.
We maintain a baby grab bag at all times— it’s essentially a diaper bag with a few extras for boat life like sunscreen, hats, swimmers, and a hooded towel—so we’re never scrambling to get ready for shore time or a dinghy trip.

⚓ Onboard Living Rules

Secure everything—even more than before.
Drawers, hatches, galley gear, cleaning supplies, power cords—if it can open, slide, pinch, tangle, or hurt we baby-proof it. Babies are excellent at finding whatever you missed.

Lee cloths on all beds
Lee cloths in the baby’s bed stop her from getting into too much trouble, but adding lee cloths as dividers in our beds means that, if necessary, the baby can share the bed without worrying about rolling orr colliding in the night. These keep adults and baby safe during naps and overnight passages.

Always lock cabin doors and companionways.
Especially when we’re at anchor, babies become mobile faster than you think and are inexplicably attracted to forbidden areas.

Padded corners and soft flooring.
We added some large lounge cushions which can be put down in areas like the saloon and cockpit to create safe zones for crawling and playtime, especially while underway or in a rolly anchorage where standing, cruising, and lumbering around can be risky.

Fans and airflow matter.
We added more fans, a windscoop, and mosquito netting to the forward hatch and companion way to make sure we can keep the baby’s sleep area well-ventilated and mosquito-free..

🧠 Mindset + Relationship Rules

Lower expectations
We don’t expect full night’s sleep, gourmet meals, or productive work days. If we sail, feed the baby, and there aren’t too many tears, we call that a win.

Celebrate the small wins
A successful diaper change underway? Gold star. Baby napping while we anchor? Legendary.

Each adult gets one “emergency break” per day.
No questions asked. If one of us needs to step away—whether for ten minutes or an hour—we honor that. Sanity matters.

Give each other grace
Sailing with a baby is pretty awesome, but it can also be intense. We try to communicate honestly, ask for help, and apologize when needed.

Keep the adventure alive (just in smaller doses)
We might not be crossing oceans this season, but we’re still exploring. Slower days, closer anchorages, shorter sails—it all counts.

These rules aren’t rigid or revolutionary. They’re simply the framework that helps us keep sailing while adjusting to life with a baby. They give us clarity when we’re tired, direction when things go sideways, and (hopefully) a bit of freedom to actually enjoy this chaotic sailing season.