Paddle boarding with kids and babies is a thrilling adventure for babies, toddlers and kids. Get out this weekend and take your kids paddle boarding. Babies and kids will thrive out on the water with you as they experience the beauty and thrill of paddle boarding.
Can You Bring A Baby On A Paddle Board?
You can absolutely bring your baby on your paddle board. Some will say the younger you start the better. We would suggest that you wait until they can sit up unaided and confidently just for the added bit of security.
It is essential that you make sure that your child has an appropriate, well fitted life jacket on no matter how safe you think you will be. It only take one wrong move for your little one to topple over the edge. Not only will it protect their life it will also give them the extra security if they do fall, they will hopefully not be too traumatised and put off water by the experience. We have seen many children become adverse to any water activity from one bad experience.
The best place for your baby on a paddle board in securely between your legs. Instead of standing, come down lower to a sitting or kneeling position. This keeps you closer to your child and more able to catch them if they decide to lean over the edge and fall. They feel a lot more secure if you are closer too.
What Age Can You Start Paddle Boarding?
When your baby can sit confidently they are able to start paddle boarding. For most children this is around 6-8 months. A child will need to tandem paddle board until they are around 5 years old.
A child under 5 can paddle board with an older sibling who is responsible or another responsible adult. Let them sit in front of you while you paddle. For particularly young children kneel or sit rather than stand.
Between the ages of 5 and 6 your child may be able to tackle paddle boarding solo. There are a few considerations to think about before you let them loose on the water.
- Can They Swim Well
One of the biggest prerequisites to paddle boarding with young children is that they can swim well. This does not mean they need to be able to swim laps of an olympic pool. They need to be able and confident enough that if they fall they will not panic and will be able to resurface and get to their feet again. - Do They Follow Instructions
We want to make sure children are safe. They are still young and can not often perceive danger as well as adults. You need to be sure that your child will follow your instructions and not put themselves in danger. - Are They Asking
Sometimes as parents we end up pushing our children into activities or tasks that they are just not ready for. We may know that they have all the physical and mental skills required and would be able to do the task but if their heart or desire is not in it then it is not a good idea to push it.
If they are asking or wanting to try and they meet all the other requirements then it is time to pick up that paddle and head out on the water.
How Do You Paddle Board With A Baby or Child?
It is important to start out on land. Let your child get familiar with the paddle board and how it feels. Have a few practices of where to stand or sit. If there are other paddle boarders around let them watch and see how it all works. If no one else is around let them sit on the shore while you head out for a couple of minutes to show them what it is like.
Once you are ready to head out make sure the conditions are nice and calm. If it is windy or there are too many waves today might not be the right day. We need to be conscious of the fact that waves and wind though not huge deals to us as adults can be quite scary for young children.
Keep the atmosphere light and calm. Too much excitement when your child is just starting out can be overwhelming. Offer them lots of encouragement and praise them for their hard work. It will definitely pay off. They will likely make mistakes or have a couple of times of uncertainty but knowing that you are right there and have their back will go a long way in boosting their confidence.
Make sure you have the right size board. Paddle boards are classified by weight. If you are paddle boarding with your child on the board with you make sure that your combined weight comes in under the specified weight for that board. When you over load a paddle board it can become unstable. This is both unsafe and a bit scary for kids as the board wobbles and throws off their balance.
Most importantly make sure you have FUN. This is ultimately the goal of paddle boarding with your kids.
Is Paddle Boarding Dangerous?
Paddle boarding is safe so long as you take the proper precautions. All sports and especially water sports come with risk. Mitigating those risks decreases the chance of you running into danger.
One way of mitigating the biggest concern which would be drowning would be to first always wear a life jacket and the second to make sure you can swim. No matter how good of a swimmer you are, it will be of no use if you fall and hit your head rendering you unconscious. A life jacket will keep you above water regardless of if you are conscious or not. If you are are paddle boarding with children always make sure they are wearing life jackets and be an example yourself and wear one too.
The water conditions can make all the difference when it comes to paddle boarding safety. Wind is going to play the biggest factor. High or even moderate winds can make it difficult to control and maneuvere the paddle board into doing what you need it to do. This can cause you to be come trapped in less than ideal conditions. Calm water and winds will keep you and your children safer while paddle boarding.
When possible paddle board with other people. Just like other water activities there is safety in numbers. Even if you don’t know the people around you introduce yourselves and keep and eye on each other. Be careful not to venture too far from others if you have no one in the water with you make sure there is at least someone on land who is keeping watch.
If you use some basic commonsense paddle boarding can be a very safe activity to participate in with your family.
Is Paddle Boarding Harder Than Kayaking?
It honestly comes down to personal preference. Our preference for paddle boarding comes from the conveniences of inflatable paddle boards that are incredibly well designed. We know that there are inflatable kayaks but they are just aren’t as well designed. Kayaks really don’t do well as inflatables.
Kayaks are a little more difficult to operate, especially when it comes to children. Paddle boarding is a much smoother and easier water sport and vessel to work with. Kayak requires the paddler to have some level of strength and skill before even setting foot inside the kayak. I remember my first foray into kayaking as a child being very difficult and resulting in me having to fall out of the kayak into a duck poop infested lagoon in order to become unstuck from the mess of branches I had inadvertently paddled into. Stand up paddle boarding lets the paddler experience success much quicker. They can then slowly work up endurance and strength and take on more as their skills improve.
Paddle boarding is easily adaptable. Bringing your dog or another person on board with you is as simple as them climbing on. This is much more difficult when it comes to kayaks. There are usually single person kayaks which are not so interchangeable. It all becomes a little bit too inconvenient to add some company to the experience.
Since paddle boards are so adaptable we find them to be a much better investment for families in both the price department and overall enjoyment.
An inflateable paddle board is a great addition to your camping haul. It will be a great addition for your camping trips. Some RV parks have gorgeous areas dedicated for paddle boarding. Make sure you check out our post on some of the most insanely fun RV parks here! They have some of the best areas to paddle board, even if you don’t have your own many RV parks will rent one to you.
Which Paddle Board Should I Buy?
You should buy the ROC inflatable stand up paddle board. ROC are leaders in stand up paddle boards and you will not be disappointed. They stand behind their products and ensure satisfaction. We have not heard, nor read a single bad review.
The ROC inflateable paddle board is the perfect size and weight for starting out and has the capacity to bring your kids along on the board with you or allow them to try it out solo. It comes with absolutely everything you need to get started. You can be out paddling on the lake by tomorrow afternoon!
