Travel Tips

How To Entertain A Toddler On A Boat Trip (5 Incredible Tips)

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Last Updated on October 27, 2022 by Rose Morah

Traveling with kids can be stressful, especially at a younger age, because they are still trying to figure out how to express themselves and communicate. 

Knowing how to entertain your toddler can help make the trip less stressful for everyone if you plan to take a boat trip!

The last thing you want is to turn a beautiful day on a boat trip into a stressful one.

In this article, we will be discussing tips for entertaining a toddler on a boat trip for a few hours or more than a day. 

1. Make their boat trip experience feel like home

If you are going for a few days’ boat trip, you can consider making their experiences feel like home. 

Kids react differently after realizing that they are in a different environment, mainly if they are used to staying indoors. 

Some may become very aggressive. Other kids may refuse to eat anything or start hitting their other siblings. 

So, this is what I recommend:

  • Carry their favorite toys. These are the toys they love playing with at home.
  • Buy new exciting toys.
  • Carry their favorite snacks.
  • Play with them. 
  • If they love to watch movies/cartoons, then get an IPad with Disney Plus and Netflix.

What if there is no internet connection?

I recommend getting a JellyFin server and storing the media. This helps in situations where they cannot watch due to poor or lack of internet connections.

It also helps keep them entertained and distracted while in a new different environment. 

See also: Fun Camping Activities For Families.

2. Allow them to enjoy some freedom

If you are traveling in a group, and there are other kids around, allow them to play with them, as long as you keep an eye on them for safety precautions.

For instance, they should always wear their life jackets whenever they want to go outside the cabin or at the dock. 

Additionally, do not be that parent with so many “don’ts, don’t do this, don’t do that” just let them be, as long as they are safe and not misbehaving.

I usually give my toddler a newspaper or an endless scarf box to tear them up because it helps relax and calm him down. 
So during our boat trips, I always carry this with me, because everyone will be at peace and happy if he is!

3. Introduce fun and interesting activities

Kids love to engage in fun activities. They never get bored or tired unless you or the person they are playing with loses interest. 

There are many activities that you can do with your toddler while cruising.

Below are a few examples;

i). Give them something to throw (of course taking safety precautions)

For instance, you can buy stuffed snowballs for them to throw in the water and then watch them disappear. They will enjoy it!

ii). Fishing together 

You can fish together on the boat or on the shore. You can also fish for crabs with hot dogs. They will love it.

iii). Let them be the captain of the boat

You can let them put their hands on the steering and make them feel like they are the ones “driving” the boat.

4. Dress them up in costumes

To make the boat trip a fun adventure, dress them up in costumes. 

You can buy fish costumes or dress them as the boat captain. There are many kids’ costumes that can entertain your toddler on a boat.

When I was cruising with my children, I used this feeding fish costume to keep them occupied/entertained. 

They would collect toys and snacks and put them in the fish’s mouth. It got them immensely entertained!

5. Hire a babysitter

You can hire a baby-friendly person who will keep your kid entertained throughout, especially when you are busy. This way, you will enjoy your cruising vacation and keep your toddler entertained at the same time!

But before you hire a babysitter, be sure they know how to handle and entertain kids. Additionally, it would be best if they stayed some few hours or even a day before the boat trip with your child. This way, the kid will already have gotten used to them somehow. 

As parents, sometimes we need extra help and an opportunity to learn from someone else. So, Don’t be guilty. It is okay to be helped. 

Bonus Tips When Cruising with a Toddler:

  1. Carry more toys, so you can switch them up.  
  2. Carry colorful books. Toddlers find them interesting. 
  3. Set up a “nanny cam” to monitor the kids as they play while you are on the bridge.
  4. Teach your toddler to always wear a life jacket (with head support) anytime they are exiting the cabin. 
  5. Create beautiful and memorable moments with your toddler, but don’t overdo it. Kids easily get bored and frustrated. 

Hello there! My name is Rose. I’m passionate about electric cars and clean energy. My adventurous spirit and journalistic pursuits make each day fascinating and far greater. I consider traveling not just about the grandeur moments, but the little elements that transform the whole experience.