I’m going on a barge holiday for the first time - Any advice I’ll be grateful for!

[Guest]

I’m going on a barge holiday for the first time, with an 8 month old who’s trying to walk and a 4 year old who doesn’t ever stop moving. I’m not sure what to expect and wondered if anyone has any advice about keeping them entertained/sleeping.

There will also be a family members dog coming so I won’t be able to put the baby on the floor.

Any advice I’ll be grateful for!

[Nicola]

Do you have a travel cot so you can safely put the baby down?
Also, a bed guard incase the cot is too big?

Make sure the door and windows are locked/on a safety catch for the older one and try and enjoy as I'd love to have that type of break!x

[Rebecca]

I've done it years ago before kids and I would love to do it again but honestly even with my youngest being 7 I wouldn't. I hate sounding negative but it sounds like it will be hard x

[Maria]

We done the same when our kids were little, remember thinking why did I book this! It actually wasn’t that bad and just had life jackets on the all the time. We stopped off at pubs and local parks, maybe have some picnics along the way. Some lovely canals with benches..

[Tasha]

We live on a narrowboat with 3 kids and a dog. When we moved on the kids were 6,4 and 6months. You'll be fine. Don't over think it and don't try and move every day, have some rest days when you find a nice mooring.

Tie the dog at the back with the driver so they can enjoy the view and baby can crawl inside, our dog enjoys lounging on the roof when cruising! Life jackets obviously. but just don't over think it. We've never had an issue. Ignore the nay sayers, it's wonderful... enjoy your holiday.

[Louise]

I went on a barge a few years back before I had kids. It was a long few days! It felt cold and damp at night and although we got one of the biggest ones there still wasn’t much room to move. Parking the thing and emptying the toilet etc took some getting used to, and also dealing with the locks and getting on and off the barge was hard work especially in the dark. There’s not much to do on there so I’d take some entertainment of some kind if possible, books games etc Dogs are pretty good on boats my sister and her dogs lived on one for a while with no problems at all.

The 4yo will be fine just stick them in the drivers seat! Not sure about the baby though.

I took my baby on a barge trip for 30 minutes and she was extremely bored! There’s not much floor space on a narrow boat! If it’s a wide beam it’ll be quite spacious though tbf.

As for sleeping I’d guess you’d be sharing a bed with the baby?

Napping to be done while you were with them? We stopped every day and went for walks and for meals out. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

good luck!

[Charlotte]

Take a small travel cot, and make sure doors are locked at all times so no one can escape, kids had toys and colouring books whilst we were on the move, or would put life jackets on and come sit outside with an adult, youngest at the time decided to play hide and seek without telling anyone, he hid so good he gave us all a heart attack, also life jackets for kids when stepping on and off just incase.

[Sarah]

The 4 year old is big enough to chat to about being on a barge make it fun but set out rules early as for the little one good luck but I don’t see why a dog means you can’t put them on the floor.

[Ruth]

Pop up stair gate to dive the boat in 1/2 so the baby and dog both get some space, they’re also useful for keeping them in areas when you need to turn your back for 5 seconds! The boat companies usually supply life jackets but get whoever’s booked it to confirm that and they’re on the list with ages. Battery powered night lights or anything you can as plug sockets are not all over the boat or in convenient places.

[Julie]

I've been on a few canal holidays with our children, aged similar to yours at the time. Different barges have different layouts so be worth seeing if you could check what yours would be like as I'd advise to take a travel cot for the youngest as it would double up for night time and a play pen in the day. I also took lots of stickers books, "orchard toy" games for the 4 year old to play at the table with.

[Lucy]

My kids dad lives on a boat deffo recommend life jacket for small one just for being around the boat when moving or doors all open. We do walkie talkies so they tell us when there a boat coming or a tunnel and the number on the tunnel and colouring.

There are come great canal kids activity books you can get to it's such a great experience for kids enjoy every minute xx

[Charlotte]

Some boats have DVD player if not buy a portable player or I pad and down load some games but depends where you are sometimes your in the middle of no where and therrs no signal so a DVD player will be better perhaps bring coluring books and pens .to amuse child. Some lego not your best incase it goes into the canal /river. I would get wilkos cheap stuff or see what local charity shop has

[Nadia]

We made the rule that the our toddler was not allowed out the back of the barge at all, and only on the front with an adult and had to wear a life jacket.

[Tarra]

Well that was a bad choice of holiday! your gonna have one very frustrated baby if it can't go on the floor. At that stage when thier trying to move about if u try to keep them in one place or off the floor it's awful…good luck is all I can say.

[Anastasia]

Not helpful I know but why choose a boat/water holiday with such a small baby? You will not be able to relax for a minute esp with someone else's dog around and no space for playing, rolling, crawling etc...

[Lizzy]

At nights is ALOT colder than you would think. Because the sleeping area is under the waterline. So take layers for bed.

A hugely important thing is a life jacket for the 4 year old. If she is not below deck she must have it on.

My parents had a boat when I was little. My sister and I loved it. Get bird spotting books, water bug books. We used to go out in the side when stopped and pick flowers like daisy and press them and make pictures.

Stop at briges and play Pooh Sticks and stone skimming. Saying what you need in the clouds. Card games, snap and building a house of cards.

Oh man I miss all of that. X

[Andrea]

Myself and a friend of mine took 2 4yr olds, an 8yr old and a 10yr old on a narrow boat for a week 2yrs ago . Its was bloody hard work but the kids absolutely loved it, as did we. You’ll be pleased of the extra pairs of hands to steer the boat and deal with the locks. But honestly just relax and enjoy the experience. My biggest bit of advise would be…

Take lots of snacks/food with u for the children, theres not always places to stop for lunch when ur on the move and supermarkets can be few and far between. Ohhh lots of bottled water too x x