I’m beach babe. Originally from Southern California, I grew up in Manhattan Beach, playing in the sand and the sea. I never surfed or played volleyball, the quintessential California activities if you grow up in a beach town. It’s probably because I preferred the mountains from a young age. On the other side of the country, my husband spent his summers on the lakes in Wisconsin and guiding kayaks in Door County. Water is a part of our souls. Which is why while living in Colorado, we bought a raft. When life was simple (pre-kids), it was serene and relaxing as the world floated by with a cold beer in hand. Now, my hands are full, and not with cocktails. As with all aspects of our life, we had to adjust how we float the river with toddlers.
At 9 months old, we took our baby on his first float down the river. He’s had a lot of firsts at an early age, but my husband and I have always believed in continuing our activities while making adjustments to accommodate our growing family. Our adventures have changed, but they haven’t stopped. It’s something you will need to embrace if you want to keep your sanity.
Taking a baby floating on the river was more work, as everything is with tiny tots in tow. But it’s also a great day trip we can all enjoy. Sitting upfront, perched on a paco pad, there’s so much to see on the river for little kids. We point out birds in the sky and eagles perched in trees. Even the smallest rapids feel like a rollercoaster.
Life with littles gives us an opportunity to look at our activities differently and find alternatives. While we’ve always rafted, a toddler presents new obstacles. He’s walking, moving, more mobile, and restless as he squirms out of my arms. Lots of hazards to watch out for. While my husband paddles on our oar frame raft, I sit in front and juggle our toddler, trying to keep him entertained and not to go overboard.
For a successful river float with toddlers, planning and patience are key.
Planning a river float with toddlers
(*Yes, his lifejacket is off in this photo, on a short section of flat water. When he was under the age of 1, even the smallest lifejacket was too big, so we would give him short breaks as he got used to it. Now that he fits into a lifejacket, he never takes it off).
Choosing the right section of water is the foundation for success for your trip. With little kids, find a stretch of river that is mellow and water levels are safe to run.
Living outside of Vail, Colorado, we usually head to the Upper Colorado (aka, the Upper C). This is the headwaters for the Colorado River that flows west to the Pacific Ocean. It’s a beautiful, and family-friendly, river that has mostly Class I and II rapids with a few Class III features.
Understand safe spots for kids on your river vessel of choice. We have a 15 foot raft with an oar frame. This allows for a safer environment for kids because it’s a big, stable boat with some room to move around. My husband is on the oars while I sit on a paco pad in front with our little one. There’s space in between the paco pad and the front of the boat for him to move around and the front of the boat is higher, making it harder to climb over. When he was little, I put my legs out in front and let him walk between them to provide stability.
If you have a kayak, duckie, or canoe, it’s important for your child to be old enough to understand they need to sit still and not climb overboard. It’s for this reason that a raft is a safer option for babies and toddlers.
What gear should you bring when you float the river with toddlers?
Storage
We always have a cooler to keep our food and drinks cold and a dry box or bags to keep all your extra gear. Anything you bring on the river should be tied down or attached to the boat.
Lifevest
The most important thing to bring on the river is well-fitted life vests. Infant life vests are rated for 8-30 pounds. At 9 months old, the life vest was a little big and uncomfortable for our little one. Here’s a slightly smaller option for little guys. Since it was a struggle to keep it on, we would take short breaks from wearing it on-shore or stopped on the side of the river in an eddy. At almost 2, he fit into the life vest well and had no qualms wearing it. Practice wearing the life vest at home a few times before you head out so they can start getting used to it.
Clothing
For my toddler, I put him in a long sleeve, dry wicking shirt (Patagonia is my favorite, but there’s plenty of options) with a regular diaper and his swim shorts. When he’s ready to play in the water, I’ll change out his diaper for a water diaper, but a water diaper is not absorbant for hanging out on the boat. And always a hat. If it’s cool out, I’ll put a fleece over his shirt, but the life vest blocks a lot of wind and water.
Extra layers
Always bring an extra layer, such as a fleece and/or rain jacket for each person. If the sun goes away, or the wind picks up or someone gets wet, being cold on a boat is miserable. I don’t have a rain jacket for a toddler, but I pack a full set of warm clothes to change into.
Lightweight muslin blanket
This is something I bring everywhere. I found it worked well for naptime to block the sun and distractions while on the boat.
Diapers, water diapers, and wipes
Lots of them, especially since diapers get wet. Grab an extra ziplock bag to throw diapers in a safe place.
Toys
We all need a distraction. Bringing some toys, either for the boat and/or the shore, will help with their short attention span. Cars are an obvious choice with boys. We also like bringing a kids fishing pole to dangle off the boat. Grab a few of your favorite waterproof toys and consider tying a string on them if you think there’s a chance they could go overboard.
What food should you pack for kids on the river?
Snacks
Snacks are imperative to a successful journey. I like to pack small pieces of food so he can slowly snack his way down the river. A snack cup is a good way to keep snacks contained, as long as they don’t throw it overboard. Crackers, pretzels, goldfish, dried fruit or cut up pieces of fruit and veggies, such as blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, apples, cucumber, bell pepper, or carrots are all good options.
Lunch
For lunch, I pack something easy and not too messy. Simple sandwiches such PB&J or turkey and cheese are good options. Add a side of hummus or tzatiki dip for the veggies and crackers as well. For the adults, we make sandwiches and bring charcuterie, fruit, and cookies.
Drinks
Bring plenty of water for everyone and a water bottle for your kids. The first summer we went out on the river, we were feeding milk to our baby. We packed the milk in the cooler and brought a bottle warmer. If you don’t have a bottle warmer, bring an insulated mug with hot water that you can stick the bottle in. In addition to adult beverages, lemonade and seltzer water is a refreshing drink in the heat. Sometimes I’ll throw in some mint from my garden as well.
How to get a toddler to take a nap on the river
We don’t have a scheduled nap time on the boat. But with all the stimulation on the river, the white noise of the water, and the gentle rocking on the boat create a peaceful nap time environment. He’s always fallen asleep in my arms (with a lifejacket propped under an elbow). Or he’ll sleep leaning against me, until I lay him down on the paco pad. Find a spot on the boat that’s safe and you’re next to them to make sure they don’t roll out.
A lightweight muslin blanket can help block both distractions and the sun while they sleep. Tie the long ends of the blanket together and drape it around your neck, creating a comfortable sleep space. Make sure your little one’s face is free, but their body is covered with the blanket to protect from the sun. It’s not a full nap, but it works for a day.
Is it worth it to float the river with toddlers?
As with everything with little kids, it takes more work to accomplish the same outdoor adventures you’re used to. But we’re all happier outside. Honestly, we’re all exhausted by the end of the day too.
Plan and pack accordingly, take breaks when you need to, and go with the flow. It might take longer than you expected, so leave the house a little earlier. Pull over on a beach and throw some rocks in the water when they get fussy or explore on shore. It may not be the perfect day, and that’s ok. The most important part is to enjoy being outside and introduce your kids to the adventure you love.
Interested in other water adventures? Try heading to Highline Lake State Park or Silver Jack Reservoir.