Surfing with baby can be one of the most nerve-wracking–yet rewarding–experiences of parenthood for any surf Mom and Dad. We waited until Liv was older and obviously made sure to take all safety precautions–but still, having baby on board felt so new and unknown.
The first time we took Liv surfing went exactly as we'd imagine–even though it was completely unplanned. We spent the afternoon hanging at our home break, waiting for Noah to paddle in, and when he did, we must've both been feeling pretty daring. Without a word, we spontaneously plopped one-year-old Liv onto the longboard before he paddled her out a short distance from shore. A sizable south swell made for some playful insiders that rolled all the way to shore.
With little Liv lying tucked under his chest, and with one extra paddle, they soared along the ocean surface. Noah had the biggest grin, and Liv had a look of content. I, standing on shore with the camera, had all the same feels as when we first dipped Liv in the ocean at four months–which just so happen to be at this same spot. It's also where we took our maternity photos! We couldn't have been happier.
VIDEO: An impromptu first surf session for our one-year-old.
Because Liv seemed pretty chill, they caught a few more waves right before the sun set. It was so special to have her first dip and her first surf at this very spot. It was also a relief in some ways; when I was pregnant, we had talked about one day taking her on a surfboard. When she was born, the timing just never seemed right. But after finally doing it, we were so glad we did.
A few weeks later, I got to surf with Liv at a spot near the Waikiki Aquarium. During our many evening strolls when I was pregnant, we'd watch these small waves peel along the jetty–with just enough energy to push you to shore. The perfect little baby wave, we'd joke, would one day be "Liv's wave;" about a year or so later, and I was paddling her out. It's been one of our favorite spots ever since.
By this age, Liv was a lot older and more expressive. She'd squeal and point as we rode to shore. She had also recently learned the word "fish" or "shish," as she'd say–so pointing them out to her while waiting for a wave had been a good way to keep her from jumping off of the board. Yes, while she was way more expressive, she was also way more curious–with an attention span even shorter. Giving her random sticks or leaves floating by had also been a great tactic to keeping her on the board.
We've since taken Liv surfing a handful of times, with each experience different from the next. And while it's totally at your discretion as to when and where you take your baby surfing, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Go early/late in the day. We usually surf in the evenings because the sun isn't as harsh. The conditions are also typically calmer. No matter the time of day, make sure to always put sunscreen on your little one.
Wear a life vest. We first tried a classic over-the-shoulder life vest, but it would float upward and into Liv's chin. Since then, we've been loving the Puddle Jumper (second photo). It fits snuggly around her upper body and arms, with an easy clip-on in the back. Just make sure your child falls within the weight restrictions, which is usually 30 to 50 lbs.
Stay on the inside. Obviously, don't take baby to the main peak but rather, hang out on the very inside–away from the other surfers and from the bigger sets. It's not only safer, but it's also a shorter distance to shore–in case baby is over it.
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