What is the Youngest you would take your kids out paddling?

Would you take your newborn (with a life jacket of course) or a one year old, or a two year old - How old is old enough and under what conditions? ( I am a new parent, I can't see my self taking my newborn, but would love to take him out as soon as logically possible)

As soon as it knows to swim...

The last thing you want a child to do is to panic when they go into the water unexpectedly.

In addition to being able to swim, here are a couple of other check points to consider.

I'd suggest waiting till they are comfortable wearing a PFD for extended periods of time.

I'd also suggest waiting till they develop a comfort with floating in a PFD in water where their feet can't touch.

If they are comfortable swimming around in their PFD all the better.

Introduce them (in a friendly way) to the fact that sometimes you have to get in the water when you are out on your Canoe/Kayak.

If the child is comfortable doing these things they should be less prone to panic in the event they should end up in the water.

So when they do have to go into the water, you want them to feel/think "Oh this is what we did with Dad. No big deal we've done this before.".

A panicked person, big or small, makes the situation so many times more difficult.

I have a three yr old who is constantly asking to go ka-yak-king.However until he can manage to sit somewhat still (which I dont see anytime soon)he can sit in mine and ill pull him around in the water.

Short attention span like his dad.

Thanks for your answers guys! That's pretty much what I was thinking. You need to be comfortable in water before going out. I hadn't considered the sit still factor... I will probably wait a couple of years...

i was raised on the water.my first experience in a canoe was at 4-5yrs old but i was on a boat after i was born. my father was a captian in the coast guard for 22yrs.i had my oldest in a canoe at 4,he is 18 now and cant keep him out of my canoe.my youngest is 10 and i did the same with him, whenever at the river or lake he's either in the canoe or kayak. i say the earlier the better. they will feel comfortable in the water and learn to respect the water and enjoy all it has to offer.