Yes, you can, but plan it differently from an adult trip: choose a calm morning, keep the child in the shade, and tell us each child's exact age when you book so we can confirm what is possible before you pay.
Is a private boat a good fit for a baby or toddler?
It can be. On a Chifbay trip only your group is on board, up to 5 guests, so you set the pace. Nobody minds a crying baby, a feed in the middle of the trip or a toddler who needs a cuddle at Cabo Girão.
It is still an open 9 metre motor boat at sea. There is wind, sun, engine noise and motion, and the boat has edges that a curious toddler will want to explore. A private trip makes all of that easier to manage. It does not make it disappear.
What should you tell us before you book?
The exact age of every child, in months for babies, and anything you will need on board. Send it on WhatsApp or with your booking, so we can answer honestly before you commit.
- Ages and rough weights. Life jackets for babies and small children come in specific sizes. Ask us on WhatsApp before booking whether one in your child's size is available. If you own an approved infant life jacket that fits well, you are welcome to mention it.
- Whether you want to bring a buggy. Space on deck is limited, so ask first whether to bring it or leave it in the car.
- Feeding and nap times. They help you pick the right departure.
- Who will hold whom. With a toddler, one adult should be on them for the whole trip. Count your adults before you count the swim stop.
- Any allergies. Food and drinks are included on every trip, so tell us about allergies in the family early.
Which trip and which time work best?
For most families the 10:00 Day Trip, on the shorter 2h30 option, is the easiest. You are back at Marina do Funchal at 12:30, in time for lunch and an afternoon nap.
The morning also suits small children who are fresh after breakfast and fade by late afternoon. Choose 3h and you carry on to Ponta do Sol, landing back at 13:00: fine for a bigger toddler, a long stretch for a baby.
What about the Sunset Trip?
It depends on the month. Sunset departures sit 1 h 15 ahead of the sun going down, so the start moves from around 16:45 in December to around 20:00 in June. A winter sunset trip, back before 19:00 on the 2 hour option, can work for a toddler. A June departure runs well past most bedtimes, and the air on the water cools quickly once the sun has gone.
How do you protect a baby from the sun on a boat?
Shade first, then clothing, then sun cream where a doctor says it is fine. Our boat has a dark canopy, and that shade is where a baby should spend the trip.
The NHS advises keeping babies under 6 months out of direct sunlight, and using sun cream of at least SPF 30 with at least 4-star UVA protection for older children and adults. On a boat the sea reflects light back up, so shade alone is not full protection. A wide hat with a neck flap and light long sleeves do a lot of the work. Ask your doctor or health visitor about sun cream for a very young baby.
Sun on the water is easy to underestimate, most of all on a breezy day when it does not feel hot. Why a breeze hides the burn is explained in our piece on sun strength out at sea.
How do naps, feeds and nappies work on board?
Plan around them, because they will not plan around the boat. The quietest moment for a feed is the swim stop at Fajã dos Padres or Ribeira Brava, when the engine is off and the boat only rocks gently.
Some babies sleep through the engine hum. Others wake every time the boat speeds up. You know which kind you have. There is a bathroom on board, but it is a small boat bathroom, so a changing mat on a seat under the canopy is usually simpler. Bring a bag for used nappies and take it home with you.
What should you pack for a baby or toddler?
- Milk, water, snacks and baby food. The food on board is planned for adults, so bring everything your child eats and drinks.
- A sun hat that ties under the chin. Wind takes loose hats straight into the sea.
- Light long sleeves and a warm layer, even in summer.
- Sun cream suitable for the child's age.
- Nappies, wipes, a changing mat and a bag for rubbish.
- A change of clothes. Spray and spilled drinks happen.
- A familiar toy or blanket for the ride back.
- Swimwear and a well-fitting life jacket only if you have confirmed one with us.
For the grown-ups, use the general packing list for a Madeira boat day.
When is it better not to take a small child?
When the sea is lumpy, when the child is unwell, or when you would spend the trip anxious instead of enjoying it. There is no prize for doing a boat trip with a three-month-old.
- Rough forecast. A sea the skipper judges unsafe means no trip, and you take a later date or your money back. A forecast that only looks choppy is your call: until 24 hours before, you can cancel without paying and wait for a flatter day.
- Newborns. Ask your doctor before taking a very young baby to sea.
- The climbing stage. A toddler who climbs everything needs an adult within arm's reach for the whole trip. If you are the only adult with two small children, think twice.
If the boat waits for another year, our Day Trip along the south coast will still be there. For gentler days out on land, see our guide to Madeira with kids. Practical details such as the meeting point are on our practical information page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum age for children on board?
Send us your child's age on WhatsApp before booking. Chifbay will tell you plainly what we can offer for that age, including life jackets.
Can a toddler swim at the swim stop?
Only in a life jacket that fits, confirmed with us beforehand, and with an adult in the water holding them. The water is open sea, with nowhere to stand.
What if the baby is unhappy halfway through?
Tell the skipper straight away. Only your group is on board, so there is nobody else's trip to protect.
Is morning or afternoon better with a toddler?
Morning, for most families. The 10:00 departure on the 2h30 option is back at 12:30, before lunch and naps.
Book the boat around the nap, never the nap around the boat.