Sailing the Adriatic with a toddler sounds ambitious, and it can be. It can also be one of the best family holidays you ever take. The secret is planning for life on a moving boat before you arrive at the marina.
Safety on deck
Life jackets that fit. Bring or reserve properly sized children's life jackets with a crotch strap and a grab handle. Check them on the first morning.
Netting. Ask your charter company whether guard-rail netting is available for the yacht.
The swim platform. Make clear rules about the platform and the tender, and stick to them every day.
One adult on watch. When children are on deck or in the water, someone should always be watching them and only them.
Sleep
Most toddlers sleep well on a boat once they are used to the motion. Keep naps at the usual time, plan short sailing legs around them and choose a quiet anchorage for the night when you can. A small fan and blackout covers for the hatches help in July and August.
Sun and heat
The Adriatic sun is strong and reflects off the water. Plan swims in the morning and late afternoon, keep children in UV suits and hats, and make sure there is shade on deck.
Food
Provisioning in Split or Dubrovnik is easy, and supermarkets stock familiar basics. Bring any specific baby foods or formula you rely on, and keep snacks within easy reach for long sailing legs.
Why families bring a nanny
On a yacht there is nowhere to hand children over for an hour. A nanny on board means one person whose whole job is the children: watching the swims, settling naps, keeping toddlers safe on deck and putting them to bed while the adults go ashore for dinner.
We refer experienced, English-speaking nannies for charters from Split and Dubrovnik. Families hire and pay their nanny directly.
Plan childcare for your charter
Mediterranean Yacht Nannies is a referral service. We match families with experienced, English-speaking nannies for yacht charters and superyachts in Croatia, Monaco and the French Riviera, Italy and Spain. Families hire and pay their nanny directly, and we handle the search, the video interviews, the reference checks and the introductions.
Email us or message us on WhatsApp with your dates, marina and the ages of your children.
