Tips for cruising with a baby!

[ThePedersonFamily]

Great thread!! I wish I would have read these tips before I cruised!! I have cruised with my DD when was 6 months old and again when she was 2 years 4 months. I wanted to add a couple of things I found helpful!
Number one, the head waiter on our first cruise when DD was 6 months would bring her freshly made baby food everyday. I had brought store made baby food with me the first night to feed her. The head waitress came over to chat and from that meal on she always had a bowl of sweet potatos (her favorite) and a bowl of whatever veggies they were serving that evening. If I had been smart I would have brought a small tupperware container because the amount they made for her was HUGE, it would have easily been plenty for her lunch the next day!! (I also found the food to be HOT! But because it was so thick I just added some ice cubes and it thinned the food and cooled it at the same time!)
Number two, I didn't find out until after our cruise, but I thought I'd pass along the info! Our second cruise when Sarah was 2 yrs. 4 months she was completely potty trained. She had been trained for almost 5 months when we sailed, so she was completely potty trained and that meant she could have gone into the regular child care. I read that here on the disboards after our cruise!! I think you may have to ask special permission, but I know it is done....I would have loved to have known that beforehand!!
Number three, we bought a MacLaren umbrella stroller before our cruise and it was awesome!! It's a little pricey, but worth every penny! Check it out, they fit well into the rooms, but still have all the comforts of a larger stroller!
And finally...I really believe no child is too young to enjoy a Disney Cruise!!! Have fun and take things in stride!!

 

[Fleury]

Great thread!! I wish I would have read these tips before I cruised!! I have cruised with my DD when was 6 months old and again when she was 2 years 4 months. I wanted to add a couple of things I found helpful! ...
Number three, we bought a MacLaren umbrella stroller before our cruise and it was awesome!! It's a little pricey, but worth every penny! Check it out, they fit well into the rooms, but still have all the comforts of a larger stroller!
And finally...I really believe no child is too young to enjoy a Disney Cruise!!! Have fun and take things in stride!!

Thanks for the tip on the stroller - I've been looking for a more simple stroller that's not too large but also has the comforts of a larger one.

 

[ArielRae]

Those rooms aren't only for those with a handicap. They also book for those like her who have twins and need the floor space for cribs just like room for a wheelchair that the other rooms can not give her. They do not force you to purchase two rooms or get a suite cause you need the space for another crib. You can still pay standard stateroom rates but get the space you need.

But I agree don't book unless it is a real need. Having twins with two cribs in a room IS a need.

Please don't book a HC stateroom unless you need it for accessibility reasons. They are already few and far between.

 

[cryssi]

Great thread! DS will be 21 mo when we cruise this summer, and I've already gotten great tips here on the dis! I'm confident he will have a great time! I know he's going to hate that he can't go in the pool, though, especially when he sees all the kids in there. He absolutely loves water. I don't know how I'm going to keep him out of the pool! Maybe it will be to cold to swim in alaska... Don't think he will be potty trained yet by then...

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Maybe some nursing moms can answer this question: Just wondering what Disney's policy is on nursing infants publicly (i.e., in the dining room, beside the pool, etc.). I know in Canada it's illegal to ask a woman to stop breastfeeding in public, but not sure what the policy will be onboard. Obviously, I would be discreet and cover up for the most part. But I wondered if anyone had any information on this

Florida state legislation house bill #231 section 1 (1993): "A mother may breastfeed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether or not the nipple of the mother's breast is covered during or incidental to the breastfeeding."

This is our first cruise, but since DH is a CM we are at Disney World all the time, and I have nursed my babies anywhere and everywhere, usually using a Hooter Hider, but sometimes just being discreet. I have never had an issue with Disney CMs being anything less than very helpful when it comes to NIP (nursing in public), and I expect the same on the ship.

 

[Timon]

I just cruised on the Disney Dream and got some great shots of the It's A Small World Nursery

Instead of reposting all the pics here, here is the link to my post from my Dream Trip Report:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=39919943#post39919943

 

[LittleDisneyLovers]

Subscribing to this thread!
I have 2 girls aged 10 and 8, and I am currently pregnant. We are doing the Hawaii cruise next April (2012), so baby will be about 8 months.
I am completely out of practise and forget how hard it can be with a baby if your not organised. Thanks so much for all your tips, keep them coming!

 

[UmmGooD]

Thanks for the pointers. We were booked on the Dream March 13th 2012 but just found out my wife is pregnant. We couldn't add the baby in our price range (It would double the price of the cruise) so we switched to the same week but M.R. cruise. We now have 2 inside rooms and think we'll have plenty of space. Our baby will be about 4 months old when we sail.

Anyone cruise with a baby this young? I am excited and worried at the same time.

As far as the stroller goes we have an Inglesina Zippy. It is by far the BEST stroller. It folds up and opens with one hand like an umbrella, is super light, has a shade that goes all the way over the seat to the snack tray (when they are asleep), and is sturdy like a regular stroller. They are very very pricey but I bought ours on craigslist. When we take it into baby stores the staff regularly ask us about it and how we like it. (They are very hard to find).

 

[tritao]

Question: when leaving kids in Flounders, do you give them the diapers and wipes?

Great thread!

 

[lisagirl88]

-We have a Cat5 verandah room and our twins will be 2 1/2 years old on the cruise next spring. Will two pnp's fit in the 249sq foot room???

- What are the hours for the It's a Small world nursery on the Dream?

- How far in advance can you book your hours in the nursery and do you have to book certain hours each day? How many hours total can be booked?

- My twins are not in daycare and I can't imagine them sleeping with all the cribs lined up like in the pictures. Has anyone had babies in there at bedtime hours or naptime and they actually slept???? My guys go to bed at 7 p.m. and take an afternoon nap. I can't imagine them napping with all the fun going on!

- Do you have to bring a fully stocked diaper bag to the nursery?

Awesome thread by the way. Awesome to know that the twins can go visit their brothers in the kids clubs too

 

[2disneycruzrs]

Has anyone used the bed rails they offer for the sofa bed? DD will be 23 months and a CM offered. We had planned on just bringing an Aero Bed but will try this first.

Thanks for all the great tips!

 

[Gdes1]

DS was 18 months on our first cruise last Fall (Magic/Western). Here are things I learned and things I wished I'd done:
1) We had Grandma along so no need for Flounders, so can't comment there.

2) We took him to the 3 years and up play area (forgot the name) every day and one of us stayed with him while he played. He loved it and the staff were very nice.

3) Bring a travel bottle with liquid dish soap for washing sippies and other things in your room. Bring tons of ziplocs...they are good for so many things.

4) We had a cat 9 and the PNP fit just fine. I bet two could even fit, just depends on room layout. However, the "mattress" in them is hard as a rock! So, I took the extra blanket and folded it to the size of the PNP bottom, then put my on PNP sheet over it to hold it in place, then put their sheet over that. Of course, do NOT do that with a very young infant due to suffocation risk, but it was fine for my toddler. And remember to get your sheet back at the end of the cruise!

5) My DS has been attending swimming "lessons" since he was 6 months old and I had the same fear about the pool...he would see it and cry if he couldn't go in it. Honestly, I don't know he knew it was there. Water shooting out of the ground at the Splash Pool was too much fun for him.

6) I found a really cheap sand toy/bucket set at Walgreens on clearance and packed it by stuffing undies and whatnot inside of the pieces. That way we had toys ready to go and if they didn't make it home, no biggie.

7) I wish I'd brought the hanging storage thing from his closet at home. I think they are for shoes, but it's like cloth shelves with a hanger at the top and it collapses and is light. It's nice for storage of all the little things like hats, diapers, etc.

8) DS was very into opening and closing doors at the time of our cruise and I was constantly worried he was going to smash his fingers in the metal bathroom doors. You can just leave them closed, or throw a hand towel over the top...instant door stop.

9) If you need containers of milk or yogurt to keep in your cooler box, just ask your server and they will bring some to your table. The yogurt was a good bedtime snack for DS.

10) I am a list maker and I found myself scribbling little notes to myself such as "remember to take PNP sheet at end of cruise" or "charge camera batteries tonight". I wish I'd taken my magnetic white board from my fridge and some pens. It's the size of piece of paper and also very light. Also good for family members to write each other notes. It would stick to any door in the room except the closet.

11) I completely overpacked. I knew they had laundry rooms but I figured one load would be $10 or something and I had seen a post where someone had to put her laundry through both wash and dry twice, plus I didn't know how busy it was. But, babies do not keep their clothes clean and sometimes they get food on parents, too. The laundry room on our deck was convenient, always had machines available, was $3 each to wash and dry, did not take two cycles to get done, and I used it often. Next time I will bring soap and our collapsible hamper and half the clothes. I just grabbed up the whole family's dirty things every other day and did it all together on cold and we were good to go again.

12) A word about how disposable swim diapers work....they do not hold much pee! They are designed to hold a very small amount of pee and, solids, and that's it. We put one on DS at CC and forgot about it. DH held DS while we stood in line for photos with Goofy and DH says, "Wow, a lot of water was stuck in his swim trunks." Me: "Uh, no, he's peeing." DH still insists he just got seawater all over his shirt. No reason to change them again and again, just be aware and maybe put on a real diaper before they go back in the stroller, or up on your shoulders.
13) Bring a nightlight and/or illuminated clock as the clocks in the room cannot be read in the dark.

14) If you need something, ask your stateroom host(ess) or server or any CM. DCL exists to cater to families. Have fun!

 

[LittleDisneyLovers]

This info is so useful, I do have kids but they are 8 and 10 and I am completely out of practise. How quickly you forget all the baby stuff!
I really appreciate all the info to help me plan for our cruise with an 8 month old baby. What would I do without DIS?

 

[Ferrentinos]

Just found this and was reading through it - we will be cruising with our DD next June (she'll be about 19 months old then) - great tips!

Anybody have anything to add??
Curious about anything in particular to Flounders ...

 

[pacomom]

We've used the bed rails on the sofa bed for our son when he was 3 and they worked very well. He moves everywhere when he's sleeping too.
I breastfed our daughter when she was 4 months on board with no problems AT ALL from the staff or other passengers. I was discreet about it, always covering myself and baby, but did it anywhere and never got any bad looks or anything.
The staff are FANTASTIC. The dining room staff and the room steward were so helpful-never hesitate to ask for help.
Flounder's was great and will work with you however you want. I wanted to be called if my daughter started crying and was upset and they did (she has colic/reflux) so I was able to pick her up. They followed every request and were so great with her.

 

[Ferrentinos]

We've used the bed rails on the sofa bed for our son when he was 3 and they worked very well. He moves everywhere when he's sleeping too.
I breastfed our daughter when she was 4 months on board with no problems AT ALL from the staff or other passengers. I was discreet about it, always covering myself and baby, but did it anywhere and never got any bad looks or anything.
The staff are FANTASTIC. The dining room staff and the room steward were so helpful-never hesitate to ask for help.
Flounder's was great and will work with you however you want. I wanted to be called if my daughter started crying and was upset and they did (she has colic/reflux) so I was able to pick her up. They followed every request and were so great with her.

Wonderful to know that Flounders would call you! Does anyone know their hours of operation? All I can find on the website is that the hours are limited and must be signed up for in advance. TIA!

 

[tinkerbell2181]

2) We took him to the 3 years and up play area (forgot the name) every day and one of us stayed with him while he played. He loved it and the staff were very nice.

DD will be almost 19 months old, and I seen your son was 18 months when you are referring to this area. What is this area? Is this the nursery? Is it open to people even for kids just to play? Thanks in advance for any info from anyone!!

 

[Wests4Disney]

subbing.

We are taking a cruise in NOv. 2011 and our son will be 13 months. Keep the tips coming. Love it so far. Thanks for all of the advice and tidbits. It is nice to learn from others who have "been there, done that."

 

[sesame_123]

First of all Thanks for all the great information!!

Now onto my concerns we are cruising this December it will be Myself (mom) my sister, my dd4 (turning 5 in January) and my DS who turns 2 in Novemeber. I'm trying to figure out sleeping because my stinker err I mean my son has figured out how to climb out of his crib. I can't get him to stay in it. Had to switch him to a toddler bed. I think he would do fine in a bed with the bed rails but where to put my daughter, I'm not really keen on her sleeping in the bunk.
Is there an age restriction on who can sleep in the bunk?

Since it will be my sister and myself will the beds be configured as a queen or as twins? Could we request it to be a queen? (I'm thinking ds/dd and myself sleep in the queen, dd/ds on couch and sister on bunk)

I am sure I am way overthinking this and it will just work out.

TIA

Tracy

p.s. I will be working hard on the Potty training thanks to the tip about the kids club but I'm not holding my breath on that one!

 

[peachygreen]

DD will be almost 19 months old, and I seen your son was 18 months when you are referring to this area. What is this area? Is this the nursery? Is it open to people even for kids just to play? Thanks in advance for any info from anyone!!

I'm not the original poster you quoted but the 3 years and up play area is in the Oceaneers lab. You just go to the check in desk and they will get you a visitor sticker and you and your baby can go in and do any of the activities going on. I took my 10 month old a lot especially when dropping off or picking up my almost 5 year old so she could crawl and play. There were several 18month - 2year olds who would visit at various times.