8 month and 18 month old rides and stroller

[mmps108]

We leave in 26 days and I'm starting to panic. We're traveling with my parents and my brother's family. Kids are 8, 6, 18 mo and 8 mo.

First question, and I didn't even think about this until I started reading the recent post about rides and 3 year olds. Will my 8 month old be ok on most rides in my lap? She's pretty happy and observant but I have no idea how she'll be on rides like Haunted Mansion or Pirates. Any experience?

Second question. We have a City Elite stroller and have been advised not to bring it because the airline will damage it. We've have what I would call a deluxe umbrella stroller we're borrowing from a friend. It reclines and has a decent shade.
However we are considering renting a double City Mini from one of the rental places.

My DH is worried our 8 mo and her 18 mo cousin won't be able to coexist in the side by side. I think they'll be fine.
Any experience?

 

[DanieD0909]

Hi,

I just have one daughter so don't know about the whole sibling thing but wanted to tell you about my DD and the rides
She rode everything with us except anything with a height restriction which is a just a handful of rides per park. We went at 3 months, 5 months, and 7.5 months. She has been on pirates, haunted, all the fantasyland rides, people mover, buzz light year spin at MK. She loved them all - wasn't afraid of the dark. She was a happy camper. I'm sure it depends on each kid but ours was more than fine. We didn't "wear" her in the park at all in a carrier - we had an umbrella stroller and away we went. She was easily able to sit up at 4 months and is already walking at 10
months. She is a little tall for her age so the umbrella stroller worked for us. It is a Jeep one from target. It was just super easy to navigate, I didn't have to worry if anyone stole it, it was easy to find in the sea of strollers, and was super compact to fit in our rental car with all our luggage. It was great!

Im sure you will have a great time - and your little one will have a blast too!!! Good luck!!

 

[dsneprincess]

Both my kids went at 5 months old. I brought their regular stollers by air often, no damage ever, although they do have you sign off for it. I wouldn't want to do a double, just in case of needing to split up. You just never know what is going to happen and how much Imelda you will have to spend figuring out logistics. I would be afraid this was an idea that seems better from home than in practice.

In regards to rides, they kids rode everything without a height restriction happily. Older they start to get some fears, but for my kids that was more between 2 &3. Have fun!

 

[mmps108]

Phew! It's a huge relief to hear that from you both about the rides. I don't know why I didn't think about it until now!

I am nervous about the stroller. I really prefer our big stroller, but I'm scared the airline will damage it. My dad has trouble walking and uses the stroller for support. We kind of thought he could use the double for support and if he's alone with the kids waiting on us he won't have to maneuver 2 strollers.

Sigh...lots to think about and not a lot of time to make decisions!

 

[CourtneyL]

You can get the travel bag for the city elite and then just gate check the stroller. I have the bag for the city mini, and it is very substantial with lots of padding. I have no worries with gate checking it in the bag.

I personally wouldn't do a double since that means you'd either be "stuck" with your brothers family or you'd potentially be without a stroller if you chose to do something different or on your own.

 

[Lilliputian]

Regarding the double stroller, the City Mini has a pretty substantial "wall" in between the two seats. Between that and the 5 point restraint, rather than just a lap belt, there's no way the 2 babies will be able to bother each other. They'll hardly know the other one is there.

Now the idea of sharing a double stroller for non-siblings is a whole separate consideration. I'd want to make it easier for families to split up. And as much as I love my City Mini double, I strongly prefer my City Mini single and use it instead whenever I can, either making my 3 year old walk or wearing the baby in his Ergo. Pushing a double stroller with that many adults available doesn't seem like the best option to me.

 

[SweetMissy]

Our son was 18 months old for our trip this year and he was fine riding the rides. He surprisingly got a little scared during some of the dark ones and even the pooh ride was a little scary for him. Aside from being sick from teething for the first couple days of vacation, he had a blast! The stroller issue is totally up to you! I'm an avid baby wearer and have discovered life is easier when you wear a kid, so for me, I would wear the 8 month old and just do a single for the 18 month old. Last year when we went he was 4 months old and I wore him practically the whole time. Much easier to nurse in too....I just nursed and walked, no need to stop and waste time. However it would be nice to have the double if you ever wanted a break from wearing the 8 month old...but there's always hubby or whoever else is with you to take on the wearing duties, lol. If you're not a baby wearer, then I would rent a double rather than bringing your own. I've rented from magic strollers and kingdom strollers...both are great companies. Good luck!