Advice for WDW trip with 1yr old

[Sparky534]

Hi Everyone,
Me and my husband are planning to go to WDW for our baby's first b-day in September. It's our first child so we are excited. I was wondering if anyone has any good advice? What should I bring to the park? Thank you

 

[JennandJaryd]

My baby girl always takes a nice nap in her stroller. Bring a baby blanket to cover the opening of the stroller to isolate her.

Also bring baby bjorn to carry baby on rides. Works perfect! I put it under stroller until getting in line to save my back. Lol

Also Target has lunch cooler bags that have freezer packs in the lining. Very convenient for bottles. Get the baby used to cold or room temp drinks, anything but warmed.

Bring toy, cup, blanket from home to make baby comfy.

And maybe some white noise to help baby sleep through hotel noise. Maids will be working at nap time.

 

[Sparky534]

Thank you JennandJaryd. Didn't think of a baby bjorn.

 

[edtricia]

A good carrier is a lifesaver, but a bjorn is hard on both baby and mom due to the design. Look into an ergo, boba, or beco. I love the beco butterfly 2. It has an internal harness that enables you to do a back carry without help or trade baby from one parent to the other easily. Just practice at home over a soft surface.
I like those little plastic linking rings. Hook one through toys or sippies and then onto stroller so toys cannot fall to the ground. They can also be used as a clip to tether a lightweight blanket to the stroller so it doesn't blow.
A good hat with a wide brim all they way around would be good. I would also be sure the baby's legs, at least past the knee, and feet are covered because they can sunburn while sitting in a stroller or carrier.

 

[Kpskyman]

It can get hot in September, so make sure you get a small battery operated fan for stroller. Make use of the baby care stations in the parks, they are air conditioned and quieter then anyplace else in the parks. Good place to unwind, nap, breast feed, or just cool down. Last tip is use Garden Grocer befor you leave for vacation, and order all your baby needs to be sent to your resort room. It helps with packing to have all your diapers, wipes, milk, juice, baby food, snacks. Etc. waiting for you when you get there

 

[LadyRayado]

I took my then nine month old last September and second the baby carrier suggestion. I used a Moby Go. I suggest the powdered Pedialyte mixes in case it gets hot to help with hydration - my son wouldn't drink plain water. I'm taking some for our March trip. We also used the baby centers a few times to cool off and relax for a half hour or so. They aren't in the most convenient locations, but they were nice and quiet. We took two spare outfits and used at least one of them each day. Take plastic bags or something similar to keep dirty clothes in. You can buy some baby supplies in the parks and resorts, but they are expensive and there isn't a large variety of types/sizes/flavor of foods, so make sure to bring enough - especially if your baby has any sensitivities or is picky with food. Bring whatever baby meds you might need to as those are very, very expensive there too.

 

[kjs1976]

I second the baby care centers for breaks, feedings, and diaper changes! We took DD @ 8 mos and 1.5. She loved pool time, too so we made sure we hit the pool after nap time. She slept in her stroller for mid morning nap up to an hour so that helped and gave us a break. We always froze go gurt and brought it along so by snack time it would be melted and perfect for her. We also used A Baby's Best Friend for crib rental and can't say enough good things about them! DD has always loved characters so we got a lot of good photo ops with them. I also second bringing meds along. When she was 1.5 she got a bad cold the third day of our trip and we had to make a run for meds, and no, they are not that cheap even at Walgreens.

 

[PrincesCJM]

Be flexible. I took my son this past July when he was 13 months old. He did great! He had great interactions with the characters and handled the heat like a pro. He had switched to milk at that point so a fridge was a necessity for me (this trip was during the recall time and they weren't readily available - things are much better now). We brought two outfits/onesies in the diaper bag and used them both. He wasn't walking then. Although my son naps in a pack and play at his grandmother's house (our sitter), he would not sleep in one during vacation. I have decided that they aren't comfortable for him to sleep in for more than 2-3 hours at one time. So, I spent my vacation sharing a bed with a child who insisted on being in constant contact with me. I agree with a PP about bring a blanket or towel to the parks to help keep the sun off of them when napping in the stroller. In addition, bring some sort of clips to help it from blowing away. I brought my bottle drying rack, a bottle cleaning sponge and actual dish soap so that I could clean the bottles properly. Try not to overpack for the parks - easier said then done I know but you will need to pass through the bag check.

Have fun! Traveling to Disney with a small child is fun (and challenging). It is incredible to see things through their eyes! You really will slow down and smell the roses.

 

[wiigirl]

A good carrier is a lifesaver, but a bjorn is hard on both baby and mom due to the design. Look into an ergo, boba, or beco. I love the beco butterfly 2. It has an internal harness that enables you to do a back carry without help or trade baby from one parent to the other easily. Just practice at home over a soft surface.
I like those little plastic linking rings. Hook one through toys or sippies and then onto stroller so toys cannot fall to the ground. They can also be used as a clip to tether a lightweight blanket to the stroller so it doesn't blow.
A good hat with a wide brim all they way around would be good. I would also be sure the baby's legs, at least past the knee, and feet are covered because they can sunburn while sitting in a stroller or carrier.

 

[Sparky534]

Thanks everyone for your wonderful advice. I can't wait. I'll let you guys know how it went.