Another Stroller Question

[Momof4girls]

We have five kids - ages 9, 6, 4, 2, and 3 months.


I cannot for the life of me figure out which methods of transportation we should use/bring on this trip. We've done various methods in the past and I feel the need to simplify this trip, since there will be so many of us.

Obviously, the 9 and 6 year olds can walk the whole time (she's almost 7).
However, the 4 year old is a runner - she's not very good at holding hands, realy wants to walk by herself, but then tends to get distracted and stop - sometimes even deliberately separating herself from us. The two year old of course needs a stroller, too.

We're staying in the Ft. Wilderness Cabins and will have our car. I presume we will take the boat over to MK - but we may need to take the internal bus system to get to the dock, campfire, etc.

We will probably drive to AK, MGM, and Epcot.

I think the biggest frustration for us is the constant loading, unloading, collapsing, reloading, collapsing, unloading thing. It makes me nuts. I hate having to get the kids all loaded up, then stop in the parking lot waaay at the end of an aisle, then walk all the way up to the tram, then get off the tram and have to walk again. Or, in the case of the cabins, walk from the cabin to the bus stop, unload, collapse, get on the bus, depart, reload, etc.

One of the main reasons we chose the FWCabins is the fact that we can get on the boat with the stroller set up. (monorail makes me motion sick)

So - bottom line is - what would you take/use?

I have the following options:
baby carriers/slings for the baby and/or 2 year old

infant carseat compatible stroller that we can either pop the seat in or use for my 2 year old (it collapses with one hand and is very easy to use)

mac side by side (a little harder to collapse, but lightweight and two seats)

2 mac singles

Or, of course, we could rent them (I considered this for the 4 & 2 year old, who could walk short distances (ie. from the tram to the car) but I hate the idea of having to leave late at night when the 2 year old will be sleepy without a stroller to get to the car.

Something else?

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Mac Double plus sling carrier for infant as long as the double reclines sufficiently for the infant. I might throw the single mac in the car as well.

Please don't leave the baby in the car seat bucket for extended periods of time. It really isn't good for them.

 

[alloyd1170]

I would sling the baby, use a double stroller for the 4 & 2 and let the older ones walk (you could always rent one for them if needed, or like the other posted said, toss the single stroller in the car. When the 4 yr old wants to walk, the baby can ride to give you a break. My 4 yr old rode most of the time, I think only because he was able to. Normally he walks everywhere. The novelty of a stroller with a seat or stand for him on the back was cool (we have the Joovy Caboose which was a real bear to push with both kids-4 and 1 and haul on the bus).

alison

 

[Momof4girls]

So you don't like the Joovy? That's what I was pretty set on getting.

My mac 2 seater is around the same weight, so it would be nice to have it more compact. But, then again, maybe I'm spoiled by how easy the macs navigate?

The main thing I don't like about the Joovy is that you need two hands to fold it.

 

[blessedby3]

I would bring the double mac, baby sling and either bring the other single or rent one if needed. I wouldnt count on having the baby in the sling the whole time. So confining- Im sure the baby will want to stretch out some of the time. If you rented one and it was getting close to evening, you could sling the baby, and put the 2 and 4 year olds in the double mac. I agree that the mac pushes like a dream. I like that you can push it one handed.

 

[my2princessgirls]

So you don't like the Joovy? That's what I was pretty set on getting.

My mac 2 seater is around the same weight, so it would be nice to have it more compact. But, then again, maybe I'm spoiled by how easy the macs navigate?

The main thing I don't like about the Joovy is that you need two hands to fold it.

Just wanted to say that I recently got the Peg Perego Pliko3 and it is fabulous! We looked at the Joovy, and it is just big and heavy and long (at least in my opinion it is). The Pliko is compact and light, looks like a regular stroller, but it has a step on the back for the older child to stand on. Granted, there is no place for the older one to sit, so if you really need that extra seat it doesn't have it. I have found that it is super easy to push and it turns very easily. The basket at the bottom is about medium sized (not near as HUGE as my tandem double stroller had), but it works well for us (easier to get to from the side than from the back).

I just thought that I would throw that out there since no one had mentioned it thus far.

 

[shelly3girls]

Please don't leave the baby in the car seat bucket for extended periods of time. It really isn't good for them.

Really? I never heard this. DS loves his carseat much better than anything else and practically lived in it while we were at WDW when he was 3 months old. Why is it bad for them? I would love to know b/c he is only 4 months and still spends time it in but I will limit the time if necessary. He has reflux and the carseat is one of the few places that make him comfortable.

To the OP, I would take the double, the sling, and the single that holds the carseat. All of the restaurants allowed me to bring the carseat in which made it very easy to dine. This is the combination that has worked the best for us. GL! Also, if you want to use the single stroller for the infant you can buy a padded/fleece insert for the stroller that makes it comfortable for an infant and makes them much more secure in the straps. My DS made out great with it.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Really? I never heard this. DS loves his carseat much better than anything else and practically lived in it while we were at WDW when he was 3 months old. Why is it bad for them? I would love to know b/c he is only 4 months and still spends time it in but I will limit the time if necessary. He has reflux and the carseat is one of the few places that make him comfortable.

Two recent medical studies, one in the Pediatrics journal (AAP) and another study in the Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics noted new medical complications that are affecting newborns who spend too much time in the infant carseat carriers.

In the Pediatrics study, the authors found a suprising reduction in oxygen saturation for infants who have been sitting in their seats for more than about 20 minutes. There was a similar study and finding in a study in Japan. Though not life threatening, the AAP recommends that infants (especially newborns) spend only travel time in their carriers.

The study in the Journal of Prothetics and Orthotics found that excess time in car seats, swings, and similar devices resulted in more severe/complicated cases of plagiocephaly than other infants who slept on their backs in cribs or cots but who were allowed to move more at other times.

While neither of these complications are life-threatening, they're also fairly unnecessary. I saw so many kids in the head reshaping helmets on our last trip. It made me sad. Most people plug their baby buckets into the monster travel system anyway. If you're going to be out and about for a while, place the baby in the fully reclined seat. Besides, it's a heck of a lot cooler out of those carseats in that hot Florida sun!

 

[staci]

If it were me, i would bring the mac side by side, as well as a sling. The baby will likely be in teh sling quite a bit, and then could swap turns with the 4 year old in teh stroller if your back needed a break.

I have a double, and we took it last weekend to the zoo, but ds rode alone most of the time and dd was very content in the sling. (she is 3 months) I think you would be fine to just have the 4 year old share her seat as needed.

I wouldnt rent a stroller but that is just me. i find it easier to have the stroller so I have a place to put the kids and dont have to worry about keeping everyone together outside of the parks.

HTH

 

[alloyd1170]

RE: Joovy...

I like the Joovy, but it was sort of a pain. I really only use at WDW or the mall. DD is 15 mos (25 lbs) and DS is 4.5 yrs (45 lbs). DS is over the weight limit. When he gets on, it is tougher to push. At WDW, when you have people stopping right in front of you or blocking the walkway its tough to manuver quickly once you get moving. Then you have to start up again-takes a lot of effort. Plus, doing the ramps for the monorail at the end of the day was no picnic. I made DS get off for that part, unless I took the elevator at Epcot! Some other negatives-when folded up, the wheels lock so you cant drag/push it along. You have to pick it up and at 25 lbs unloaded, this wasnt fun. Trying to lug it on to the bus, especially when there were lots of people to squeeze by was no picnic either. The foot rest doesnt lay completely flat and moves around so I had to watch that it didnt hit someone. Thankfully I had my dad to handle the kids while I wrestled with the stroller. If we had to do it again, I would consider driving our car to the parks not on the monorail.

What I did like was that it was longer vs wider which made it easier in stores. The storage was great and I even added a small mesh bag to the side to store the rain cover and ponchos. The drink holders behind the front seat were nice too. I liked that the back seat slides over the basket. I actually stored some purchased items in it with no problems. You couldnt see it.

I supposed Im spoiled with my Mac Quest and this one involved a lot more work. My son loved being able to stand up (even on the seat) to watch parades and fireworks. He somehow managed to fall asleep in the rear seat too (he closed the safety strap and rest his head on it). DD did sleep in the front seat too, but didnt look very comfy. Good things kids can sleep anywhere in any position!

alison

 

[twinspluscade]

Really? I never heard this. DS loves his carseat much better than anything else and practically lived in it while we were at WDW when he was 3 months old. Why is it bad for them? I would love to know b/c he is only 4 months and still spends time it in but I will limit the time if necessary. He has reflux and the carseat is one of the few places that make him comfortable." (end quote)

Oh, I feel for you! All 3 of our kids had severe Reflux--it was not fun!!

Although I agree that under normal circumstances babies shouldn't spend too much time in their infant seats (or swings, etc.) I do think with severe Reflux babies you sometimes need to make exceptions. None of our kids could lay flat until they were 5-6 months old because the Reflux was so painful for them (even with meds). They would cry and cry if we laid them down. Our twins would occasionally even Reflux and quit breathing--very scary! Due to the breathing issues, our Ped actually recommended our twins sleep in their infant seats until they outgrew the Reflux. They were about 6 months when they finally could sleep in their cribs without Reluxing and choking.

Kelly

 

[lovesdumbo]

I too have a Peg Perego Pliko P3 that I love. It is very comfy for the sitting child. But I'm not sure you want to invest that kind of money in a stroller when you already have several. I really like that the Pliko can stand when folded. If you did have a pliko you could use that for getting to the park entrance-carry infant, let 2 year sit and 4 year old stand. Then I would rent a double in the parks for 2 year old and 4 year old and use the pliko for the infant. An older child cannot stand on the back when the seat is reclined.

Have a great trip!