Baby accessories to make parks easier?

[kjs1976]

Just wondering what you have all brought with you to the parks that have made the trip easier with an infant. DD will be 7.5 mos. old when we go in two weeks. She can sit up, crawl, and loves to be on the move. I know she'll be amazed by the sights and sounds alone...she loves to people watch anywhere we go. But I do get nervous about the potential fussy times when we might be in a queue w/o a stroller and are in the heat for longer times.

For example, should I get a mini-fan to clip onto our stroller? What else made life easier? I'll take advice on anything! And I'm sure I'm not the only one who needs it!

Thanks in advance, Dis-Vets!!!!

 

[disneygirl32]

Bring disposible everything!!! We used disposible spoons, bibs, etc. The best tip I have is to take breaks at the baby centers in the parks. We love the one at the Magic Kingdom- it has a little room where you can sit and relax in the air conditioning and they have disney cartoons on. Theyre is also a small room where you can buy baby supplies you may have forgotten or need more of... formula, diapers, medicine, even pacifiers. The baby center at Hollywood Studios is much smaller, and does not have a "sitting room" where you can relax, just a place to change/feed the baby. Have a great time!

 

[DisneyTiger]

I am taking my DD3 and DS1.5 next month (so excited that I can now say "next month" since it's August now! ) and I have been obsessing about stroller accessories. I know my kids are a bit older but I still want to make sure to have anything I could possibly need to make the trip run smoothly. Here are the things that I am bringing...

Stroller: I wanted an umbrella stroller that will fold up compact for the bus rides.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3082737

Stroller Fan:
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=5945&cmSource=Search

Stroller Umbrella (I hate the canopy on my stroller so I got this instead. It can be moved around or taken off completely)
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=534674&cmSource=Search

Rain shield for stroller in case of rain

Stroller bags for additional storage

I went to the dollar store and bought a bunch of cheap toys to keep them entertained on the plane and in lines at the parks.

I am also renting a few items from A Baby's Best Friend (www.abbf.com) like a box fan for white noise, CD player, and some toys for the room. We just don't have the room to pack these things so it's worth paying the extra $$.

I know I'm forgetting something but you'll get lots of tips off of the DIS. That's where I got most of mine! Have a great trip!!!

 

[MandM-Mom]

A front back carrier to make waiting in long lines a bit easier on you!

 

[Miss LD]

on a whim we bought a bag of clothes pins
We used them so often to shield dd (3 mos) from the sun because we would clip the blanket to the stroller. we used them a lot.

 

[mrs.explorer1977]

We invested in a change pad with pockets for wipes and diapers etc. Instead of carrying the whole diaper bag into the bathroom, we just grabbed the change pad and off we went.

We bought a stroller fan down there at one of the baby centers (AK). We kept a Ziploc with a spare diaper and a spare set of clothes in the bottom of the stroller.

Both times, I brough a sling with me. The first time was a pouch sling and in May we brought a ring sling. So easy for waiting in lines etc. DS even slept in it a couple times, which allowed us to still ride on some of the rides while he was sleeping.

HTH!!

 

[Belle72]

Bring a sling - I like the hotsling- or a baby front carrier- my fav is the ergo (less pressure on their hips and spine than bjorns and the like). Waiting in lines is much easier and the pavillions at Epcot didn't allow strollers. And snacks...favorite snacks are always good to have. Also check out where the baby stations are located so you'll know ahead of time. Some of the rides are surprisingly loud and can startle an infant- Mickey's Philharmagic comes to mind but we thought many were really loud. We bought concert earcovers to protect our kids- they wouldn't use earplugs. They come in children's sizes.

 

[barnaby1]

I know you asked about accessories and you have already had the ones I would suggest but the one thing that I found made life easier was actually not to bring too much "gear". Travelling as light as possible is what made our trip pleasurable.

 

[patchchild]

A sling or a comfortable carrier of some kind. I like a Mei Tai because anyone can wear it without having to adjust it, just tie it on. And you have a lot of choices if you prefer to wear it on your front or your back.

Other gear, I'd stay as minimal as you can. You don't need toys of any kind, since just about every babe I've ever met would prefer to play with found objects rather than a real baby toy.

 

[LoveKermit]

I know you asked about accessories and you have already had the ones I would suggest but the one thing that I found made life easier was actually not to bring too much "gear". Travelling as light as possible is what made our trip pleasurable.

Ditto. I take the pad out of our diaper bag with a diaper and travel wipes container stuffed in. Then, that's all you need for a change.

At that age, I took a small lunch bag (ours is from Market Day). That held the next meal. We bought food and formula (pre-made bottles) down there. We were never out of the room for more than one meal, so I would just reload when necessary.

BUT, I would start some solids by then. The 6-9 month range was really tough because DD got bored at dinner and started to not like sitting there watching us eat (we still can't eat in front of her if she's not eating). So, I would start puffs, Cheerios, crackers, etc to get through meal time. Crackers are nice because the restaurant can supply those, thus (like that?) lightening your load. That's something I wish I had done more.

We stuffed a Target bag full of toys into our carseat bag (with the car seat) and checked it for the plane ride. Then DD had stuff in the room. I'm just starting to regularly carry toys with me to restaurants (and she's 1.5). We always had a couple small things for her though when she was that age, but she wasn't too interested. The girl likes to eat!

We also bought the spray bottle/fan combo at Target in Orlando, not at the park. We used that in the lines. DH just held her in line. And I took her pacifier on rides just in case. I think I only used it a couple times if she got antsy or unsure. At that time, I was never far from the binky.

 

[crazywig]

I agree with other posters, do not go without a sling of some sort. I used a hotsling until my dd was a year, invaluable in line.

My dh took this pic of me in line for dumbo in Sept '05, dd was about 2wks past her first bday in this pic. It was HOT and I used it comfortably all week.



You can buy hotslings in a lot of stores now. Super easy to use, and small folded.

 

[kjs1976]

Thanks for the hotsling advice! I hopped on Craigslist after I read your post and found a brand new one in the size I needed in our town! $25 and I can pick up today! Yea! I saw that they retailed for $47 at BabysRus

 

[Ellester]

Definitely get a stroller fan since you are going in August. When your dd sleeps in the stroller, you can aim it at her. I had trouble using one when my little ones were awake because they always wanted to play with it. But once they were napping, we'd hook it up because it is HOT especially with the sunshade and any blankets you have draped over to block the sun.

 

[bear74]

I am taking my DD3 and DS1.5 next month (so excited that I can now say "next month" since it's August now! ) and I have been obsessing about stroller accessories. I know my kids are a bit older but I still want to make sure to have anything I could possibly need to make the trip run smoothly. Here are the things that I am bringing...

Stroller: I wanted an umbrella stroller that will fold up compact for the bus rides.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3082737

Stroller Fan:
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=5945&cmSource=Search

Stroller Umbrella (I hate the canopy on my stroller so I got this instead. It can be moved around or taken off completely)
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=534674&cmSource=Search

Rain shield for stroller in case of rain

Stroller bags for additional storage

I went to the dollar store and bought a bunch of cheap toys to keep them entertained on the plane and in lines at the parks.

I am also renting a few items from A Baby's Best Friend (www.abbf.com) like a box fan for white noise, CD player, and some toys for the room. We just don't have the room to pack these things so it's worth paying the extra $$.

I know I'm forgetting something but you'll get lots of tips off of the DIS. That's where I got most of mine! Have a great trip!!!

a friend gave me her stroller fan which is the one you posted. I used it a six flags in May and again at the zoo in june. I did not like it. It did not feel like it was putting out any air.