Concerned about toddler on rides

[raetrosclair]

Hi - we will be traveling in December with our son, who will be 21-months old at the time of the trip. He is VERY adventurous, climbing, jumping, running...
The thing that I am most nervous about is that on rides like Peter Pan or Haunted Mansion, where the lap bar won't really be holding him in, that he is going to try to climb out. I know we will be able to hold on to him, but I am just nervous about it. Does anyone have any tips or tricks for a very active toddler on the rides? I am hoping the rides keep his attention without making him want to become part of the scene. Thanks!

 

[belle1986]

Ds was 18mo when we went last year and I was able to hold onto him enough to not worry about him "escaping". On the rides you mentioned especially he was too caught up in the scenery to try to get loose anyhow.

 

[3Gsandme]

I'd start with "if you can't sit still we won't ride another ride". Then I'd make sure to ride with another adult and sit your little one in the middle. One of you can put your arm around him to help secure him. I'm betting he won't be too much trouble. There is so much to see and am the rides aren't that long that I bet you don't have a problem

 

[raetrosclair]

Thanks for the advice! DH will be there too so DS will always be in the middle.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

just be prepared to follow thru with any statements made. if you say "we are leaving if you can sit right" be ready to walk out the gate. because if you can not follow thru he will learn what you say has no meaning and he does not have to follow what is said

 

[Miumiu4me]

My toddler tried climbing out of Peter Pan at 18 months. I just held her down and it was fine. By the time she hit 21 months (we are local, we go a lot) she wouldn't have dreamed of trying to get out - she wants to stay on when the ride ends. Who knows what your baby will be like in December?

I'm not sure how much conditional threats work at this age - my daughter is 2 in 2 weeks (wow) and I don't think she always understands what I am saying. We do time outs when she is "bad" - but that's hard on a ride.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I don't think you should have any problems restraining him.

That being said, I would definitely have a talk with him if he turns out to be fidgety on the rides.

 

[mandis77]

We keep our adventurous little one between us on rides like Peter Pan. I had my arm around her the whole time as well. Your child might be so intrigued by what's going on around him he won't even be thinking about jumping out!!

 

[luvmy2babies]

My son was an escape artist at that age. He never even tried to climb out of a ride. He was too fascinated with what was happening. And my daughter and I constantly engaged him too, pointing things out to him, talking to him.

 

[TravelingTotMom]

Just wanted to share my agreement with everyone else. Put him in the middle and try not to worry too much b/c there is just so much for them to look at.

 

[branv]

You might be surprised by how much your child actually understand. My son was just diagnosed with an expressive language delay, and a slight receptive delay (though that seems to be more about him being too active to pay attention). I honestly thought a lot of "instruction" from us was over his head. I was having an issue with him forcibly hugging kids at the playground (cute at first, then awwwkwaaard). Like every time we were at the park. One day before we got out of the car at the park, I put my face close to his to get his attention and said, "We're going to the park. Do not hug other children. Do not hug other children. Only hug mommy." And it worked. The next time we went to the park, I said the same thing. And he hasn't done it since. Every now and again I reinforce that we don't hug people we don't know without permission. I say start now with talking to him about staying seated. Talk before it happens, not while. And just reinforce reinforce reinforce. These kiddo's know more than we give them credit for.

But major YES to seating him in the center. On the Land boat ride, out of the corner of my eye I saw a toddler riding behind us try to step off the moving boat onto one of the staged plant areas. She was seated on the side and her parents were looking the other way. I put my hand out just as her parents noticed and jerked her back. It could have been so bad.

 

[hsgeiser]

We had an 18mo a few years ago and never had issues with her wriggling away even though she's a very active kid. She was either entranced or scared, but either way she held on to me harder than I had to hold on to her! Many rides I let big sis go with Daddy and we found interesting things to see outside while we waited. Her favorite was Small World (of course) and was the only one we rode on twice.

 

[kboo]

My daughter was 21 months when we first went. She was entranced by it all. But I agree with a PP, talk beforehand, even before your trip, about what it will be like. That there are rides that have a "seat belt" and just like riding in the car or your car seat, you need to sit in the ride like you're in the car. You could also try taking your son to a local carousel or something and getting him used to staying on the ride. I have a feeling he'll surprise you, there is so much to see on the rides.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

We took our boys when they were 15 months and 25 months. They were both climbers at home but were so fascinated on rides it was not an issue. Have a great trip.

 

[quagmire0]

I agree with most who already posted. Kids are so 'in awe' of the rides, they're usually just too busy sitting there with their mouths open taking it in to even think about doing anything else.

 

[Sparrow624]

My son was 21 months on our recent trip. At first I was worried as well, but I held b on tight...he never made a move. As everyone said, was in awe. We did haunted mansion, voyage of the little mermaid, Peter pan, winnie the pooh, nemo, and a couple others.

 

[raetrosclair]

Thanks so much everyone - this really makes me feel more at ease. He has done carousels a number of times and never tried to get off, so hopefully I am worried for nothing. I will work on talking to him about sitting still. We have also been watching ride videos on YouTube, and I will talk to him about having to sit while we do that. Thanks again!