Cruising with a 12 month old?

[LilyFlor]

Hi all,

I will be cruising with my just turned 12 month old (her birthday is less than 2 weeks before the cruise) on the Fantasy in August. DH and I are experienced cruisers but newbies at cruising with a little one. I just have a couple questions I'm hoping can be answered. I spent most of the the evening after booking last night reading through other infant/toddler threads and just have a couple left over questions I didn't see addressed

1. Are highchairs available and/or easily found at Cabanas?
2. Do I need to request a high chair for dinner ahead of time or should I just wait until the first dinner and ask then?
3. She will still be transitioning off of formula during the cruise. So if she is going to be in the nursery and needs a bottle, will I need to pre-mix the formula or can I provide the powder and a pre-measured bottle with water?
4. We will definitely be bringing a stroller since neither DH nor myself can baby wear. We have a City Mini stroller that we love but are worried it might be too big. Should we invest in a cheaper, but still nice, umbrella type stroller?

I think that's it. Any other tips for cruising with a little one would be appreciated as well if anyone has them!

 

[1983disneykid]

I've taken my girls at 4 months, 16 months, and 18 months. Let me know if you think of something else.

1. Are highchairs available and/or easily found at Cabanas?
Yes! And the staff will often bring it over so you don't have to lug the baby and the high chair.
2. Do I need to request a high chair for dinner ahead of time or should I just wait until the first dinner and ask then?
They will have your daughter's age, and so likely will have a high chair set up the first night. However, if they don't, one will be there within minutes and will always be set up from then forward.
3. She will still be transitioning off of formula during the cruise. So if she is going to be in the nursery and needs a bottle, will I need to pre-mix the formula or can I provide the powder and a pre-measured bottle with water?
I am about 90% sure, I just gave them the bottle of water and formula powder. I even went in once to breast feed my 4 month old.
4. We will definitely be bringing a stroller since neither DH nor myself can baby wear. We have a City Mini stroller that we love but are worried it might be too big. Should we invest in a cheaper, but still nice, umbrella type stroller?
I think this totally depends. I decided to wear my little one (when she was 4 and 16 months) most of the time; it was easier than navigating with any stroller, but she has always been on the smaller side. Your city mini will fit under the bed easily for storage, but it's not easy to navigate on the ship. If you are doing any excursions with lots of walking, you will probably want that one instead. If you find an umbrella stroller with a nice recline (that's what I love best about the city mini) you may want to go for it. Guest Services has strollers to use on board and there are City Mini strollers available on Castaway Cay (first come) if you want to try to have her take a nap on the beach.

I think that's it. Any other tips for cruising with a little one would be appreciated as well if anyone has them!
So one thing that I loved to do was make an appointment at the nursery from 1-4 on Castaway Cay day. After lunch, I would take DD up to the nursery so she could nap, and DH and I would go over to Serenity Bay (or play with our older daughter). I didn't feel like the girls were missing out, since they needed to nap anyway.

 

[dcassetta]

Make sure and request a diaper genie for your state room.

 

[LilyFlor]

I've taken my girls at 4 months, 16 months, and 18 months. Let me know if you think of something else.

1. Are highchairs available and/or easily found at Cabanas?
Yes! And the staff will often bring it over so you don't have to lug the baby and the high chair.
2. Do I need to request a high chair for dinner ahead of time or should I just wait until the first dinner and ask then?
They will have your daughter's age, and so likely will have a high chair set up the first night. However, if they don't, one will be there within minutes and will always be set up from then forward.
3. She will still be transitioning off of formula during the cruise. So if she is going to be in the nursery and needs a bottle, will I need to pre-mix the formula or can I provide the powder and a pre-measured bottle with water?
I am about 90% sure, I just gave them the bottle of water and formula powder. I even went in once to breast feed my 4 month old.
4. We will definitely be bringing a stroller since neither DH nor myself can baby wear. We have a City Mini stroller that we love but are worried it might be too big. Should we invest in a cheaper, but still nice, umbrella type stroller?
I think this totally depends. I decided to wear my little one (when she was 4 and 16 months) most of the time; it was easier than navigating with any stroller, but she has always been on the smaller side. Your city mini will fit under the bed easily for storage, but it's not easy to navigate on the ship. If you are doing any excursions with lots of walking, you will probably want that one instead. If you find an umbrella stroller with a nice recline (that's what I love best about the city mini) you may want to go for it. Guest Services has strollers to use on board and there are City Mini strollers available on Castaway Cay (first come) if you want to try to have her take a nap on the beach.

I think that's it. Any other tips for cruising with a little one would be appreciated as well if anyone has them!
So one thing that I loved to do was make an appointment at the nursery from 1-4 on Castaway Cay day. After lunch, I would take DD up to the nursery so she could nap, and DH and I would go over to Serenity Bay (or play with our older daughter). I didn't feel like the girls were missing out, since they needed to nap anyway.

Great tip about booking the nursery for castaway cay! DH and I love serenity bay but weren't sure we would make it out there this trip. My parents will be with us but I didn't want to have them miss out on some serenity bay time. DD has never been to daycare so I was already planning some test stays earlier in the cruise. So if she's ok in the nursery, I'm definitely doing it!

And thanks for the answers to my questions. They were a great hep!

 

[LilyFlor]

Make sure and request a diaper genie for your state room.

I read that they have diaper genies. We use one at home so that will be great. Thanks!!

 

[cisobe]

We usually pack our stroller in a stroller bag and check it in (on our flight) the stroller is a free bag so we usually pack the stroller and throw in wipes and a full pack of diapers in the stroller bag. It's easier than trying to find a store and buying when you get in.

Be sure to ask for the diaper genie, we didn't get one on our first cruise, so we had to wrap up the poop diapers so they wouldn't stink up the room.

The waiters are usually very helpful with special request for foods for baby. Plain noodles, rice, steamed veggies, etc...

 

[Trera]

We did it with our DD on her first cruise at 12 months.....................you will be fine and have a great time. The nursery CM are wonderful.

 

[Quellman]

Great tip about booking the nursery for castaway cay! DH and I love serenity bay but weren't sure we would make it out there this trip. My parents will be with us but I didn't want to have them miss out on some serenity bay time. DD has never been to daycare so I was already planning some test stays earlier in the cruise. So if she's ok in the nursery, I'm definitely doing it!

And thanks for the answers to my questions. They were a great hep!

On Sea days they have an open house in the nursery from like 8-9am. We had never used a day care prior to the cruise, so we used this time to explore the space with our 14 month old. When it came to actually leave him there alone, he was more than happy to go! I hope you have the same results

 

[LilyFlor]

On Sea days they have an open house in the nursery from like 8-9am. We had never used a day care prior to the cruise, so we used this time to explore the space with our 14 month old. When it came to actually leave him there alone, he was more than happy to go! I hope you have the same results

That's great to hear! I was hoping they'd have some sort of open house like that so we can check it out. We're on the tail end (hopefully) of some serious separation anxiety. She finally just stopped screaming when I leave the room. This will be a great chance for her to try being away from me for a little while with the added bonus of it being disney to keep her occupied. I'm excited to try it out!

 

[Trera]

On Sea days they have an open house in the nursery from like 8-9am. We had never used a day care prior to the cruise, so we used this time to explore the space with our 14 month old. When it came to actually leave him there alone, he was more than happy to go! I hope you have the same results

the have an open house on embark day as well. We used to always take our DD up there to check it out, meet the CMs working in there, play with some toys and meet some new families. On our return trips, we found that the CMs that were still working in the Nursery would remember our DD and she would remember them. Made it much easier than that first time.

 

[LilyFlor]

the have an open house on embark day as well. We used to always take our DD up there to check it out, meet the CMs working in there, play with some toys and meet some new families. On our return trips, we found that the CMs that were still working in the Nursery would remember our DD and she would remember them. Made it much easier than that first time.

Great! We're not morning people, so assuming that remains true onboard, getting anywhere by 9 is hard. I'm getting even more excited about this nursery thing now. I'm hopeful she will like it but prepared if she doesn't. If not, her grandparents will be more than happy to give mama a little break for herself I'm sure

 

[LilyFlor]

Thanks to all for all the tips!! Can't wait to see how it all works out!