Help with bringing a baby walker onto flight

[Tiffer]

Hello all:
My DD will be turning 1 on our trip next week. She doesn't walk yet and I am not terribly comfortable having her crawl around on a hotel floor. For many reasons including allergies (we think).

We are staying at AKV Kidani and I am going to call 2 days before to see if there is a possibility of them shampooing the carpet the morning of check in.

I want to bring her walker, but I am not sure how to go about it. Should I take it apart and wrap it to her stroller to gate check it? It's not collapsable.

Any suggestions?

TIA

 

[cogero]

why don't you look into renting one from a baby's best friend in Orlando.

www.abbf.com

 

[tartemis]

I have taken two babies at 6 months (who were crawling, but obviously not walking).

I did request a "medical clean" -- I think that is the phrase they used. I don't know if they shampooed the carpets, but they did an extra clean before we arrived.

I also highly recommend A Baby's Best Friend. We have rented a crib, toys, and fan from them and everything was in great shape. I couldn't imagine trying to lug a walker with me, and I wouldn't be surprised if the airline balks at gate-checking it for you (especially if you are already gate-checking a stroller).

I also brought with me a flat bed sheet, which I spread across the floor to be her place to crawl around.

Finally, I just gave in to the inevitable. I don't know if this is your first baby, but while you can try and eliminate as many germs as possible -- I, too, wiped down the Magical Express and airpline seats with wipes first -- there comes a time when they stick there hands in some MainStreet goo in the street and then go straight to their mouths before you have a chance to stop them. I actually found the baby stage relatively easy to keep them away from germs, but come toddler stage it was futile.

 

[katied]

I'm not sure the airline would let you do that - you'd have to be able to get it through security first, and I think they only let you take strollers/car seats as the larger items to gate check.

Also, even if you could, I presume you would have a bag to put in it to gate check it - because otherwise it would get very dirty.

 

[deegack]

Can I be honest - I think you are worrying a bit too much about it. We stayed at Kidani about a month a go with our 15 month old who is not walking yet (creeping but not real walking). Yes she crawled around, but in comparison to what we encountered at the parks (the gooey stuff on main street mentioned before) it was nothing. I would just check the room out to make sure its clean. There is also a vacuum in the room so I vacuumed the carpet a couple times the week we were there mainly due to cheerio incidents.

 

[effervescent]

You most likely will not be able to gate check the walker even if it is attached to the stroller. When I worked for the airlines a few years back we were not allowed to gate check anything attached to the stroller as there was too big of a likelihood of the attached item coming loose at some point. Even if the airline will gate check, the walker will probably get quite dirty - gate checked items are placed in a cargo hold, and those are not the cleanest places. You would be better off finding a place to rent one there if you feel you must have one.

 

[squirrel]

They still have walkers down in the US? They have been banned up here in Canada for years.

 

[luvmesometigger]

Last time we went, my ODD was 9 months old. Crawling but not walking. I did have a pack and play in the room to confine her as needed but quite frankly, she was on the floor. I would just clean her hands when she was done.

This time, my YDD will be 17 months old. Obviously walking but there are times she ends up on the floor. Once again, I will just clean her hands when she egts up from the floor.

I really don't stress germs too much.

 

[luvmesometigger]

They still have walkers down in the US? They have been banned up here in Canada for years.

Yup I had one for my YDD. I had to order it from Amazon since I couldn't find it in the stores. When she outgrew it, I gave it to my neighbor.

They made them with wider bases now. I guess that is to stop them from going through doors or falling down steps. Probably better for stability too.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

They still have walkers down in the US? They have been banned up here in Canada for years.

Yep, but they're not a popular item. I think exersaucers and jumperoos are the "thing." We have both, but we don't have stairs for the kiddos to drive their walkers off of.

 

[deegack]

They still have walkers down in the US? They have been banned up here in Canada for years.

Yeah, we didn't get one for DD. She has a few push toys and ride on toys that she uses. Her physical therapist (she has a few developmental delays) hates them. The kids don't use the same muscles they use for walking so they can actually slow down development. These and the bumpo she wants to ban.

 

[amylynne01]

I also would not worry about it. If you wash her hands after playing on the floor, she will be okay! I think it's unrealistic to expect your DD to be in the walker anytime she's in the room, and that's just one more thing to have to bring from home that is unnecessary. She needs time to explore, play, sit, and not be confined to anything. Bring a sheet to lay out or rent one from ABBF.

 

[luvmesometigger]

Yeah, we didn't get one for DD. She has a few push toys and ride on toys that she uses. Her physical therapist (she has a few developmental delays) hates them. The kids don't use the same muscles they use for walking so they can actually slow down development. These and the bumpo she wants to ban.

Funny. I have heard this before (that it delays development). My YDD was the only one with a walker (versus an exersaucer) and she walked at 9 1/2 months old.

 

[DVC_Kds]

When our youngest was small we would travel lightly because we're already lugging baby/toddler, diaper bag, snacks/toys, as well as our own carry ons SO, we would stop by the local Target/Walmart/Sam's Club in Orlando and buy an inexpensive umbrella stroller and/or exersaucer and toys and then leave them at the resort or airport(stroller) - much less stress. We even told the front desk we were doing it and they said they would find somewhere to donate the items to. We just considered it part of the cost of the vacation. Sometimes you have to spend a little extra to keep the stress of traveling with young ones.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

Can I be honest - I think you are worrying a bit too much about it. We stayed at Kidani about a month a go with our 15 month old who is not walking yet (creeping but not real walking). Yes she crawled around, but in comparison to what we encountered at the parks (the gooey stuff on main street mentioned before) it was nothing. I would just check the room out to make sure its clean. There is also a vacuum in the room so I vacuumed the carpet a couple times the week we were there mainly due to cheerio incidents.

THIS! i mean yes germs are bad and if there a possible allergy, obviously you want to be careful at the same time . Our pedi thinks strongly that this is whats wrong right now and I tend to agree, All theses new allergies to products and the over use of purell. Soap and warm water, Some germs are good.

 

[mom2minniemouse]

Oh, my.... I went last summer with my 1-year-old and I can tell you that if you are that worried that there are germs on the carpet in the hotel room, you are going to have one very unrelaxing vacation. When would it end?

MY DS crawled on floors, sat in public highchairs at public tables, walked through restrooms, was changed on public changing tables, swam in the Disney pools, went on rides, went into attractions, kissed and hugged the characters, and sat on the Disney busses and lived to tell the tale! I cannot imagine trying to even bring a walker on a plane for the sole purpose that you don't want them to crawl on the floor of a hotel room. That is just way over the top IMO, ESPECIALLY for a 1-year-old.

 

[Leajess99]

Hello all:
My DD will be turning 1 on our trip next week. She doesn't walk yet and I am not terribly comfortable having her crawl around on a hotel floor. For many reasons including allergies (we think).

We are staying at AKV Kidani and I am going to call 2 days before to see if there is a possibility of them shampooing the carpet the morning of check in.

I want to bring her walker, but I am not sure how to go about it. Should I take it apart and wrap it to her stroller to gate check it? It's not collapsable.

Any suggestions?

TIA

If she has allergies than you can request a VIP clean of the room for that reason. They do shampoo the carpet and use the fragrence free soaps on the bedding and towels. We have to have this done every trip as my daughters have severe allergies (youngest worst than older daughter). I love that Disney offers this for those with special medical needs. Just call and have it added to your reservation if you need it.

 

[Minniemouse07]

When ds was 2yo he literally laid down on the ground all over property... it was easier for him to play w/ his cars and trains that way.

He even would do this in line for rides. When the line was moving forward he would get up...move up, then lay back down and continue playing.

Obviously I don't worry too much about germs!

My rule of thumb w/ both kids (dd is 9yo and ds just turned 5yo yesterday) is to sterilize until they are old enough to put their hands in their mouths on purpose...then stop worrying about it. This has worked for us so far!

 

[momto2js]

To answer the oringal question, If you can break it down and fit it in a big suitcase, then you can check it on the plane for the price of a regular bag. However, gate checking it is unlikly and hauling one more thing to the plane is not really practical.

I also agree that the hotel floor is not the dirtiest thing your little one will encounter on your vacation or in the course of her life. You can request the cleaning but then may have to live with a damp carpet for a day or two because in the humid air things don't dry overly well.

We have traveled extensively with our kids (now 20 months and 4) and did the best we could with what we had. We have been lucky but never had a major issue because of contact with "icky" stuff.

Have a nice trip.

 

[Tiffer]

If she has allergies than you can request a VIP clean of the room for that reason. They do shampoo the carpet and use the fragrence free soaps on the bedding and towels. We have to have this done every trip as my daughters have severe allergies (youngest worst than older daughter). I love that Disney offers this for those with special medical needs. Just call and have it added to your reservation if you need it.

Thank you for this answer and others who answered my question as well. I truly appreciate it.

My concern is not about germs per se, it was the ALLERGY issue. Nor was my question about your thoughts on the use of a walker in general.

I did find out that Jetblue does allow the walker to be gate checked, though, I've decided not to bring it now that I know this VIP/Medi-clean option is available.