Hi everyone!

[moinab]

I've been away from the boards for a few months, but I'm back now, and am happy to answer any questions I can about cruising with infants and toddlers. It's good to be back!

Maureen

 

[whytcrystal]

Welcome back Maureen! I love that picture!

 

[moinab]

Thanks!

She has grown so much since then, but I can't bear to change that picture. Here's a recent photo of her.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/112584609/112621195kwXOui

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Welcome back, Maureen!

Great new pics on your site, but this one is still one of my favorites!!! http://community.webshots.com/photo/85706903/85725765FlXCFe

 

[tammy bell]

Hi, Maureen! Great picture. Here's a question for you. Any ideas how to keep my 20 month DN (AKA : 2 Foot Tornado) in one place for more than 5 minutes while on the cruise?

 

[moinab]

Great new pics on your site, but this one is still one of my favorites!!!

Thanks, Melody! Yes, that's a classic.

Any ideas how to keep my 20 month DN (AKA : 2 Foot Tornado) in one place for more than 5 minutes while on the cruise?

I would suggest devoting a certain amount of time to letting him run around like a maniac, so that he can burn off steam. During the day, the nightclub area is a great place for this. It may help to bring a few small balls to play with and chase. Toddlers are also fascinated by stairs, and there are lots of nice, carpeted staircases on board. Check with Flounder's Reef and the Oceaneers' Club. They have certain times set aside when you can accompany the child, to play with the toys.

At 20 months, my DS became obsessed with Hot Wheels cars. I had to watch him to make sure they didn't go into his mouth, but he would play with them happily for long periods of time (they were great for restaurant dinners.) The key is to have a stash of small toys that you can pull out only at dinner. Also, take turns getting him away from the table and out of the restaurant for periodic romps in the halls. Even the best behaved toddler can't sit still for a multi-course meal.

Also, even if you can't get him to nap (my DS refuses to nap on vacation, even though he takes 3 hour naps every day at home) I would still retreat to the stateroom and draw the curtains for quiet time during his usual nap time.

Most important, with a toddler, you have to be flexible. My DS was terrified of the characters, and refused to go to any of the shows. If we had had our hearts absolutely set on seeing the shows, it would have been a harsh blow, but we just found other ways to have fun and get the most out of our cruise.

Good luck!

 

[musicgirl]

It's nice to see you're back! I missed that sweet picture!

 

[tammy bell]

Thanks, Maureen. I guess the key word here is FLEXIBILTY. I have 3 kids myself. You would think that I could answer that question but my niece is well, active to put it mildly. We even have joked that the boat might "accidentely" leave us at a port. WE will be a total of 6 adults and 5 kids. We have decided that 1 of us will take the other 4 kids and the remaining 5 adults will take her (LOL). Hope you are in a warmer place than I am right now.

 

[Dreamer04]

I love the castaway cay pic, but she has grown so much!!

Great tips for little ones. Another thing I have to watch is their diet. Between the Mickey ice cream bars and everything else available, it's easy for everyone to become constipated. Lots of water and easy on the sugar helps. Just like your niece, Tammmy, my DD 6 is "energetic". Just take it, like everything else in life, a day at a time.

Again, welcome back Maureen!

Fondly,
Ursula

 

[moinab]

Thank you all for welcoming me back.

I guess the key word here is FLEXIBILTY

LOL!!! Yes, that's the point I was trying to convey. BTW, I didn't mean to be sexist. For some reason, I didn't make the connection that DN could mean "niece" as well as "nephew."

You never know though, she may surprise you all. Just when you think you can safely predict toddler behavior, they do a 180 on you. After Christmas, I went through 3 weeks of hardcore potty training with DS (after 2 failed attempts last year.) The day before we were to leave for a long weekend at WDW, he was still pooping in his pants. I really didn't want to have to use pull-ups, but with a 3 hour drive and a full weekend of activities planned, I decided I didn't have much choice. I thought for sure that the combination of vacation and pull-ups would undo all the progress we had made in the previous 3 weeks. We left for MK at 4:30 AM Saturday morning, and arrived a little after 8 AM, having made several successful potty breaks. After about an hour in MK, we were sitting down, having a snack. He told us he had to go potty, so DH took him. A couple of minutes later, they came out and DH gave me a big thumbs up. Not only did he let us know he had to go, with plenty of time, but he pooped in the toilet! A week and a half later, he still hasn't had a single accident. (We've decided it truly is the "Magic" Kingdom. ) So, there's always hope!

I love the castaway cay pic, but she has grown so much!!

Saturday is her first birthday! I can't believe it!