Infant in restaurants - stroller or car seat?

[NinePoundLemon]

I'm pregnant with my first child, and my husband and I are planning a trip to Disney when our baby will be about 4 months old. We're driving, and will have the option of having the car seat snapped into the stroller. I'm just curious what usually happens at restaurants with babies too small for a high chair.....do they allow you to take the stroller right in and set it beside the table, or would we park the stroller outside and take the baby in in his car seat?

 

[Raenstoirm]

I think it depends. We brought our twins at 14 weeks old and we were allowed to take their strollers in to every place (yachtsman, brown derby, hollywood and vine, Rebel hanger- temp location). But I have heard stories of people having to hold their babies.
Just a word of advice, babies are not supposed to stay in their carseats for any longer than necessary. It actually can be dangerous. Its best if you put the baby directly into the stroller and not use a carseat.

 

[sweetlike]

The official WDW policy is no strollers in the restaurant. Bringing just the car seat part it seems like the easiest option since they seem to fit on a lot of restaurant high chairs. Speaking from observance, we didn't use the snap-n-go style car seats.

You could also bring a carrier or sling as a second option

HTH!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

from what we found with a 4 month old in August would be plan on carseat but most likely they will not have sling type highchairs. granddaughter over heated in carseat in high temps in August so we ended up passing her around the table with our big group. remember you need to count baby for all ressies even if child is not eating anything you will need a ressie for 3 not 2. we were not allowed stroller in granted a double because of having an older child. never been allowed to park stroller beside table as walkway had to be open for people at neighboring table to get to their table. only place that we found infant highchairs was Chef Mickey and Hollywood and Vine had the sling chairs which did not help us as we did not have carseat. you did not ask but be prepared for characters to interact with baby but not be able to hold the baby

 

[BethanyLynnFit]

I used a baby carrier for my 6 month old in October 2015. Maybe a ring sling or the like that you can pop the baby into when not able to use the stroller, such as lines and restaurants?

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Its very hard to get a stroller into most restaurants. There simply isn't room and they will tell you to leave them outside. You will have to just bring in the car seat part.

 

[Mousemommy1]

The only time we were allowed to bring the stroller into a restaurant was if our son was sleeping. They allowed us to roll him right in. If not, we had to take him out and park the stroller.

 

[mjkacmom]

I would not use a car seat attached to a stroller for WDW.

 

[Imagineer5]

We went when DD was 8 weeks old. We had the car seat attached to the stroller and I think next time I would just put baby in the seat (fully reclined of course). It didn't help that she HATED the car seat, so she sat in it a total of maybe 20 minutes each day. For restaurants I mainly used a Moby wrap which was amazing especially at dinner time as she usually fell asleep and we were able to have a fairly relaxing meal (considering we were there with a 4 yo and 8 week old!).

We're planning a trip after DD3 makes her appearance next year (she'll probably be closer to 11 weeks old then) and like I mentioned above, will probably just plan to use the stroller. *Sometimes* we were able to bring in the stroller but usually not. However, I am planning to invest in a really good carrier (wrap was great but a bit annoying) before that trip. Looking at LilleBaby

 

[Bob Dolewhip]

Congrats on your pregnancy!
I found that the infant car seats are painfully heavy. My oldest also hated her car seat and would scream until she could be free of it. Let's just say I didn't drive much when she was young...
Mostly I would keep my little ones in a sling or a wrap. They seemed happiest that way. My hands were free and no bulky car seat.
You may want to make this decision after your baby is born because you will know his personality and what will make both of you most comfortable.

 

[Crystal824]

Congrats. Typically they won't allow you to bring the stroller into restaurants. They will occasionally let you bring the stroller in if the baby is asleep and there is room for the stroller by your table. I never brought babies under 9 mo so I'm not sure about the carseat attachment. I would consider bringing it to help at meals, but the baby shouldn't be in the car seat all day during the parks....maybe also bring a sling or carrier so you can wear the baby too.

 

[SuperPreparo]

We were there last month with my 4 month old granddaughter. We left the stroller outside and brought the car seat in. It fit into the high chair in almost all the restaurants.

 

[BUFtoMCO]

I'm pregnant with my first child, and my husband and I are planning a trip to Disney when our baby will be about 4 months old. We're driving, and will have the option of having the car seat snapped into the stroller. I'm just curious what usually happens at restaurants with babies too small for a high chair.....do they allow you to take the stroller right in and set it beside the table, or would we park the stroller outside and take the baby in in his car seat?

We were just there two weeks ago. We have a 5 month old. We were able to use the double stroller in all the restaurants. We would just let the hostess know he was to young for high chair and we were always placed at a table that was out of the way. We were never pushy and the hosts were always pleasant about it.

 

[maxiesmom]

It depends. There is no set rule, it is up to the CMs at the restaurant at that time. If they are too busy they may not allow your stroller in the restaurant.

As another poster pointed out, they now tell you to not to use your car seat to move your baby around. It is not good for them. I think you should give baby wearing a try. Not all babies like it, but many do. Rotate between that and having them ride in a nice (not car seat type) stroller.

 

[tamerbelles]

Chiming in to say that yes, infants shouldn't be left in car seats for long periods. HOWEVER, putting a child under 6 months directly in the stroller seat isn't always safe either. Until the baby can sit up well, *most* strollers aren't designed to give them the support they need - that's why they are designed for the infant seat to click in. Check the manufacturer's safety guidelines on your stroller.

As others have said, slings/wraps/carriers are a great option for the times baby can't/won't stay in their seat/stroller.

 

[kollerbear]

As a recent first time mom I'll echo what others have said that it'll be safer for baby to be directly in a stroller! It's a newer guideline that a lot of folks haven't heard of (because they haven't had babies recently or their network hasn't) or ignore, but its out there and, IMHO, important! And at 4m he/she really might be fighting you on being in the car seat all the time. The stroller is much easier to get baby in and out of. If you do keep him/her in a basket car seat, do NOT loosen the straps AT ALL just because he/she's not in the car. The tight straps are very important in keeping baby SIDS safe. Any amount of incline while sleeping is really not ideal in daily life but it's necessary for car safety. At that age, the City Mini stroller is a great option because it reclines almost fully. It also collapses SO EASILY it's surreal. I can't recommend it enough. At that age, my dd (now 6m) still slept pretty well for me often in the k'tan, which is small and compact enough to throw in the bottom of the stroller easily. I can't recommend it enough. My husband and I each brought ours to DL with our DD last week and each used it many times. Kiddo might be so pooped she'll sleep right through mealtime! (Although at that age they're just starting to be more active and engaged perpetually and taking "naps" rather than perpetual intermittent sleepiness.) Practice eating out at home with the k'tan and I promise it'll be routine--AND less stressful than home because Disney is a much kinder place than most local restaurants for a mildly fussing baby and their parents. Congrats and Good luck!!! you'll have a great time.

 

[NinePoundLemon]

Thank you so much everyone for your responses and advice!

 

[brockash]

I'm pregnant with my first child, and my husband and I are planning a trip to Disney when our baby will be about 4 months old. We're driving, and will have the option of having the car seat snapped into the stroller. I'm just curious what usually happens at restaurants with babies too small for a high chair.....do they allow you to take the stroller right in and set it beside the table, or would we park the stroller outside and take the baby in in his car seat?

I wouldn't take the car seat part of the stroller. It just gets way too hot, and it's not healthy for the baby to be in that position for too long. We've gone with babies as young as 7 weeks. Some places have infant high chairs where they can lay down...I know Chef Mickey's for sure has them and not sure about elsewhere. Many of the restaurants offered to allow us to bring the stroller in without us even asking (even a double once). Here are the places we've been able to bring a stroller in:

Crystal Palace
O'Hana
Sci-Fi
Rain Forest Cafe
TRex
Hollywood & Vine
Be Our Guest
1900 Park Fare
Grand Flo Cafe
the restaurant in Wilderness Lodge

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I wouldn't take the car seat part of the stroller. It just gets way too hot, and it's not healthy for the baby to be in that position for too long. We've gone with babies as young as 7 weeks. Some places have infant high chairs where they can lay down...I know Chef Mickey's for sure has them and not sure about elsewhere. Many of the restaurants offered to allow us to bring the stroller in without us even asking (even a double once). Here are the places we've been able to bring a stroller in:

Crystal Palace
O'Hana
Sci-Fi
Rain Forest Cafe
TRex
Hollywood & Vine
Be Our Guest
1900 Park Fare
Grand Flo Cafe
the restaurant in Wilderness Lodge

with our 4 month old we were not allowed to bring in double stroller at Hollywood & Vine in August. it was real busy that lunchtime

 

[kboo]

I would not use a car seat attached to a stroller for WDW.

We actually tried this a few times during our trips in March and April and it was too hot and too hard - especially folding the stroller for the buses.


Congratulations on your first!

We had the best luck with an easy to fold stroller (umbrella or city mini) and a baby carrier. We'd carry or wear the baby into the restaurant, and sometimes would bounce and shush until she fell asleep, and then we'd have a nice leisurely dinner! Our DD was 3 months on our march trip and almost 4 months on our April trip. She was generally pretty easy to tote around for dinners, We did with with our older DD in Europe when she was a newborn too - stuck her in the carrier, walked around until she fell asleep, laid a napkin over her head, and had a nice dinner. (Note: Whoever has the baby in the carrier should not have soup for dinner )

For 4 months, I'd bring or rent something like a city mini that has a 1hand fold but is also reclining and has a good sunshade, so baby can nap while you are out at the parks, and also bring the carrier because it is going to be easier on transportation.

Also - I know you didn't ask this, but I'd strongly suggest babybanz or some other hearing/ear protection for your baby. On this last trip our older daughter wanted to see ALL the fireworks, and it was past the baby's bedtime. We would pop the baby in the carrier (usually she'd be asleep since dinner), put the headphones on her, and she would sleep through fireworks too. It was awesome. I'm so glad we took those trips when I was on maternity leave!