Is there a product like this out there somewhere?

[ryan840]

Try this. Get a Sassy inflatable baby bathtub (it has rather high sides) and a spring-fold car windshield sunshade (regular size, not a jumbo; and I'd go with cloth, for airflow). You should be able to tent the shade by folding it in the center and have it stay up by putting the side edges into the tub; baby can lie on a folded beach towel inside. That tub has some inflation in the floor, too, so it should make a good boat.

This does double-duty; you can also bathe baby in it on the bathroom floor.

It goes without saying that you would need to keep a hand on, and an eagle eye on jr. in something like this; you would need to guard against it tipping and getting any water at all inside. I would also be super-careful about the possibility of smothering; the baby has to be cushioned in in such a way as to be sure he could not roll with his face against the vinyl tub wall.

Obviously, you would probably want to test it at home first. I'd buy a regular inflatable kiddy pool now, that you could use to float this in to test it.

Hadn't thought about using a bathtub... I may just try that. The baby would be watched at all times, the point of the boat verses other methods is purely to keep him/her dry. We will always have one hand on the baby when we are in teh water and of course our eyes.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Hi again! Thanks for the congrats, only 2.5 months to go for me. We are staying at BWV for 5 days and then also a resort that we haven't chosen yet for three additional days. Maybe AKL, that is DH's pick so I may accomodate him! Otherwise I am looking at POFQ for the size and price! Let's keep in touch as we go, and I am still looking for seomthing for you, will let you know if I find anything else! Have a great day!

Andrea

 

[MATTERHORN]

Okay well if you do go with the boat idea, you HAVE to get this one obviously.....



http://www.qualityinflatables.com/58383.html


Andrea

 

[ryan840]

Haha, thats great Matterhorn! My husband couldn't understand why we had to buy our son a new swim ring when he had a perfectly good Cookie Monster one at home. Hello! Cookie Monster in Disney World? I don't think so! It looks a little cramped for an infant though, not enough room to stretch out... I'm just never satisfied, am I? That ones too big, no that's too small. That has holes, that will get him wet... Imagine how my hubby feels! We are thinking Coronado Springs for the tail end of our stay, but will probably go with a value due to the price... We have only stayed at OKW so far, so we're spoiled!

 

[MATTERHORN]

Coronado Springs looks nice, but as we are from Las Vegas, I just don't want any thing to do with a Southwest theme on vacation! I need something different. But the pool there looks awesome and it may be enough to make me try it one day!

Yes you absolutely cannot have a Cookie Monster float in WDW, I think it's even against the law! We haven't stayed at Old Key West, but it's tempting considering how much bigger they are. Are you doing a studio or a 1 bedroom? We have me, DH, and DD's who will be 5 and about to turn 3 (gotta get that trip in!) in May, and just found out it will be a DS that will be 6 months old! So I think a 1 bedroom would be good for us!

Anyways, I searched all day and found no little boats like that with a shade. I think you either have to rig a shade over it somehow or find a way to close up leg holes in another little ring, then maybe place a big fluffy beach towel in it for cushion. Although resting an umbrella on the boat may work, maybe a kids umbrella. Let me know what you decide!!!

Andrea

Edited to add: I just noticed your info on the side, I am originally from MI, Dearborn Heights to be exact!

 

[ryan840]

LOL, my husband just doesn't understand the DISboard logic- no Cookie Monster float at WDW, getting in that last trip before turning 3 (which I too have pulled, although it is a few months before his birthday)... We are doing a studio, a one bedroom is out of our budget for a good few years at least. We don't even have a house yet . We don't have the pressing need to get a bigger room though, with just the (soon to be) four of us. I think a boat with a home made shade is going to have to do, it's a shame that noone makes something like that, they'd be millionares... Thanks for looking for me, and congratulations on your son! I am hoping for another boy, but don't plan on finding out (we'll see about that come ultrasound time ). I want a girl after this though, but that's a while down the road. We don't live too far from Dearborn Heights, in fact my best friend lives there. We are currently in Warren (which we hate!) and will be moving to Clarkston when the time comes to buy our home.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Yes, my DH doesn't understand my Disney obsession either. Don't get me wrong, he loves Disney too, but laughs when I tell him about all my great tips and that we are going before Samantha turns 3! I say, well we wanted to go in May anyways, why go one week later and spend $300 more for the same trip, right?

I am familiar with Warren but not with Clarkston, although I hope you get your house soon! We usually come back in the summer to visit family but this year was tight, and next year I am not sure about yet.

I was thinking that we could probably do a studio, I think it is 4 plus an infant in there, right? So that would still work for us for a while. The thought of having the laundry in unit is very tempting though!! Do you do laundry while you are there, and how hard is it if you don't have the unit in your room? I have never done laundry on any vacation before. Do you feel okay leaving, or do you stay to watch your stuff? That's the only thing that appealed to me for a 1 bedroom, I'd be in heaven if the studio had a W/D!!!

That would be nice to have another boy, my girls are the absolute best of friends so far! I thought for sure we would have another girl, but it is for sure a boy, no denying it after the shot we got! I am excited though, I am already finding summer clothes for him that I want to save for our trip, how crazy is that?!!

Do you ever make it out west? We go to Disneyland a lot, you'll have to let me know if you ever go and we can meet up or something!! It looks great now for the 50th, tried to sneak in a trip this weekend but it wasn't to be. Well have a great night, let me know how the raft turns out!!

Andrea

 

[adisneymama]

Could you maybe buy one with the legs in it since it has the shade and then buy one of the ones without legs but no shade? Then you could sit one inside the other and the baby wouldn't get wet and would have shade. Might also be a little sturdier as well. Good Luck!

 

[DisneyPhD]

1st Congrats!!!!!! I hadn't heard the good news.

2nd. We had a float that was a boat a few years ago when DD was younger. She liked it when we were out on the lake because she didn't get wet (she was 2 then I think) but it got all snarky with the lake water. It didn't have a sun shade I don't think. If I find it and it can be cleaned (we are cleaning up for a gragage sale) I will PM you and give it to you. (since we are rather close.)

We recenlty had a small boat with a sun shade, but it did have leg wholes. The baby never put her legs in the wholes though, but supported herself by pushing her legs up. With such a young baby it might be hard to find. It got it at target.

Also I remember when at PORS last May (great time to go by the way.) They allowed some float devices, but not others. I can't remember what ones though. So you might be on the seach for the perfect thing and they won't let you use it. However in the quiet pools there is not life guards.

Good luck.

 

[rgribik]

Just a question? Being in the healthcare field---- is it okay with your ped to do something like that? Seems kind of risky to me just so you can be in a pool as a family.

 

[Acklander]

If your concerned about baby getting wet, you might want to not go in the pool all together. I always try to keep my head above water because I hate to get my hair wet, but there is always someone splashing or jumping nearby and it always happens anyway, no matter how hard I try to keep it dry.

 

[mist_e_rose2002]

We are going back to WDW in May 2006 and will be bringing along a new baby this time. He/she will be about 8-9 weeks old and we are looking for a way to take him/her into the pool with us without getting wet. Has anyone ever seen any sort of small boat type thing with a sun shade on it? I know they make ones with holes in it for legs to go through, but that won't work for us. We just want to be able to relax and keep cool in the pool together as a family instead of having to take turns going in and out with our son. I guess I started my search too late this year as all the swim stuff is gone and the back to school stuff has replaced it (poor kids, they just want to rush them back to school, don't they?) Thanks in advance!

toys R Us sells baby pools with sun shades on them.

 

[ryan840]

Wow, just checked in and found lots of replies. Here I go:

Matterhorn- Clarkston is out past Auburn Hills a bit (not far from the Palace and DTE Energy Theater [formerly Pine Knob, not sure how long ago you moved], it's a really nice area. We saw it in the fall passing through on our way to the Renaissance Festival and fell in love with it immediately. We did do laundry while at OKW because my son got sick... We did it while we were at the pool so it wasn't a problem for us. I'm already picking stuff out for this baby too, and I don't even know what it is! It's not crazy, it's fun! I have never been out west buy my husband has been talking about a roadtrip he took when he was a teen ever since I met him. He really wants to do it again, so when our youngest is about three we'll take off for a couple of weeks. It sounds like so much fun, and I feel bad that he has to wait so long (it's been almost 7 years that we've been together, and we have to wait at least three more for this baby to be ready) but taking a younger toddler on a trip like that would be miserable I'm sure... Whew, this will be a long post by the time I'm done!

Adisneymama- Excellent idea! This is definately up there if we don't find one before we go.

DisneyPhD- Thanks for the congrats! How's the birthday planning going? Only a few days left til baby PhD turns 1, right? I can't believe my baby is about to turn two! He talks so much and says the funniest things, and he's such a little man now. I can barely even remember him at one year old . Too fast, too freakin fast! Thanks so much for the offer for the boat, that'd be great if you still have it. I will check with OKW when we get down there to be sure it is allowed, and we were planning on sticking to the quiet pools just to keep the splash levels down. (They will let kids in if they are behaving, right?)

Rgirbik- I will of course check with my ped first, but I really don't see the huge risk... It's not as though I'm going to put the baby in the boat and walk away... We will be watching constantly and we won't be going into an overcrowded pool full of loud and playful kids, we'll stick to the quieter times of day and/or the quiet pools.

Acklander- I hear ya about the splashing, that's why we will go during slow times. I'm also more concerned with the baby getting soaked/being in the water and getting cold than a few drops of water. Again though, that's where the shade would come in handy.

And finally, mist_e_rose_2002- Thanks. I'll look again at Toys R Us, last I saw they only had really flimsy looking pools that wouldn't work as a float.

All done, sorry it's so long!

 

[summerrluvv]

LOL, my husband just doesn't understand the DISboard logic- no Cookie Monster float at WDW, getting in that last trip before turning 3 (which I too have pulled, although it is a few months before his birthday)... We are doing a studio, a one bedroom is out of our budget for a good few years at least. We don't even have a house yet . We don't have the pressing need to get a bigger room though, with just the (soon to be) four of us. I think a boat with a home made shade is going to have to do, it's a shame that noone makes something like that, they'd be millionares... Thanks for looking for me, and congratulations on your son! I am hoping for another boy, but don't plan on finding out (we'll see about that come ultrasound time ). I want a girl after this though, but that's a while down the road. We don't live too far from Dearborn Heights, in fact my best friend lives there. We are currently in Warren (which we hate!) and will be moving to Clarkston when the time comes to buy our home.

Found this:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/toys/B00005UQG9//104-2924064-6061513

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...d_sbs_t_2/104-2924064-6061513?v=glance&s=toys

It doesn't cover the ENTIRE boat, but you could always put some type of breathable material over the boat (like you do with an infant seat in the winter).

BTW..I grew up in Michigan and lived in Clarkston at one point and my grandparents still do. Very nice area

 

[rgribik]

I didn't think you would set the baby out to sea without holding on! My thought was splashing, you can't control the kids(adults) around you. And even with a cover--May heat and sun, baby body temp, people who are from all over the world(and are not required to immunize)but then again I'm in the minority on these boards, because I don't think any mega-public place is for newborns. I just typed in, because if I saw someone floating a newborn around a Dis. pool I would have been suprised.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Found this:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/toys/B00005UQG9//104-2924064-6061513

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...d_sbs_t_2/104-2924064-6061513?v=glance&s=toys

It doesn't cover the ENTIRE boat, but you could always put some type of breathable material over the boat (like you do with an infant seat in the winter).

BTW..I grew up in Michigan and lived in Clarkston at one point and my grandparents still do. Very nice area

The 1st one is the one we have now and just used on our vacation with our 11 month old. It does have leg wholes in it, so water will come in some. The second one won't float. But I think that is what she wants, just with no leg wholes. Yes, baby PhD will be one on Wednesday. I can't belive how fast it goes. However she still isn't sleeping well a night (last night was bad.) and unlike her sister who was walking at 10 months, she doesn't even crawl. She scoots around rather well though and is doing good. I was just thinking how next year this time she will be 2 and talking and walking and doing all kinds of unbaby things.

3 months is young, younger then I personally would like to take a child to WDW (by a few months.) but not a newborn. The biggest problem with planning a trip like that is they could be younger or older depending on the actual brith date. I think 12 weeks is about the earliest I would plan a trip because mom should be recoved by then and the family adjusted better. (A good treat for big brother too.) May is a great time of year too, it shouldn't bee too crowded, it gets warm, but not too hot especailly if you avoid the mid part of the day. I would rather go in May with a 3 month old, then Aug with a 6 month old.

 

[surfgirl]

Good question brought re: too young to be in pool?

I know you hope to avoid baby getting wet, but I would be uncomfortable with a tiny baby in the pool - I was always told 6 months for taking kids swimming (I understood reason as chlorine on skin). I know they have relaxed the sunscreen recommendation younger than 6 months (most of that was to avoid taking too young kids out too long in the sun).

I would be more comfortable putting baby in a stroller or infant carrier and finding a shady, breezy spot. Less chance of reflective sun rays, also.

Better yet! Sleep when the baby sleeps! Take the afternoon baby naps as a chance to catch up on sleep yourself (in a nice quiet, dark hotel room... mmhm!) ... I always find there is something to be organized/read/planned for on trips anyway!

Regardless, good luck -

 

[ryan840]

Thanks again everyone for the help, and for keeping your opinions civil! Let me just clear things up for anyone else who might wonder about my intentions-

I am looking for the boat to use only to keep the baby completely out of the water, and the shade to help with the sun and any minor splashing. We will be with him/her the entire time, playing and cooing and making sure everything is ok. I don't plan on taking the baby into a crowded pool, or an uncrowded one that has kids who are splashing around. We plan to go during down times (we found plenty of time to ourselves in the pool during our trip in May) and if there aren't any, we just won't take teh baby in. I just want to have a plan so if the conditions are favorable, we can enjoy some family time together in the pool. I know the baby will be very young, and we are planning accordingly. We just want a nice, relaxed family vacation at WDW- not a commando, go everywhere see everything one. If at any point the baby needs anything, from a meal to leaving the parks or pool and taking a rest back at the hotel, we will take care of it without hesitation. Our room was paid for before we found out we were pregnant, and yes we could get our money back but we see no need to. We knew we might be pregnant when we decided to make our ressies, and the baby's age and well being was always on top of our list. It is all about our kids and what makes them happy. I welcome any tips/opinions you may have on taking a young infant to WDW, but please don't start a debate or get nasty.

 

[ryan840]

DisneyPhD- don't feel bad about your daughter not walking, my son was 15 months! I thought he'd never walk!!! He also gave us trouble at night for a looong time, but he is all good now!

 

[DisneyPhD]

DisneyPhD- don't feel bad about your daughter not walking, my son was 15 months! I thought he'd never walk!!! He also gave us trouble at night for a looong time, but he is all good now!

That is good to hear. So many times I hear the baby had a hard time sleeping and still does years later. I don't know if I can make it that long. (her big sister sleeps fine.) We we have this dairy allergy thing going and I wonder if it has anything to do with it. Since she is my 2nd I am not really in a hurry for her to walk anyway, I know it will happen someday and I might as well enjoy it until then. In the meantime she is getting to be a rather fast scooter.

We had a great trip to WDW and Vero Beach last May. Baby was 9 months old and big sister was 4 and it was great. We had been in March with a group and it was really nice for it just to be us and do what ever it was that the family wanted. (and let big sister have some fun too.) It is a good time for a relaxing WDW vacation. For us it was a bonus vacation so we really felt no expectations and nothing that we "needed" to do since we did it all just 8 weeks before. It really one one of the best trips ever. WDW with a baby really can be fun with the right attitude and prepreation and it sound like you have that. (and something to look forward to to boot, that is a good thing when pregnant.)