Keeping a Toddler Cool in the Parks?

[sandiegosusie]

I would freeze juice boxes so by the afternoon they are slushy! I hand them to my daughter in a plastic Disney themed cup that I buy at Party City. If the juice box is squeezed too hard it won't spill on her because it will just go in the plastic cup...I love the water bottle frozen too!

 

[austinsmommy]

I have used the stroller fans from One Step Ahead for several years now and they are a lifesaver!!!!!!!!! We always have soooooooo many people comment on how great they are!! They do suck the batteries though so make sure you take plenty!! You will also need a tiny screwdriver to open the battery compartment. Here is the link if anyone is interested...

http://www.onestepahead.com/jump.js...2&itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=1372&change=117

 

[MrsPete]

I don't think COOL is nearly as important as HYDRATED. I refuse to carry anything in the parks -- it only makes you tired faster. We pick up free ice water from vendors constantly, which makes a huge difference.

 

[HotMama]

I have used the stroller fans from One Step Ahead for several years now and they are a lifesaver!!!!!!!!! We always have soooooooo many people comment on how great they are!! They do suck the batteries though so make sure you take plenty!! You will also need a tiny screwdriver to open the battery compartment. Here is the link if anyone is interested...

http://www.onestepahead.com/jump.js...2&itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=1372&change=117

austinsmommy--Are the blades foam? And has your child ever stuck a finger through to touch the blades? My DD 20month is such a curious toddler I want to make sure her little fingers will be safe when she figures out how to get them through the wires to touch the fan blades.

 

[pbharris4]

austinsmommy--Are the blades foam? And has your child ever stuck a finger through to touch the blades? My DD 20month is such a curious toddler I want to make sure her little fingers will be safe when she figures out how to get them through the wires to touch the fan blades.

I just bought 2 of these fans..one for my DD and one for the top of the stroller for us! Or if she needs it she can have both. The blades aren't foam. They are plastic. It was the 1st thing I checked. I was able to poke my fingertip in there. SO I am guessing yes. I have also had a small foam bladed fan we used last year that clipped on to the shade, but (@13 months old) she reached up grabbed it and the blade came off and got lost. So that's not good either. An idea on the One Step Ahead clip on fans (I'll probably do this) is to get some sort of mesh cover (so the air can get through but not her fingers) to cover it and fasten it on the back. These fans are awesome and put out a lot of air more than the water misters and the hand held fans (which my DD and DH have) so I'd rather try to put something over it to prevent her fingers going in. Just a suggestion.

 

[krismom]

The misty mates work for 2 hours and then they are out of water. All you have to do is refill (add ice cubes if you wish) and it works another 2 hours. The only thing that I didn't love about them is that the kids kept wanting to drink out of them- and they made the water taste funny. It didn't say anywhere on the packaging that you couldn't drink from them- I just didn't want my kids to. I got mine at CVS for $14.99.
Good Luck

 

[all4fun]

I was just at Walmart the other day. They had the Misty Mates and the water-bottle fans. There were two types of Misty Mates - the larger one you wear like fanny pack and smaller one that was about half the size that you pump up to make the mist. I think the small one was $9.99 & the larger one slightly more ($15? can't remember!). The water bottle fans were approx $4 so much more cost effective than buying them in the parks.

hth!
Cheryl