Need advice-4 1/2 year old and 5 month old

[Thumper43]

Hi. I need some advice. We are leaving for Disney World in July. My baby will be 5 months old and I will also have a 4 ½ year old. I’m worried about the stroller situation and my 5 month old daughter in the sun and heat. I was thinking of taking a double umbrella stroller because we stay at the Boardwalk and we do a lot of walking from EPCOT to the Studios and it will be too much for him. My son was 9 months old when we took him so we put sunscreen on him and he was able to sit up in the stroller. I honestly don’t remember what it’s like having a 5 month old! Can she sit in an umbrella stroller by then?? What about sunscreen?? The umbrella stroller isn’t as protective as her sitting in her infant car seat, however I thought she would like to see things as we walk and the carrier would be too hot. This is our first trip with two kids so I want to pack as light as possible! Any suggestions???!!?!

 

[susanm]

you will need a stroller (possibly 2)...so are you driving? can you take 2 with you... i assume you have 2 adults going? one can stand in the shade with the baby while the other does the ride with the 4 yr old.... some rental strollers have sun screen tops on them... was nver there with a baby- youngest i ever went with was a 3 yr old...and she barely used the stroller, she had to be out following everyone and racing to meet characters.. i think you will need do a lot of planning with a baby...good luck

 

[houseful of boys]

I personally wouldn't put a 5 month old in an umbrella stroller for a WDW trip. Take an umbrella stroller for your son but if at all possible take a stroller for your baby that will recline, has a nice size sun shade, a rain cover and a tray that you can clip a battery operated little fan to. Also, when baby falls asleep, put a lightweight blanket over the canopy and tray so baby is totally shaded from the sun. Just my 2 cents. Oh, and have a great time!

 

[Pixie Dust Maven]

We took our DS17 to WDW when he was 6 months old. For the life of me I can't remember what sunscreen I used but I would cover him from head to toe and I would put him in very light colored clothing that was loose. I would put thin white socks on him as well. No shoes. I had one of those gigantic Graco strollers and I used to drape and clip a blanket over the front of the stroller where the tray was. So it covered his legs and then some. The back moved in the stroller so I was able to sit him up so he could see and I was able to move the canopy so he wasn't in the sun. The canopy on our stroller had a zipper part so we could open it to let air flow as well as a window on top so he could see. Once the sun reached that part, I would close the window. The less sun exposure for a baby that young, the better. I used to make sure that our DS was well hydrated as well especially being down in the FLA sun during the summer months. I would give him water along with his formula and food. Also, we used to go at a slow pace. Took our time, took rest periods when we needed too. Sometimes it's nice just to find shade and sit for a few moments.

JMPO but I would not recommend an umbrella stroller for a 5 month old. I feel it's just not enough protection for the baby and with the spine at that age, you need good support.

Friends of ours has a 6 month old and they use California Baby Super Sensitive which they buy at Target. I am almost positive but not 100% sure but I do believe that their products are chemical free. Which would be good for a new born.

Happy planning and don't stress. It will all fall into place.

 

[Thumper43]

Thanks so much everyone. We are flying. We normally gate check our son's stroller and that's not a big deal. But I don't want to gate check two strollers and deal with that plus luggage at the airport. Now I'm thinking of taking our large stroller for our 5 month old and maybe renting an umbrella stroller down in Disney for our 4 year old. Our larger stoller does recline and offers more shade for my daughter.

Has anyone taken a Baby Bjorn to Disney? HOw did that work out for you? My son hated it so we never used it. She doesn't seem to mind it now. Is it too hot to use that in Disney in July? I guess I would have to worry abuot her little legs getting burned in that?

Oh, and we've been to Disney a ton of times so we don't kill ourselves in the park...we go for a while, go back to the room and rest and then go out again later. We won't be out in the sun for hours at a time.

 

[delgrec]

Only skimmed the responses...if the umbrella stroller reclines then it would be fine for a five month old. We took my ergo when we brought my 8 month old but also had a double maclaren quest to accommodate both the 8 month old and 2 year old. It worked great.

 

[Runnergal]

I would rent a city mini. It has a great sunshade. This is what i am going to do with my 7mo. I think the infant seat would be too cramped and hot.

 

[Thumper43]

I would rent a city mini. It has a great sunshade. This is what i am going to do with my 7mo. I think the infant seat would be too cramped and hot.

I was looking at the double city mini. So that provides a lot of shade and reclines well?

 

[Runnergal]

Yes, it reclines pretty much flat, and has a better sunshade than any stroller I've used. And it folds easily. I have the double city mini gt at home, which i love, but I am not bringing it this time because we are doing a cruise after wdw.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

We totally agree with the City Mini! We gate checked ours last year for our almost 3 year old and will again this year. You can't beat the ease of folding and nice size sunshade.

Our issue with most umbrella strollers is that they aren't nice enough to mess with pushing all over Disney. On the other hand you want something easy to deal with folding for resort buses, but the city mini fits that well for us.

You will also find lots of stroller info and debates on the family section of the forums, here.

 

[Susieo]

We went when DS was 4 and the baby was 4 1/2 months old... In Early September. I would NOT put the baby in an umbrella stroller... They don't have the neck control to sit up unsupported like that. Have you thought about getting a "sit and stand" stroller? I think they are made by Graco. We got one at Target for about $120.00 and we have used it a LOT since then.

It has one seat in the front that the older child could sit in, and then you can snap the car carrier seat in place. You only have on stroller to gate check and schlep around. Then if the older child wants to walk or ride something, you don't have to figure out how to get two strollers from point a to point b. also... Does the baby have its own seat on the plane? If so, you'll need the car seat to use on the plane.

The best piece of advice I got was to slather the sunscreen on their feet and legs.... Because they are sticking out of the car seat and very likely to get burned....

 

[delgrec]

I am confused by all of the anti umbrella stroller comments. If OP is talking about the cheap umbrella strollers then I agree. But there are plent of umbrella strollers that recline and have head supports for 3 months or so (depending in baby) and up. The Maclaren Quest is a great stroller to bring to Disney (if you aren't renting - I agree the city mini is a good rental option) for that age. It folds up easy, is a dream to push and baby will be able to recline at a from flat to a supported lesser incline. The only thing I would suggest is buying a sunshade attachment as it doesn't shade as well as you would probably like.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I am confused by all of the anti umbrella stroller comments. If OP is talking about the cheap umbrella strollers then I agree. But there are plent of umbrella strollers that recline and have head supports for 3 months or so (depending in baby) and up. The Maclaren Quest is a great stroller to bring to Disney (if you aren't renting - I agree the city mini is a good rental option) for that age. It folds up easy, is a dream to push and baby will be able to recline at a from flat to a supported lesser incline. The only thing I would suggest is buying a sunshade attachment as it doesn't shade as well as you would probably like.

ITA, there are some great umbrella strollers that have a near full recline and sunshade. Any of those would be fine. I took a Maclaren Techno XL to WDW when ds was 5 months old and it was perfectly fine for him.

It was way too hot when we went to put him in a carrier (I brought two, barely used them other than the airport). Being in the carrier plus the heat from being close to you in July will not be good. I'd also use stroller fans if you can find them. The spray misting bottles with cold water may help if it's really hot (which it will be) and cut through air conditioned gift shops, etc., whenever you can.

I was told no sunscreen till 6mo but I did use it at 5mo because I was more concerned about sunburn in Florida.

Don't forget a pool float.

 

[delgrec]

ITA, there are some great umbrella strollers that have a near full recline and sunshade. Any of those would be fine. I took a Maclaren Techno XL to WDW when ds was 5 months old and it was perfectly fine for him.


:

Maclaren techno. That is what I meant! I have the quest single and the techno double. I knew something wasn't sounding right.

 

[imlsherman]

I would rent a city mini. It has a great sunshade. This is what i am going to do with my 7mo. I think the infant seat would be too cramped and hot.

I agree

 

[Cobern]

We went when DS was 4 and the baby was 4 1/2 months old... In Early September. I would NOT put the baby in an umbrella stroller... They don't have the neck control to sit up unsupported like that. Have you thought about getting a "sit and stand" stroller? I think they are made by Graco. We got one at Target for about $120.00 and we have used it a LOT since then.

It has one seat in the front that the older child could sit in, and then you can snap the car carrier seat in place. You only have on stroller to gate check and schlep around. Then if the older child wants to walk or ride something, you don't have to figure out how to get two strollers from point a to point b. also... Does the baby have its own seat on the plane? If so, you'll need the car seat to use on the plane.

The best piece of advice I got was to slather the sunscreen on their feet and legs.... Because they are sticking out of the car seat and very likely to get burned....

DO NOT bring a sit and stand to Disney. They are the bulkiest thing ever when folded. We have one that we use frequently for our 2 kids 3 and 1 and I love it for shopping but it is HEAVY and bulky when folded.

We rented. City mini double when we went to Disney in may and I LOVED it. If my kids were younger I would make my DH buy one but DD is almost out of a stroller at home . It reclined nicely for the kids to nap in and the sunshade was excellent. My DD kept pulling it down so no one could see her.

 

[serene56]

Yes, it reclines pretty much flat, and has a better sunshade than any stroller I've used. And it folds easily. I have the double city mini gt at home, which i love, but I am not bringing it this time because we are doing a cruise after wdw.

you arent taking a'stroller'on a'cruise?

 

[pugs05]

I would rent a City Mini Double so you didn't have to push two strollers around. Last year I went when DS was 3 and YDS was 4 months. I used my ergo a ton but it was also October so not crazy hot. I think a double would keep both of you much cooler plus the recline and shade on the city mini is awesome.

 

[Thumper43]

I am confused by all of the anti umbrella stroller comments. If OP is talking about the cheap umbrella strollers then I agree. But there are plent of umbrella strollers that recline and have head supports for 3 months or so (depending in baby) and up. The Maclaren Quest is a great stroller to bring to Disney (if you aren't renting - I agree the city mini is a good rental option) for that age. It folds up easy, is a dream to push and baby will be able to recline at a from flat to a supported lesser incline. The only thing I would suggest is buying a sunshade attachment as it doesn't shade as well as you would probably like.

So if I rent the double city mini, I should look to buy/rent an extra sun attachement? Or is the shade on the city mini fine without an attachement?

 

[Cobern]

So if I rent the double city mini, I should look to buy/rent an extra sun attachement? Or is the shade on the city mini fine without an attachement?

It works fine but you may want to bring a light receiving blanket and clips to cover their legs depending on how long they are