Question on DGD Crawling in Resort Room

[Picabo]

We haven't been to WDW with our kids (yet) but I can tell you what we do on vacations....

When DD#1 was 7mos old and just barely schooching around, we took a few sheets to put down on the hotel room floor. She wasn't "fast enough" yet to get too far wtihout us catching her before she got on the "floor". Each morning we would neatly fold up the sheets (top side in, so we knew how to "unfold" it each time) so that house keeping didn't step all over it, etc.

Once they are a bit older and more mobile, but not yet able to walk....we took a portable walker....we got it at Babies R Us and it folded fairly flat. (Not sure how you'd take it on a plane) You can always rent one and have it delivered to your hotel room. We have used the walker with socks on her feet so she wasn't on the floor. I think walkers can be rented for $20/wk or so.

Trust me...my husband is nutty about not allowing the kids to play on the floor in hotel rooms, so I completely understand!

Good luck!

 

[Momto8]

Thanks for all the replies and advice. DD is not a germaphobe and this isn't her first baby. It's actually her third. Her girls are 5, 2 and 7 months old. Gracie crawls all over at home and puts things in her mouth and DD isn't overly protective. She knows you can't avoid dirt and germs. But I think there is a big difference from crawling at home than crawling on a dirty hotel carpet. You don't know what the previous occupants did in the room. Their kid could have thrown up on the floor or they could have changed a dirty diaper and it could have gotten on carpeting, etc. That is what has her concerned. We had so much sickness last year and want to avoid it this year. DDIL was so sick they had to get a doctor to come to the room, and he said it was from touching things while at Disney. As a result, she lost about 2-3 days from a 6 day trip!

Having a kid come in a with a dead bird while changing a diaper is a little bit different from letting a baby crawl on a dirty hotel carpet. My point is there are some things that can be prevented or avoided and some things that can't. I know we don't live in a bubble, but there are things that we can do to prevent sickness in our children, especially while on vacation. Babies do not have immunities like older children or adults have.

She likes the idea of the socks. She thinks that is a great idea. She also like the idea of bringing a walker as well as putting the sheets down.

I think they are to be commended to take the time to protect and keep their baby well.

Sorry I didn't mean to start a debate. I just wanted some advice on how others handled babies that were crawling in hotel rooms.

 

[VeroBeachGirl]

I may be the minority here...but let her crawl.Who cares about the floor, as long is she isn't licking it? I think we get too paranoid about germs .I remember as kids crawling and playing in dirt,on floor of hotel rooms,the park ,etc. There is such a thing as TOO CLEAN.I swaer, i took my daughter to the park one day, and this woman whipped out her hand sanitizer ever ytime her kid touched anything( I mean anything)

I agree with you! What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger! I'm also a Mom that doesn't use shopping cart covers. I want my dd to be exposed to all that nastiness to build her immunity.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I agree with you! What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger! I'm also a Mom that doesn't use shopping cart covers. I want my dd to be exposed to all that nastiness to build her immunity.

My third got one for a baby gift. I took it back and used the money to buy diapers!

I will admit that the first day I won't let my kids touch the comforters. I don't know what it is about comforters because I would let them crawl all around! After the first day or so I relax and figure it is just our germs in there.

 

[Momto8]

I don't know why this has turned into a debate over my DD's concern on keeping her baby germ free or free from the nasty stuff in the carpets. I'm only asking for help and advice from those who had the same concern and what they did to protect their babies from the feces and vomit and who knows what else MIGHT be in the carpet.

Thanks to all that provided tips on how to deal with a crawling baby! They really were helpful and gave DD some good ideas.

 

[all4fun]

I don't know why this has turned into a debate over my DD's concern on keeping her baby germ free or free from the nasty stuff in the carpets. I'm only asking for help and advice from those who had the same concern and what they did to protect their babies from the feces and vomit and who knows what else MIGHT be in the carpet.

Thanks to all that provided tips on how to deal with a crawling baby! They really were helpful and gave DD some good ideas.

Also, don't forget the outlet covers! Hope you have a great, illness-free trip to WDW.

 

[WendyLovesPeter]

Thanks for all the replies and advice. DD is not a germaphobe and this isn't her first baby. It's actually her third. Her girls are 5, 2 and 7 months old. Gracie crawls all over at home and puts things in her mouth and DD isn't overly protective. She knows you can't avoid dirt and germs. But I think there is a big difference from crawling at home than crawling on a dirty hotel carpet. You don't know what the previous occupants did in the room. Their kid could have thrown up on the floor or they could have changed a dirty diaper and it could have gotten on carpeting, etc. That is what has her concerned. We had so much sickness last year and want to avoid it this year. DDIL was so sick they had to get a doctor to come to the room, and he said it was from touching things while at Disney. As a result, she lost about 2-3 days from a 6 day trip!

Having a kid come in a with a dead bird while changing a diaper is a little bit different from letting a baby crawl on a dirty hotel carpet. My point is there are some things that can be prevented or avoided and some things that can't. I know we don't live in a bubble, but there are things that we can do to prevent sickness in our children, especially while on vacation. Babies do not have immunities like older children or adults have.

She likes the idea of the socks. She thinks that is a great idea. She also like the idea of bringing a walker as well as putting the sheets down.

I think they are to be commended to take the time to protect and keep their baby well.

Sorry I didn't mean to start a debate. I just wanted some advice on how others handled babies that were crawling in hotel rooms.

You are not a germaphobe - don't let anyone make you feel funny for being proactive to protect the health of the little ones. I SO agree on everything you said here - if you can prevent it, do!! If germs were visible we would definitely NOT put our children right in them or on them. We also probably never leave our homes Unfortunately visible germs are not the case so we have to do what seems sensible.... putting your child down on the carpet at home is much different than putting her down at the carpet in a hotel room. The sweeper that swept your hotel carpet just swept the other 20 carpets on the wing of your hotel - who knows what went on in those rooms?! I know we need germs in the world to help our immunity stay strong, but as you said babies' immune systems are not that of an adult. Why stress their systems while on vacation?

I hope everyone has a wonderful trip

 

[Picabo]

I don't think it's fair to make the OP poster (or any of us who feel the same way) feel like her daughter is being strange by being protective. There is a big difference between being obsessed with cleanliness and/or germs and just doing the best you can to avoid unnecessary illness. Each family has to decide what is best for THEM and I don't think it's right to make people who don't do the same thing, feel bad for it.

I am by FAR not an obsessed germophobic-type. But I still do what I feel is best for my family to keep unnecessary germs at bay. I am one of those moms who wipes down tables, high chairs, etc down before I put my kids in them. Kids have snotty noses, kids pick their boogers, kids lick their hands and then touch the tables, high chairs, etc.....it wouldn't be responsible of me (in MY opinion) to not wipe it down to try to minimize germs before I put my kid in there. It won't get rid of ALL the germs, but minimizes. And yes, I even put down the plastic sticky table topper as well...for my younger one who is too young to eat off of a plate. Am I obsessed, no. Just being cautious.

Same goes for hotel room floors, in my opinion. You don't know if a baby ran around the room wtihout a diaper on an pooped on the floor. Or if someone threw up. Or if someone stepped in dog do-do and then walked on the carpet. I just prefer NOT to expose my children to these things.

In regards to being exposed to germs so that they build up immunity....my girls are 1 and 2 yrs old and have had their share of colds, etc despite my efforts. My older daughter just had hand-foot-mouth a few months ago and that was miserable for her. There is really only so much you can do to protect them. But on the other hand I have friends who do not do the things that I do to take precautions...and their kids are sick on a weekly basis.

Anyhow, boils down to doing what is best for your family and what you are comfortable wiht. No need to make others feel bad for what they choose for their family.

 

[ChristusG]

It grosses me out to see kids riding in shopping carts, without covers, just licking away at the metal on the cart. Ewwwww.

I do what I can to protect my kiddos. My DD17 months seems to get croup every time she gets sick. Last time she ended up in the hospital. Now I'm one of those moms you see wiping down everything, using a shopping cart/high chair cover, and sanitizing her kids hands. I DO NOT want DD in the hospital again.

When we go to Disney in October, I'm going to have to be a freak about cleanliness.

 

[RMulieri]

Nobody was intentionally trying to bash or hurt the OP.Just offering opininons on all sides ,which last I checked is what public posting forums are about.Discussions.She can be as protective,overprotective, or underprotective as she chooses to be.She asked for advice/opinions and she got them.

 

[Picabo]

It grosses me out to see kids riding in shopping carts, without covers, just licking away at the metal on the cart. Ewwwww.

.

Yes! Me too. Raw meats could have dripped out of a package of pork, chicken, hamburger, etc. Ya, that grosses me out as well. But, then you think, when we were little, nobody had shopping cart covers and someone we survived! haha

 

[VeroBeachGirl]

Nobody was intentionally trying to bash or hurt the OP.Just offering opininons on all sides ,which last I checked is what public posting forums are about.Discussions.She can be as protective,overprotective, or underprotective as she chooses to be.She asked for advice/opinions and she got them.

 

[crisi]

As a mom of four, if I was constantly on the lookout for any of my kids touching anything unseemly, well, I don't think I'd ever get much accomplished! I assume this baby is an only child...just think ahead...what are you gonna do one day when you're in the middle of changing a giant poop on your baby and your 5 year old runs into the house, "Look Mom, a dead bird!" as he hands it to you! If you address the bird, baby hands touch poop. If you keep changing the diaper, well, bird flu anyone?? Oh wait, the 3 year old just put her hands in the toilet! Germs happen. Part of life.

That's funny. We've had the dead bird in the hands scenario.

I'd let them crawl on the floor. That is my suggestion. I will not judge if anyone thinks any different. My kids would not have stayed contained to sheets and would have screamed in a pack and play. I figure that most of the attractions inside Disney are at least as dirty as the hotel carpet - they get far more people and a far larger variety of germs.

 

[WendyLovesPeter]

Nobody was intentionally trying to bash or hurt the OP.Just offering opininons on all sides ,which last I checked is what public posting forums are about.Discussions.She can be as protective,overprotective, or underprotective as she chooses to be.She asked for advice/opinions and she got them.

The OP asked for suggestions how people kept their child off the floor. She has already made her mind up she does not want the child on the floor. The problem came when people replied giving THEIR opinions that perhaps she is too protective. She did not ask for opinions. She asked for suggestions & the debate began. Perhaps this is one of those topics......... you know the ones I'm talking about

 

[Momto8]

Nobody was intentionally trying to bash or hurt the OP.Just offering opininons on all sides ,which last I checked is what public posting forums are about.Discussions.She can be as protective,overprotective, or underprotective as she chooses to be.She asked for advice/opinions and she got them.

Where in my post did you see that I asked for opinions if I was being over protective? Where did I ask others if they thought it was okay to put a baby on the floor? What I did ask was for suggestions on how to keep a crawling baby off the dirty carpet in the hotel room. I don't know why or how this got into a discussion of being over protective other than there are a few posters who misunderstood my question and had to give their opinions about this.

 

[Momto8]

The OP asked for suggestions how people kept their child off the floor. She has already made her mind up she does not want the child on the floor. The problem came when people replied giving THEIR opinions that perhaps she is too protective. She did not ask for opinions. She asked for suggestions & the debate began. Perhaps this is one of those topics......... you know the ones I'm talking about

Exactly! I don't need a debate on whether to put a baby on the floor or not. We just want some suggestions on what others did to keep their babies off the dirty carpet. I don't really care if others think I'm being over protective or not.

Thanks to all for those who have helped DD with their suggestions!

 

[jessica52877]

As gross as it is, we went on a cruise when DS was 9 months old. I had to suck it up and let him crawl on the floor at some point during the week. He survived and I survived. I would do everything possible to prevent it though.

 

[Momto8]

As gross as it is, we went on a cruise when DS was 9 months old. I had to suck it up and let him crawl on the floor at some point during the week. He survived and I survived. I would do everything possible to prevent it though.

Sometimes you just can't prevent it, but you do what you can to prevent it when you can.

 

[RMulieri]

Where in my post did you see that I asked for opinions if I was being over protective? Where did I ask others if they thought it was okay to put a baby on the floor? What I did ask was for suggestions on how to keep a crawling baby off the dirty carpet in the hotel room. I don't know why or how this got into a discussion of being over protective other than there are a few posters who misunderstood my question and had to give their opinions about this.

Sorry you felt attacked.

 

[mjkacmom]

How about spraying the floor down with some disinfectent? I'd rather do that, then worry about the baby falling off of the bed (although each and every one of my kids fell off the bed, at least once, at some point).