Questions for those cruising with 6 mos - 1 year old

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I haven't cruised with a baby or toddler, but we traveled a lot elsewhere while DS was teeny tiny.
I think you already got some great suggestions so I wont repeat but just wanted to say I would use disposible diapers while on vacation especially a cruise. Aside from washing your cloth diapers in the washing machines, you will have to store the wet ones somewhere in your cabin, and those rooms are fairly small, especially bathrooms. You can order diapers from the honest company, they are more eco- friendly compared to pampers or huggies. IF you are concerned.
I would definitely bring your stroller, ideally one that declines. We met a family on our cruise whose baby would sleep in the stroller while they ate dinner, the staff let them park it near the table during the second seating.
As for the sound machine, if you think you may want to try it, try downloading on your smart phone. There is an app for that

 

[schmass]

Thank you! I just finished reading it (it took me a few hours). Very informative though.

Good to know CC has a Splash area. With that and a bucket/shovel, we should be good to go. I hope DS likes the splash area onboard too.

Two questions:

1) the highchairs look good. Are they hard?

2) those blocks Rory was playing with at the table, did you bring them or were they provided by Disney?

Thanks again for sharing!

The splash areas were a huge hit! Rory got to the point where when we'd walk by it on the way to Cabanas, he'd be trying to dive in!

The highchairs were hard - they were wooden, I believe.

The blocks were our own - you can find them here: http://www.amazon.com/Piece-Tegu-Pocket-Magnetic-Wooden/dp/B004WMCZGY They are great because they are small, magnetic and have a little carrying case, so they are hard to lose!

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

The splash areas were a huge hit! Rory got to the point where when we'd walk by it on the way to Cabanas, he'd be trying to dive in!

The highchairs were hard - they were wooden, I believe.

The blocks were our own - you can find them here: http://www.amazon.com/Piece-Tegu-Pocket-Magnetic-Wooden/dp/B004WMCZGY They are great because they are small, magnetic and have a little carrying case, so they are hard to lose!

Thank you for sharing. Cool carrying case.

 

[VbChristy]

Hi again. So I haven't been able to get to a computer this week to reply.

Couple of things- there are tons of covered areas in Castaway Cay for your son so you shouldn't need a pop up tent... Besides, luggage space will be a premium so you will want to limit what you take.

We now travel with a car seat and just store it in the cabin during the cruise. In the beginning we didn't because we used a rental car and used their car seats. I recommend getting the red gate check bag (search on amazon). They are inexpensive and useful. We use it for the stroller and the car seat. The bags sometimes have a small tear or are dirty and it's better than our stroller or car seat being dirty. My friend is an engineer and car seat check person- she has no qualms about checking the car seat and says they are designed to withstand that. We also have a car seat cart that we strap the car seat to. It becomes a little annoying hooking it up and unhooking it, but then we just stroll through the airport. I would consider buying a quality umbrella stroller so that it can recline and have a nice sun cover- my son has napped many a time in those on vacation... We don't recline him much but just a little goes a long way. Also when we are in areas where getting to a baby changing table is just not going to happen- we recline the stroller and change him on the stroller.

We use a noise maker app on our phone- as he usually uses on anyway- it is free and called Sleep Machine Lite by SleepSoft LLC. I highly recommend it. Apparently on our last cruise there were some alarms going off in the middle of the night and none of us heard it because of the sleep machine.

The high chairs are hard and thick- like the plastic is thick, probably to make it sturdier. We never had a problem with them. We also bring disposable bibs so when he eats he doesn't get himself as messy and it is one less thing to bring home.

On both of my Disney cruises, the diaper genie was in the room already when we boarded as was the pack and play (not a crib- there wouldn't be room anyway, not even in the suite.) We always bring our own sheets and a blanket he is used to from home so we will sleep better.

Oh, there is an essential oils combo that we like for motion sickness - we just apply it behind his ears daily and it makes me feel better. He has had some motion sickness in the past (not cruising, but on planes and in the car) so we use it preventatively. http://smile.amazon.com/MotionEaze-...id=1427467814&sr=8-3&keywords=motion+sickness

Oh- one more thing- we bought cupcake silicone's and it is the best toy ever. We leave it in the case and bring it out when he needed something to play with- they are lightweight, colorful, easy, and not expensive. We would add his cereal to it during take off and landing and just give it to him when he needed something to play with randomly... http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00COWLX...427468254&sr=1&keywords=cupcake+silicone+mold

That's all I can think of right now...

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

Hi again. So I haven't been able to get to a computer this week to reply.

Couple of things- there are tons of covered areas in Castaway Cay for your son so you shouldn't need a pop up tent... Besides, luggage space will be a premium so you will want to limit what you take.

We now travel with a car seat and just store it in the cabin during the cruise. In the beginning we didn't because we used a rental car and used their car seats. I recommend getting the red gate check bag (search on amazon). They are inexpensive and useful. We use it for the stroller and the car seat. The bags sometimes have a small tear or are dirty and it's better than our stroller or car seat being dirty. My friend is an engineer and car seat check person- she has no qualms about checking the car seat and says they are designed to withstand that. We also have a car seat cart that we strap the car seat to. It becomes a little annoying hooking it up and unhooking it, but then we just stroll through the airport. I would consider buying a quality umbrella stroller so that it can recline and have a nice sun cover- my son has napped many a time in those on vacation... We don't recline him much but just a little goes a long way. Also when we are in areas where getting to a baby changing table is just not going to happen- we recline the stroller and change him on the stroller.

We use a noise maker app on our phone- as he usually uses on anyway- it is free and called Sleep Machine Lite by SleepSoft LLC. I highly recommend it. Apparently on our last cruise there were some alarms going off in the middle of the night and none of us heard it because of the sleep machine.

The high chairs are hard and thick- like the plastic is thick, probably to make it sturdier. We never had a problem with them. We also bring disposable bibs so when he eats he doesn't get himself as messy and it is one less thing to bring home.

On both of my Disney cruises, the diaper genie was in the room already when we boarded as was the pack and play (not a crib- there wouldn't be room anyway, not even in the suite.) We always bring our own sheets and a blanket he is used to from home so we will sleep better.

Oh, there is an essential oils combo that we like for motion sickness - we just apply it behind his ears daily and it makes me feel better. He has had some motion sickness in the past (not cruising, but on planes and in the car) so we use it preventatively. http://smile.amazon.com/MotionEaze-...id=1427467814&sr=8-3&keywords=motion+sickness

Oh- one more thing- we bought cupcake silicone's and it is the best toy ever. We leave it in the case and bring it out when he needed something to play with- they are lightweight, colorful, easy, and not expensive. We would add his cereal to it during take off and landing and just give it to him when he needed something to play with randomly... http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00COWLX...427468254&sr=1&keywords=cupcake+silicone+mold

That's all I can think of right now...

This is SOOOOO helpful! Thank you for this response! I didn't think about the disposibles bibs or the possibility of not having a place to change him.

I like the PP's suggestion to use my travel system. I read a review stating they're hard to meneuver onboard. What's your opinion on having the travel system onboard? Is it really that hard to maneuver onboard? I've spent so much money on that travel system, I'd hate to fork out another $60+ on a nice umbrella stroller AND still have to carry his car seat separately through the airport. My travel system stroller has three wheels instead of four (it's not the jogging stroller). Once we get in our cabin, I could stow them under the bed and only use the stroller in port, IF it's too difficult to use onboard. I can wear him in one of my wraps/carriers onboard instead. I'd love to hear your opinion on that. I have one of those portable luggage carts. I used it to strap on my big weekend carryon bag when I was pregnant. It IS a pain to strap on and off, but I couldn't carry that bag through the airport on my shoulder when I was pregnant. So, I know what you mean!

 

[VbChristy]

can you upload a picture of it? I know there are lots of different sized ones.

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

can you upload a picture of it? I know there are lots of different sized ones.

 

[VbChristy]

Oh, that would be fine

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

Let me know if you can't see the picture. I'm horrible when it comes to technology, so I hope it worked.

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

Oh, that would be fine

Yay! Sweet! Thx! That solves the car seat AND stroller issues.

I'll get one of those red bags for the gate check at the airport. I was looking at purchasing one the other day.