Scared.... very scared.

[steveyjc81]

This will be my sixth cruise, fourth on DCL. All our previous cruises have been just as a couple. This time however, I’ll have my 18-month baby with us.

As September approaches, I’m getting more and more scared. I wouldn’t say she’s a hard baby, but my goodness, she never stops, apart from to sleep, which we’re lucky is 12-13 hours per night.

I’m scared of the 9 hour flight to get to Florida, I’m scared of her getting sick before hand, I’m scared she’ll be terribly sea sick, I’m scared she won’t settle in nursery, I’m scared she won’t be able to stick the heat of the Caribbean.

So many possible things to go wrong. Help me, I’m starting to go crazy (and I’m trying to hide it from my wife, as I keep assuring her that everything will be ok).

Arghhh

 

[emnems34]

Well here's what I can tell you to offer you a (little) solace: we cruised with my niece in February who was about 18 months old at the time. She did great on the boat as far as seasickness and heat. They didn't do the nursery so I can't speak for that, but she did ok on the plane (only about 3 hours though) and she's the same way as your little one- never stops unless she's asleep! Don't worry. She will probably fuss a little on the plane, and maybe at first she will be a little fussy at the nursery, but don't let your anxiety about it ruin your excitement! have fun!!!!

 

[MSPeeler]

Im with you!!! My son just turned 20 months and he is go, go, go!

We're currently on our way to the cruise! I'm totally nervous!!!

 

[hubbard53]

I don't think it's any different than any other 18 month old

My 18 month son did great on his 1 st cruise 4 years ago. He loved the cruise, loved the food, loved the nursery, and had no problem with seasickness or sleeping (you get 12-13 hours per night? Lucky!)

 

[Hundredacre]

I don't know if you have ever flown with your baby but we have with ours and after giving our second one a try (thinking maybe it was just baby one's personality), we will drive cross country to avoid flying with young kids. But the cruise will be easy.

 

[anna08]

Usually babies prefer to be warm so don't worry about the heat and honestly I've never seen anyone post here that their very young child had seasickness. They are a handful at that age and having an 18 mo can be like flying with a raccoon in your lap. What worked for us is that I bought a bag of completely new small toys and books that I would pull out items throughout the flight - lots of yummy snacks too. End the flight with a lollipop - does wonders to get them back in the seatbelt and keeps them still for 30 minutes and can help with ear pressure issues. Hopefully you bought her a ticket for her own seat as your flight is so long - too long for a lap baby. Then you can have her in her carseat - makes for a much better flight. The cruise I have no worries about!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I hear you. We didn't take our first cruise with DS until he was 3 1/2 and it was not fun. He too, was non-stop unless he was asleep which wasn't very often. Our saving grace for the cruise - we splurged and brought my MIL with us. DS wouldn't go into the kids club, so MIL would go with him to the open houses and even took him back on the ship when he had an absolute melt down on CC. Without her, it would have just been the same old, same old, but in a tropical environment. With her help, we had a bit of a vacation. We were able to go to Remy, go to the spa and I even took a much needed nap on CC. Is there any way you could bring another adult with you so you could get a break if need be?

 

[TestingH2O]

They are a handful at that age and having an 18 mo can be like flying with a raccoon in your lap.

What an accurate description!

 

[Jess_S]

The flight will be exhausting - no way around it. But I think the cruise will be a pleasant surprise. We took my son at about 20 months and all the extra stimulation meant that he slept more than usual. Plus the crew really fusses over little ones.

 

[aggiedog]

We flew and traveled with our kids at that age, including a set of twins. And then an 18mo dd with 3 yo twins. You will be fine. Honestly, I only ever fly with them in their car seat, and not on my lap. Ostensibly because it's safer. In reality, because it straps that "raccoon" into something other than my lap. The hands down most fun I ever had with my kids traveling was when youngest dd was 18 mos at WDW. She was so overjoyed by all the characters, the panorama of it all, the shows, the lights, the music. It was non-stop joy for her. Every picture we have she is totally blissed out.

Don't worry, you, and the baby, will be great.

I'm not even sure toddlers can get seasick? I'd assume their world is already full of a LOT more motion than an adults, all that being picked up, carried, swung around, pushed around, etc, etc.

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

In terms of the flight, bring your car seat with you. She is used to sitting in it in the car, so that will help her to stay secure and safe during the flight. I know if we hadn't had our car seat, my son would have been wiggling all around trying to get out of his seat. But since he was in his car seat, he understood what was expected. Bring some small new toys to play with. If she watches tv, bring some episodes preloaded on your phone or iPad.

We took our cruise in August when my son was 2 years, 2 months, and he didn't have any problems with seasickness or the heat. In terms of the heat, just keep her well hydrated.

For the most part, I can't speak to the nursery, as we never used it, but some of the nursery counselors were in the Nemo's Reef splash area one day, and they were very good with my son and played with water toys with him.

In terms of burning energy, there is lots to do for kids that age: splash zones, open houses at kids' clubs, toddler time, Wake Up with Disney Junior, exploring the ship, etc.

And hopefully you have trip insurance if there is any illness!

I will admit--I had some anxiety before our cruise about some things, but everything ended up being okay.

 

[hanscarlet]

If you google "baby airplane notes" you can put a few of those together and pass them out on the plane in case you're worried about fellow passengers.... note this is not a requirement and can be a hotly debated topic so don't feel obligated, just trying to suggest another idea that may alleviate your fear... generally passengers are going to be fine with your baby, they understand and if they don't screw 'em!

 

[Mousemommy1]

We just did Disney and a DCL cruise last month. We had our 11,9 and 15 month old with us. We are used to traveling with littles so it wasn't really a big deal. We do buy seats for our babies...because safety. Also, Disney for us is only a 3 hour flight but I wouldn't want DS in my lap that whole time. He'd be trying to get down and run up and down the aisle. With his car seat, he knows he has to sit in it and doesn't argue. Luckily, take offs seem to lull him to sleep and he will sleep for a bit during the flight.

Our DS spent a lot of time at Nemos reef. That's a good energy burner. Or we would go walk the running deck, which he liked. He also burnt a lot of energy at castaway cay in the water and running around on the beach.

 

[MUN]

This will be my sixth cruise, fourth on DCL. All our previous cruises have been just as a couple. This time however, I’ll have my 18-month baby with us.

As September approaches, I’m getting more and more scared. I wouldn’t say she’s a hard baby, but my goodness, she never stops, apart from to sleep, which we’re lucky is 12-13 hours per night.

I’m scared of the 9 hour flight to get to Florida, I’m scared of her getting sick before hand, I’m scared she’ll be terribly sea sick, I’m scared she won’t settle in nursery, I’m scared she won’t be able to stick the heat of the Caribbean.

So many possible things to go wrong. Help me, I’m starting to go crazy (and I’m trying to hide it from my wife, as I keep assuring her that everything will be ok).

Arghhh

Have you thought about canceling? Vacations are supposed to be fun. If this is causing you so much anxiety, you should seriously consider not going.

MUN

 

[Vijoge]

Have you thought about canceling? Vacations are supposed to be fun. If this is causing you so much anxiety, you should seriously consider not going.

MUN

Have to agree with MUN on this. As much as I'd hate to caccel a vacation I can't imagine taking an 18 month old on a nine hour flight, let alone a cruise.

 

[steveyjc81]

Thanks everyone for your comments. Will read up lots about what to do on the flight with the wee one. Hopefully she'll decide to sleep for most of it.

Really appreciate everyones tips and advice.

 

[Jennifer777]

Kids are resilient and adapt to their surroundings very well. The flight probably isn't going to be very fun but a 9 hour flight isn't fun for anyone. Get some new toys, maybe download some shows onto an iPad. Pack some chewy candy or snacks (fruit snacks) for the flight to help her ears pop after takeoff/landing and try to keep her awake prior to the flight so she's more likely to sleep. I wouldn't worry about the cruise at all. There will be plenty to keep her busy. Having her walk to and from places will tire her out and hopefully she'll sleep well for you.

I normally wouldn't advise a layover but this might be worth considering so you can break up the flight and let her run some energy off before the second half.

 

[anna08]

We flew and traveled with our kids at that age, including a set of twins. And then an 18mo dd with 3 yo twins. You will be fine. Honestly, I only ever fly with them in their car seat, and not on my lap. Ostensibly because it's safer. In reality, because it straps that "raccoon" into something other than my lap. The hands down most fun I ever had with my kids traveling was when youngest dd was 18 mos at WDW. She was so overjoyed by all the characters, the panorama of it all, the shows, the lights, the music. It was non-stop joy for her. Every picture we have she is totally blissed out.

Don't worry, you, and the baby, will be great.

I'm not even sure toddlers can get seasick? I'd assume their world is already full of a LOT more motion than an adults, all that being picked up, carried, swung around, pushed around, etc, etc.

I had very similar experiences - kids loved all the sights and sounds of DCL and WDW - and slept hard at night. Pluses - you can make staterooms fabulously dark with the curtains and if there ever is a meltdown - you are just a short walk away from your stateroom (if not off ship in port.)

My thoughts were exactly that - they are being swung by adults, baby swings, etc...and my guess is their inner ear is a lot more forgiving than adults.

Oh, and if you have a smartphone, definitely get the "balloon animals" app. Kids that age love it. You blow on or shake your phone which causes a balloon to twist into an animal and then it animates. Really simple and effective toddler entertainment! Great for distraction.

 

[MSPeeler]

I forgot to add, not the same thing, but we have been in the car for 10 hours and my 20 month old has been great!

I second bringing the car seat!!

 

[c todd]

I think the cruise part will be fine, as others have said, the flight will probably be the most challenging part. For such a long flight, I hope you bought an extra seat. If so, and you don't want to lug your car seat, you could try a CARES flight safety harness. They are FAA approved and it's like a 5 point harness that attaches to the seat using the existing seat belt. I found that it kept my son in his seat and he didn't think about getting out of it. Airline seats are all different so it's better on some than others but overall I was always glad I had it. And flight attendants always appreciated that I was using it and were nicer.

And the bag of new toys and activities really helps. Little things that you know she would like to play with but make sure she doesn't see them ahead of time. I'd have a new one for every 20 minutes of plane time. Some suggestions - a few new books if she likes books, wiki sticks, travel doodle that just uses water, squishy toys. You don't have to spend a lot of money just have things that are new to her. Also if you have an iPad or iPhone with download some favorite videos and if you can get toddler earphones it makes it easier (you're not constantly trying to put them back on or in) and safer. And snacks, some of her favorites and maybe some treats she doesn't usually get. The more prepared you are, the easier it will be. And, if you are prepared and have tons of things for her, she'll probably fall asleep which is even better!