Stroller or carrier?

[krishouse]

Hi there,
We are embarking on our 4th trip to the world,(i cannot wait)but it will be our 10 months old first trip.We also have dd12 and ds4, in the past we always had a stroller for our 4 yr old. I think that we may still need the stroller for ds but we are trying to decide if we should purchase one of the backpack carriers for the baby. We are trying to figure out if it will be a pain putting on and taking it off for busses, attractions or such. I am also considering picking up another umbrella stroller for my 4 year old instead, we were thinking that the rental strollers are too big for the baby.
I was just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and if the baby carrier is the way to go?

thanks so much
kristin

 

[Limmer]

This may sound stupid and I have not experienced either taking a child or going in Jan but I know my daughter gives off A LOT of heat. We have only gone in Sept and Oct and I know I could never handle the added heat of the baby carriers. May not be an issue in Jan?

 

[kkcolton5]

We're in the same boat....whether to put the baby in a carrier, what about the hassles, etc.. If anyone has experience with this, please post!!

My guess is to bring a stroller, since carrying the baby might be tiresome. Plus, the baby might like to sit down and "stretch" out a bit; the carriers can be confining! We think we'll bring the stroller and use the carrier in lines, at the restaurants, in shops, etc.. Ugh! This planning stuff is driving me NUTS!

 

[tjmw2727]

Lets see, I would not recommend a backpack carrier, its to cumbersome and difficult to get baby in and out in the crowds. We loved ours for hiking and outdoors but not at WDW. OTOH until dd was about 18mos my sling was a lifesaver! A snugli or something similar worn in front or on the hip is great for baby and toddlers. Since you can't take the stroller in line or into the shows its so much easier to wear baby in line and while standing in the prehows. On several attractions dh or I were able to just leave her in the sling.

Your right that the rentals are not ideal for a baby that age. I would bring a double or a sit n stand for the baby and the 4yo if you already have one. Unless your pretty confident that the 4yo will walk more than ride or he/she will only ride when baby isn't. An umbrella or rental for the 4yo will be fine but I would bring a fullsize for the baby for napping and shade.

TJ

 

[alloyd1170]

Use the stroller when walking around, and a carrier or sling (not the backpack thing-though there is one that converts into a stroller-One Step Ahead I think has it) when youre standing in line since you cant take a stroller in line.

alison

 

[Schmeck]

I'd get the umbrella stroller for the 4 yr old, use the regular stroller for the baby, and get a small sling (diaper bag sized, not one of those huge mothers that take up a whole backpack - I had one of those!) for waiting in lines.

Having two strollers gives you the options of splitting up when the baby is napping, etc.

 

[DisneyPhD]

On our 1st trip to WDW with a baby we had a stroller that converted to a back pack. Baby was almost 9 months old and it was perfect for us at that time. She loved being in it, it held her up well, had a sun canapy and was very light and compact. The best part was it if the park was congested (like during the 3:00 parade) we just coverted it to a back pack and walked right out, no problems. It was our only stroller that trip, and it worked well. She could even sleep in it comfortably. We had so many comments on it everywhere we went. We were the only ones we saw with it.

We are going agin in March and our 2nd daugher will be 7 months old. We have a PP double stroller for the trip, but we sometimes wonder if we should bring the Instep also. She loved being up high to see things. We will bring the Baby bjorn too.

Unlike a normal stroller it will not work for older children to use sometimes.

Here is a link that has a picture of it, we bought it for around $50, and that was 3 years ago.
http://www.childcarriers.com/instep.htm?engine=adwords!346&keyword=%28instep+stroller+back+pack%29&match_type=

Target has it and baby depot at BCF. I wouldn't bring a normal back pack carrier as it is a pain store it when baby isn't using it.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

We went at the end of Sept big. of Oct. and we brought double stroller and baby sling (2.5 year old and 8months at the time). We used the carrier a little bit but always used the stroller. It was so hot carrying ny daughter in the carrier. She was miserable and I was about to pass out! We just used to stroller and put the stroller fans on them and they were happy as clams. When it came time to wait on line we just picked up the baby and my son was big enough to walk with us. The lines moved pretty quick. I would bring the carrier but count on using the stroller. At least that's what worked for us.

 

[ryanmilla]

We just came back and had the same experience. However, our DS was only 2.5 months. We brought a double stroller and a baby bjorn (front carrier). Our double stroller is a front-to-back and the older child can sit or stand in the back. Our DD 3 liked this b/c she was able to get in or out at her leisure. The front seat was to house the car seat for our DS. Well, it usually housed our backpack or whatever we might have bought during the day. Our DS ended up living in the baby bjorn. Worked out great for us and him, b/c we didn't have to keep getting him in and out of the stroller when we went on rides and he was able to sleep without being woken up. At the end of the week if we knew we were going to be in the park that long we ended up leaving the stroller at home and just letting our DD walk and then carried her if she needed it. Luckily she did pretty well.

Anyway, that is my 2 cents. Best of luck and have a GREAT trip!

 

[momloveson]

Hi there,
I am also considering picking up another umbrella stroller for my 4 year old instead, we were thinking that the rental strollers are too big for the baby.
I was just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and if the baby carrier is the way to go?

thanks so much
kristin

Definately bring an umbrella stroller for your 4 year old. We just got back and had borrowed our neighbor's umb strol for the trip. IT WAS A LIFESAVER. The first HOUR son didn't want to ride in it because he said he was tooo big...after that NP. His little legs were so tired after a few hours and it was great for him to nod off for a bit w/out us having to carry him.

Suggestion: I picked up 1 yard of a brightly colored (unique) fabric from the Walmart remnant stack (67 cents) and tied it between the 2 handles. Spotting the stroller was quick and easy when the CM's moved it.

 

[krishouse]

thanks so much everyone for your great tips!
kris

 

[Y2KMOM]

We used a front carrier with our 11 mo. old. We used it to get into the park and then rented a stroller. It worked great we could sit on the monorail or other transportantion.

 

[b-1]

Last December I used the Maya wrap sling pouch style in light denim. It was excellent. DD 15 months could ride on my hip and stayed in the sling for most rides (like POC and Peter Pan etc.) I would simply slide the sling over so that she was facing me and then we could ride together. The sling was lightweight and could fold up and be stuffed into DH's back pocket!!

We alos brought a stroller that DD could stretch out and have a nap. I thought she'd never sleep in a stroller!!! WRONG. No problem napping.

The sling was a lifesaver in lines as well as around the resort (ex. I didn't have to take the stroller to the restaurant or to the pool area).It was great at the airport too. DD was walking so she would want to run around and then I could scoop her up and pop her in the sling and we could get on the plane.

Have a great trip!

 

[bigbabyblues]

We took the stroller and the backpack carrier for our 15-month old, and we used them both. The backpack was great at nighttime, he fell asleep in it, and we didn't have to get him out of the stroller for the bus that way. We have a Kelty backpack with a seat belt, attached diaper bag, etc. We love it

Steph