Strollers and baby carriers - dads out there pls respond!

[mommyof2boys1girl]

Sorry everyone - please bear with me. I have asked a question along the same theme long ago, but now I need a slightly different twist to the answer.

Dh and I are arguing about what is necessary to take our 3 kidlets to DL. We are there for a week in early May, and the kids are 5, 3 and 19mos.

My opinion - we need transportation for all 3 at once - ie a double stroller and a baby carrier (we have a Bjorn, but I feel dd is just too big for it - she seems uncomfortable.) The baby is tiny by growth chart standards - only about 18 lbs, but I still think she's too big to lug around in my arms all day if the boys are tired and need the stroller seats. (and I do it at home a lot -she's a very hands on type of girl - so I know a bit of how heavy she can get!) I am looking for a used Ergo, but if I can't find one, I was contemplating just biting the bullet and buying one new.

Dh's Opinion - we already have a double umbrella stroller (borrowed) for the kids, and a Bjorn carrier or a climbing backpack (complete with metal frame). Take one of those instead of buying a new carrier for the baby.

So, am I being inflexible here? My feelings are: the 5 year old has more stamina than the 3 yr old, but lets face it - he can only walk the mall a couple of hours before he's exhausted and needs to throw in the towel. At our local amusement park, we get 2 hours tops, and he's DONE! DL, with all the sensory overload, might 'pump up the adrenaline' or it might be even more exhausting. I just don't want to be stuck carrying the baby all the time because the boys are tired and too big to carry.

Anyone have any insight here? Any advice/experiences to share?

And guys - please feel free to voice your opinions. Dh is convinced us women just want more junk than we can ever use (and in my case, sometimes he's right! ) Ladies - ask your hubbies! All opinions are welcome!

Thanks!

 

[dhlovesbelle]

I would suggest bringing your double stroller and then renting one at the park. They are $10 a day but if you use your disney visa they are free. This way you don't have to worry about a stroller for your 5 yr old until he needs one (like later in the afternoon). Just keep your receipt so you can keep going back and getting one if you lose yours or choose to return it for part of the day. I know when we went last my 5 year old was so excited he never even wanted to sit down for lunch So your little guy might surprise you with his stamina good luck and have fun!

 

[pumpkin5156]

I would second the renting the stroller. I have a 19 month old as well, and I agree that you do not want to be stuck carrying her around for any long period of time. Even my 7 year old nephew collapses in the stroller around dinner time at DL. Even with a carrier, you're still "carrying" them, as opposed to the stroller. Better for everyone to have their own seat

 

[Raidermouse]

We use a stroller for our 7 and 5 year old girls.It makes the day so much easier.We get them free with our Disney Visa.I see by your date that if you do not have a Disney Visa you might want to go online and get one quick.We got ours in two weeks.You do not need to carry a balance to get any of the perks.You also get discounts and select restuarants in the park and other stuff.That's my two cents from a Disney Dad

I second bringing the double stroller

 

[tnd]

The one problem with renting a stroller is that it must be returned as you leave the park, so you can't use it on the walk back to the hotel, which seems like the time your kids might be the most exhausted.

I think a different baby carrier for your little one might be helpful, because you'll probably end up using it more. Also, you can use it while in line which is nice. When my son was 18 months old we went to WDW for a weekend (DH's work sent him for a weekend conference) and my sling was awesome for standing in line. He even slept in it at times. I used the heck out of my slings until he hit about 2 and then he refused.

I should add that I am totally jealous of anyone whose kids will actually use the stroller. It took major bribery to get our son into the stroller for the walks to and from the park, even when he was exhausted at night, and even then we'd hear "want to get out" every 30 seconds. He wouldn't use it in the park AT ALL.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well we never even OWNED a stroller under DS was over 2 and I wanted to go jogging with him, but we have rented or brought one for each Disney trip. DS was around the age of your girl on his first trip. He was in the stroller ONCE. Then we got to small world and he was out, and he just never went back in.

I think, if you've never used an Ergo (or even a simple cloth mei tai), you have NO idea how nice it's going to feel compared to what I've read about lugging baby in a Bjorn. I really should have borrowed a Bjorn from someone so I could know the difference, but as a retired chiropractor, I care too much about my spine to do that, so one could say that I don't know what I'm talking about. I'll just let the experiences of those who used a bjorn and then used other more ergonomically sound carriers be "my" experiences. I'm an experience thief!

But I do know that I wore DS around Disneyland in the mei tai, both front (facing into me, b/c they are less weight that way, it's better for their hips to have the support under their legs rather than the dangling facing forward way, and b/c he had far more fun interacting with people around me than he ever did with the backs of people in front of me! plus anyone who has ridden a train facing "backwards" knows that you have a much better, and in-depth, view of the things you're leaving behind than the things you're approaching) and back carries (carrying on the back rocks!), and I was fine all day.

If you weren't in Canada, and therefore subject to customs and expensive shipping and possible delays, I would try to figure out a fair price for my Ergo. I loved it, but should we have another baby I know I'll want to try something else (please don't tell your husband that the Ergo was my LAST babywearing purchase, and I also own a Korean podegi, a Hotsling, a selendang (Indonesian carrier), a Moby Wrap, two big swathes of fabric I tied a la Moby, two Mamma's Milk slings, and a lightweight mei tai OH and hubby has a very cool Guatemalan-like swirl of color patterned ring sling from THE ring sling maker (whose name escapes me right now)). But you really do need time to practice with it, b/c otherwise it's going to be a burden rather than a joy; any baby carrier requires practice.

As for the metal frame backpack, omg do not. What a pain! Though I HAVE seen them at Disneyland, I have I have. It's just not my style.


If any of the above makes no sense, blame this superbug that has finally claimed me. After 5 long days of DS being so sick, and caring for him 24/7 using herbs and homeopathy (and one exhausted day trying to convince him to have some triaminic to give both of us a break...he absolutely refused), he's finally gloriously better (though tired). And now I'm smacked down by it, dangit. I know I was delirious last night, saying all sorts of weird things, so I might be doing that right now but have no one (confused hubby) to tell me, LOL.

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

Molly - makes perfect sense, in a sort of nonsensical way!

Thanks for the tips! As an aside, used ergos sell for around $80 US (almost as much as a new one - guess they hold their value well!), so you could make some cash to fund a new DL trip!

Not sure what we will do yet - the suggestions of renting a stroller for oldest DS were good ones, however, another $50 in expenditures for stroller rental would almost pay for the carrier, and I don't think we are eligible for the Disney Visa, being that we are from Canada.

Will have to think on this some more...thanks everyone for their input!

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I would take the double stroller for sure for the older kids. Then I would rent one for the baby or buy a new carrier. We went through this on our last trip, dd was 12 months and about the same size as your 19 month old is now. I knew a Bjorn wasn't going to do it so I was on the hunt for a new carrier. I have heard wonderful things about the Ergo that bumbershoot mentioned. But we decided to go with a sutemi carrier, it was also a little cheaper. Here is the link to the website and below are some pictures of me wearing my dd, you can wear them in the front, side or on the back. We mostly used it for our 5 days in the park. I was very comfortable carrying her and I think she liked being close to me as well.

http://sutemigear.com/

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

I do have to second the fact that an ergo is Soooooo different from a bjorn, in that you hardly feel like you are carrying the baby... I could carry dd around on my front or back for hours--even when she was 25 lbs! (my endurance was actually longer than my hubbys)... I now by ergos for all friends that are mommy's to be... and all of them return their bjorns to the store for diapers!!

I'd just bring an ergo and a double stroller, let the 5 year old walk, and push the two younger in the stoller until the 5 yr old is tired, then ergo the baby for the rest of the time that the 2 older are in the stroller...

--Lisa

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

I Got an ERGO!!!

Dh found a local store that carried them, I went today and tried one out. DD wasn't a huge fan, but I loved it! I haven't worn her all winter, so she was a little leery about being strapped in the thing! But once she gets used to it again, I know she will love it - being carried, is, after all, her favorite thing!

Now we can start taking some family walks to get ourselves in shape and break in our new shoes!

Thanks for the advice, everyone!

And Molly, thanks so much - you are just too sweet - to think of selling me your Ergo! But if you decide you are done having kids, it might be a good idea to start selling some of your carriers on ebay - you could fund a whole solo trip again with that collection of yours!!

 

[ballarinamom]

Molly,
I used a Maya Wrap that had a big ring and a long strip of fabric. I that what you were thinking of when you couldn't remember the "ring sling" name? I LOVED MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!! maya wrap.com
DH would carry her when her mowed the grass and it made carrying a "hip baby" very comfy.
Mommyos2and1, congrats on the find! Have a great trip!

 

[MommytoaSweetie]

I Got an ERGO!!!

That's awesome, they're so useful! I bet your DD will love it... hook a toy or two to the D-ring (on the right shoulder strap if it's in a back carry). I can't wait to bring ours to DL!

 

[Cadillac_Dreamgirl]

I recommend a child harness if one of your little one tends to run when he is walking. Many kids have one.

http://www.target.com/Eddie-Bauer-2...get&field-browse=1038590&rh=k:harness &page=1

 

[Lillybelly]

Depending on your kids, getting in & out of the stroller can be a PAIN. Last year we had taken the kids our local zoo alot to practice and they spent about an hour in the stroller and then I ended up pushing a completely empty stroller. We went last May with kids 5, 3, 1.5 & 1.5. Because we didn't have room for 2 double strollers and didn't have enough people to push 3 strollers the older 2 were forced to walk. They did amazing. By the end of the day the 3 year old was tired but she just slept better. We walked at the kids pace and it all worked out just fine.

 

[Dukland]

How cool you got an Ergo. I really want one, as my ds, who is currently 18 months and 26+ pounds, would love it. I'm trying to figure out how to talk dh into it. Especially because ds is probably our last baby. We'll see.

I'm glad you didn't bring that metal frame carrier. I cringed when I read that. I would advise your dh to cart your dd around in that for 5 hours straight, then see if he still wants to use it.

 

[Flea]

Yay for getting and ERGO I love mine.

DH isn't keen on it as he thinks they are too girly (though mine does have a floral liner so that may be why) but saying that he is happy to wear a patapum (another soft structured carrier - not as "frilly" as an ERGO so DH tells me ) And probably because he is a big guy the patapum fits his waist better without need for an extension.

Can I tag on a question???

I'm another baby wearer as you can tell and Bumbershoot it looks like we share the same passion I have a couple of meitais, wraps, slings and I'm going to make a ringsling as soon as my rings arrive. Do you prefer the ergo over a sling for in the parks?? The sling folds up to nothing but the ergo is comfier for long periods. We will have a stroller - oh and girls will be almost 3 and almost 5 at the time

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

I just have to say I love this thing! Yesterday, ds#2, who is 3 yrs old and about 36 lbs saw me carrying around my baby, and decided he wanted a 'piggyback' too!
So we threw him in the ergo! Now, without sufficient training, I wouldn't want to do it for too long, because he is quite big for his age, but I couldn't believe I could actually carry him in it! he thought it was the greatest thing - kept giving me orders on which way to go around the house....it was a fun game!
Now I know that if dd is asleep in the stroller and both boys are too tired to walk, oldest can go in the other stroller seat, and ds middle can go in the ergo for the ride back to the hotel!

Thanks again, everyone for all the advice. And special thanks to you, Molly - it was your list of babywearing supplies that made dh realize that having a Bjorn and a metal backpack (which was given to us by friends, so it was free!!) does not mean we have all our bases covered for baby carrying devices! It could, after all, be much much worse!

 

[jenjersnap]

The ergo was the best investment in the world for us! It has made our Disney trips so much easier and makes carrying our littlest one so easy and gives our oldest a chance to rest in the stroller too.. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

 

[MommytoaSweetie]

I just have to say I love this thing! Yesterday, ds#2, who is 3 yrs old and about 36 lbs saw me carrying around my baby, and decided he wanted a 'piggyback' too!
So we threw him in the ergo!

That's great that it worked for your 36 lber! It's good to know it does work at higher weights. We used ours yesterday while we were carrying some furniture from a house down the block to ours - I have no idea how we would have done it without our Ergo!