toddler wearing

[jkstewart1800]

We are headed to MK & EPCOT in August for our first ever trip with our sons 5 and 22months. My youngest is an attached baby. Never liked strollers or shopping carts. I have always have had to wear him. First with a Bjorn then a sling/wrap and now I am thinking about getting a Ergo Baby now that he is BIG and HEAVY.

Has anyone else worn their toddler in and around the world? In August? Any tips or suggestions?

He loves people and crowds, so I am not worried about him freaking out - I am worried about the heat sun and my sanity

Thanks

 

[mykidsintow]

I have two attached kiddos. My daughter hated any type of pushing device. However, in August.... in FL.... I think I would throw in a small umbrella stroller, OR be prepared to buy one.

I think it will be too hot for you to exclusively wear a heavy toddler. Unless you have a pretty good walker for lots of breaks and time to cool off, that would be my suggestion.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[jkstewart1800]

We have a umbrella stroller (with a canopy) that folds up and can be carried on your shoulder.

Tristan (22months) will ride in the stroller sometimes, just depending on his mood, enough sleep and emotional state. My concern is that all of the getting in and getting out to get onto rides is going to make him angry. Once he is out of the stoller he will want to run around, NOT stand in a line for 30 (or more) minutes.

I also thought that if I wore him I wouldn't have to take him of the carrier for rides (like the boat rides) and if he fell asleep I wasn't stuck to a stroller.

 

[Merriwind]

The thought of wearing a shirt in WDW in August makes me hot, much less an almost 2yo! I think you will both end up very hot, sweaty, uncomfortable and cranky with any sort of sling/carrier.

Maybe since you have a few weeks, you have time to start introducing him to getting in and out of a stroller.

Good luck!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I agree, I'd start training him now to ride in the stroller. Aside from the immense heat, don't forget that Disney is a LOT of walking (we average...literally...about 10 miles a day). That's a lot even when you aren't carrying a toddler. Seriously, your purse starts to feel like a huge weight by the end of the day.

 

[thegrimdwarf]

Wow, I can't imagine carrying a child around the parks! By the end of a long day, I can barely carry myself.

Even though you're both used to the wearer/wearee relationship, I'd think the heat, humidity, and related fatigue would make it very unpleasant for both of you. I agree with the prior poster - try to transition him to a stroller now, so it's at least an option at the parks.

Good luck!

 

[tzolkin]

my kids were the same way. unfortunately our "baby" had just reached the point where i couldnt carry him for more than an hour without alot of back pain (he's 37lbs). we didnt even own a stroller before our trip. i knew the 4 year old wouldn't mind using one, but i was very worried about our 23mo old. i thought he would be fighting and trying to climb out of it the whole time. we bought two strollers and they both rode in the strollers the entire time we were at the parks. we would park the strollers and go to a few attractions and then when we walked back to them they would hop right back in and were ready to ride around the park. i think they were excited to be there and they were in a new environment so they just accepted it as "normal" that little kids were supposed to ride around the parks in strollers. we were very pleasantly surprised.

depending on how you plan to take breaks/naps you may be able to wear him for part of the time, but i would definitely have a stroller for back-up. we went to a park for about 4 hours in the morning and then went back to the hotel for a long nap. we then went back to another park from about 5:00-8:30. perhaps you could wear him/let him walk around for a few hours in the morning and then try to have him relax and ride around in the stroller in the afternoon/evening?

 

[Schmeck]

I'd be concerned that your 22 month old toddler would overheat and suffer from heat exhaustion being in a carrier all day. August weather is in the high 90's and extremely humid. Being covered in a carrier over the torso, and also getting heat from your body would not allow for a lot of surface for cooling.

 

[ERMama]

as a fellow sling a holic, i dont think i could bw all day in august at wdw.
depending on how much you push it, he will probably get very tired walking pretty early on and hes going to want to be carried.
honestly i agree with the others, i would try to get him comfortable in a light umbrella type stroller.

if its only 2 days you will be at the parks, then an ergo is a nice option.
but still, expect to be beyond hot yourself, hydrate yourself often and dont plan very much at all because you will be sticky and tired.

 

[bumbershoot]

Me and my then 2 year old at Disneyland. I'll admit it was October, though.

The main thing to realize is that you're not wearing them ALL DAY. You're wearing the kiddo while walking from one attraction to another, and taking them out often. So if you're going to get an Ergo, get it NOW, and practice practice practice. Since the Ergo has clips it's a bit easier than if, say, you're using a mei tai that has to be tied and untied (like when DS was 1 at Disneyland), but it's also bulkier to carry or have around your waist when the kiddo is out of it.

The biggest benefit of wearing an older kiddo on your back on a hot day is that when you hand them a water bottle to drink from, you are almost ENSURED of having some of that nice ice cold water dumped down your neck and/or back. It's an unsung benefit!!!

All that said, we did rent a stroller at DLR on that day, and he used it when he felt like it. We didn't even own a stroller until DS was 2, and that was a jogging stroller when his legs got so long that he was kicking my legs as I walked along with him in the Ergo (he was 22 inches on arrival, I'm only 63 inches as an adult, and his growth rate height-wise was CRAZY for the first few years!). So using the stroller was definitely different for him, but at 2 he could see that it had benefits for short periods of time (this is the same day):

 

[snoopy5386]

I was there is June and it was so stinking hot that I hated carrying my own self around let alone when I had to pick up DD (who was 26 months). Also, I don't think there is any ride you can go on where you can where a 22 month old toddler and not take them off. An infant in a bjorn, yes, a toddler in an ergo, not so much. I would not bother with the expense of an ergo unless you plan to have more children. If you really want to try it, you can rent one over the internet.

 

[jkstewart1800]

Thank you thank you thank you all for your tips and advice.

I think I gave the wrong impression of us walking through the park never letting my son 'out' of his ergo

We have 5 days to tour MK and Epcot... with plans for lots of time at our hotel (the poly). I don't want to be out and about for more and a couple hours anyway in the sun.

We live in south west texas... we are very use to the heat... and overheating is something we have to be concerned about HERE just being out and about... but I am glad for the reminder

Thank you also for the advice about not really being able to wear a baby in a ergo and be on the ride at the same time.... It has been a while since I have been to disney and can't remember much about the acutal seats of the ride.

I am hoping though to use the WEDway ( i mean tta) to get him to fall asleep.

I want to get an Ergo (regardless of the trip) for just around town here... like I said, he won't even sit in a shopping cart for more than 5 mintues.

He WILL ride in a stroller for a walk - so I am sure we will use our Maclaren Volo while we are there on and off - can you keep a kid in a stroller on the Monorail?

Thank you thank you thank again - keep those ideas and coming! I need all the help I can get -)

PS. LOVE the renting the Ergo idea!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

He WILL ride in a stroller for a walk - so I am sure we will use our Maclaren Volo while we are there on and off - can you keep a kid in a stroller on the Monorail?

Yup, that's the beauty of the monorail. No folding the stroller.

 

[lexmas]

We carried 18 month old DS around DL in the Ergo in 90-100 degree heat for a week, so I think you'd be fine. We didn't get too hot...he got down in the rides and when he wanted to walk, and it wasn't a problem. We'll do the same at WDW in september when he's 22 months. I didn't find it to be too hot (well 100 degress is too hot anyway, but it wasn't that much hotter with DS on my back!)

DS won't do the stroller for long periods of time, so there's no point in us bringing one to the park all day, it would just sit somewhere! If you're used to carrying him around, especially when it's hot, then I wouldn't worry about it! I liked the ergo for carrying him all day btw, we have a mei-tai that he practically lived in for the first year, but I think I would have felt his weight more in that, the ergo was really nice! Have a good trip!

 

[PollyannaMom]

.....The main thing to realize is that you're not wearing them ALL DAY. You're wearing the kiddo while walking from one attraction to another, and taking them out often.....

I agree. I took DS at 18 months with a very simple hip carrier from One Step Ahead. (I'm not sure how different that is from what you are looking at?) I thought it was way easier than dealing with a stroller - but he was a bit smaller, and it WAS only May, so I can't promise about the heat in August!

Wishing you a good trip whatever you decide.

 

[lighttech]

DS was 2.5 when we went to WDW. He's not a huge fan of being in a stroller... He does well, but not for long periods. (He's very active and mostly likes to walk and/or "help push" the empty stroller.) I was VERY suprised by how much he stayed in. He was so overwhelmed by the sites and sounds that he stayed in and just looked around in amazement. Also, but the end of the day, I don't think he would have cared where he was as long as he could rest.

I've not been a big sling user, so I can't speak to that... Actually, I'll be checking back to see other brand names that people mention. I'm due w/ #2 in August, and I really would like to use a sling of some sort, but don't know where to start. (I loved having DS close, but found the Snugli I had bought very uncomfortable... I didn't realize until too late just how many other options there were.) So, sort of OT, but if anybody else here could offer a suggestion of what type of carrier worked best for them for a newborn and transitioning on upward, I'd appreciate it. (Right now I'm looking at a Peanut Shell Sling.)

Thanks!

And, OP, Good luck and have fun!

 

[bumbershoot]

Actually, I'll be checking back to see other brand names that people mention. I'm due w/ #2 in August, and I really would like to use a sling of some sort, but don't know where to start. (I loved having DS close, but found the Snugli I had bought very uncomfortable... I didn't realize until too late just how many other options there were.) So, sort of OT, but if anybody else here could offer a suggestion of what type of carrier worked best for them for a newborn and transitioning on upward, I'd appreciate it. (Right now I'm looking at a Peanut Shell Sling.)

People love the peanut shells. I had a Hotsling and 2 mammasmilk pouches, loved the mammasmilks more than the hotsling, but I got them just as DS was on his way out of hip carries to do being so heavy.

Loved the mei tai I had, but the straps were UNpadded and it caused "hickeys" where the straps went on the front of my shoulder/arm, LOL. Not pretty!

Since it's not hot most of the year here, I liked the Moby wrap, but that's a lot of fabric if you're not already dedicated to babywearing. I also played around with just big swathes of fabric, tying them in various ways.

My MIL gave me a Korean podegi, which was good for doing housework (it's a back carry even for bitty babies), but since "podegi" means "blanket", and it was a true Korean one, it wasn't good for outside. For me. There are some hybrid podegis with smaller square footage, and those intrigued me, but I had so many other slings and such I never got one.

DS was 2 when we got the Ergo and it was brilliant! It has an adaption for a newborn, and if we, when we, have another baby, I'm going to get that and use the Ergo from the beginning (get my money's worth!), along with the other carriers that I have.

A Beco is another idea, too. Similar to the Ergo, and both are sort of Americanized mei tais, really.


Lastly, sorry you had problems with the Snugli. I *think* that's the one that MANY people have problems with, especially when they are on the shorter side. Short in height or short in torso, I think that's the one that's difficult.


Have fun!!!

 

[lighttech]

People love the peanut shells. I had a Hotsling and 2 mammasmilk pouches, loved the mammasmilks more than the hotsling, but I got them just as DS was on his way out of hip carries to do being so heavy.

Loved the mei tai I had, but the straps were UNpadded and it caused "hickeys" where the straps went on the front of my shoulder/arm, LOL. Not pretty!

Since it's not hot most of the year here, I liked the Moby wrap, but that's a lot of fabric if you're not already dedicated to babywearing. I also played around with just big swathes of fabric, tying them in various ways.

My MIL gave me a Korean podegi, which was good for doing housework (it's a back carry even for bitty babies), but since "podegi" means "blanket", and it was a true Korean one, it wasn't good for outside. For me. There are some hybrid podegis with smaller square footage, and those intrigued me, but I had so many other slings and such I never got one.

DS was 2 when we got the Ergo and it was brilliant! It has an adaption for a newborn, and if we, when we, have another baby, I'm going to get that and use the Ergo from the beginning (get my money's worth!), along with the other carriers that I have.

A Beco is another idea, too. Similar to the Ergo, and both are sort of Americanized mei tais, really.


Lastly, sorry you had problems with the Snugli. I *think* that's the one that MANY people have problems with, especially when they are on the shorter side. Short in height or short in torso, I think that's the one that's difficult.


Have fun!!!

Thanks so much for the advice! Its interesting to hear about the Snugli. I am on the short side, and most of my height is in my legs. My DH (who is a lot taller) didn't have nearly the problems that I did. I also found that as DS got older, I naturally carried him on my hip anyway which is why some of the slings appealed to me... but, honestly, I'm a bit frightened by all the rings and attachments and ties on some of the more "traditional" ones. That's why the Peanut Shell seemed appealing too. I'm definitely going to check out this Ergo since so many on this thread have mentioned it.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Minniemouse07]

Ds turned 2yo while we were at WDW in December. We took THREE things w/ us for him...

A stroller that he was comfy in (ie not an umbrella stroller)
An Beco... and both dh and I were both comfortable using it, although he needed help getting ds in and out of it!
A monkey backpack harness

All three were ESSENTIAL to all of us having a good time. Generally ds rode in the stroller from point A to point B. He wore the harness while the stroller was parked and we were standing in lines... and he was in the Beco whenever he needed to sleep!

They all worked really well for us and I would highly recommend our system...although I'm not all that sure that a monkey backpack harness wouldn't be hot as all get out in the Florida heat next month. There are other harness options.

We are a very AP family and I liked the flexibility we had in keeping ds happy while not having to stop or carry him everywhere!

HTH

 

[Minniemouse07]

I've not been a big sling user, so I can't speak to that... Actually, I'll be checking back to see other brand names that people mention. I'm due w/ #2 in August, and I really would like to use a sling of some sort, but don't know where to start. (I loved having DS close, but found the Snugli I had bought very uncomfortable... I didn't realize until too late just how many other options there were.) So, sort of OT, but if anybody else here could offer a suggestion of what type of carrier worked best for them for a newborn and transitioning on upward, I'd appreciate it. (Right now I'm looking at a Peanut Shell Sling.)

I've had four different carriers and borrowed a fifth for our WDW trip!

My favorite hands down for a newborn is a Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Fleece Pouch. Ds rode in his from 3 days to 18 months old! It was so easy to use and a dream for running errands in the car (just kept the pouch on and popped him in and out!).

I used a Maya Wrap w/ my dd (now 7yo) and it was okay but I didn't love it and neither did dd! FWIW, I never used it w/ ds (now 2yo).

The Moby Wrap was really great and very comfortable to wear. It has a bit of a learning curve to learn how to wrap it but after that it's dead easy. It worked best when ds needed to sleep and we were out for a long day. I wrapped him real close facing in, and he zonked!

I still use my beloved Babyhawk Mei Tai. Dh has been most comfortable using the pouch and the mei tai and is equally likely to use a carrier for ds when we are all out and about as I am!

We borrowed a Beco from a friend for our WDW trip. I was prepared to take the mei tai but she talked me into the Beco and I traded straps in for buckles and I was VERY grateful! It was much easier to use the Beco on the go than the mei tai is!

HTH... I'm not as much of a carrier geek as many of my friends but I have used more than most people!