Travel with an infant

[DWhittles]

We are traveling for the first time with our son who in September will be 8 months old. I am a notorious overpacker. Any tips on what to pack for an infant?
Diana

 

[Blueeyes101817]

that picture is adorable!

 

[minnie1928]

we took our daughter last August (3mos old at the time). We used HappyLimo to shuttle from airport to the hotel, and they offer a free stop at the grocery store. There I bought the essentials (diapers, swimmer diapers, formula, wipes), this alone saves alot of space and weight! I also brought the "big" stroller (travel system) and made sure that she was covered by shade at all times. The stroller fabric was dark blue so I covered the canopy with a white towel from the hotel to deflect some of the sun. I also purchased a small clip on fan to attach to her stroller. I purchased a small squirt bottle at WalMart before we left. This I could fill up anytime at the water fountains and squirt cool water on the baby (or me!). The bugs can be bad at night, so I found a bug "bracelet", it's a coil looking bracelet that smells really bad to keep the bugs away. I didn't put it on the baby (anything that smelled that bad can't be good for baby's skin ), but I did put it on the stroller near her, to help keep the bugs away.

I hope this helps, if I think of anything else, I'll come back.

 

[briannesmom]

Lots of sunscreen! I took my DD last November when she was 5 months and one of the things I forgot was a hat to keep the sun out of her eyes. She ended up with a couple of cute Disney ones that will hopefully still fit for our trip in July! I kept a washcloth in a ziploc baggie in her diaper bag that I could get wet and wipe her down if she got too warm. I am already getting stuff together for our next trip and I found some cute Finding Nemo Little Swimmers at the grocery store.

Have fun!

Amy

 

[DWhittles]

Thanks! I'd considered buying the essentials when we arrived. It seems to make more sense than lugging a package of 92 diapers on the plane!!!
I keep forgetting that at the point when we will be in Disney he won't be on Formula anymore! I don't have to worry about those heavy bottles of the icky smelling stuff.
I'm keeping a list so if you guys come up with anything else please let me know!
Diana

 

[bartleby1]

You may need to rethink the formula situation. My pediatrician didn't switch my kids over to whole milk until they were a year old due to allergies running in my family, but he also told me that the current recommendation is 9 months at the earliest. Unless things have changed in the last year or so, your 8 month old will most likely still be on formula. If that is the case, you may want to consider switching to powder formula. It is lighter to carry around than the heavy cans.

Otherwise, if your baby has started finger foods, you will want to include them (cheerios, gerber graduate fruits and veggies, etc).

Don't forget to bring a stroller cover in case of rain! You do not want to have a soaking wet stroller with an infant!

Have a great trip!!

 

[GEM]

I was going to say the same thing. A baby needs breastmilk or formula for the while first year. I don't know any peds who would ok you to stop formula before by 8 months. A baby that young just can't get the nutrition they need from the amount of food they are able to eat, and whole milk in a baby that young can not only trigger allergies, but also doesn't provide adequate nutrition.


Aside from that, I think you'll have a great time! Our little guy is one and we are taking him next week! He's always been very easy to travel with. He's breastfed, though, so we never had to worry about the bottle thing. Have fun! You've got a cutie!

 

[justhat]

Not sure about what formula you use, but Enfamil Lipil now comes in single serve packets of powder. They look like those colored popsicles that come in a plastic baggie that you buy as a liquid then freeze. We don't use formula since my daughter is breastfed so I'm not sure if powder is any different than the liquid, but it would be very convenient to travel with. Also not sure if other brands are available like this, I just happen to come across the Enfamil while buying sunblock for our daughter for our trip next week and thought it was a great invention to save people from lugging cans of formula around on vacation.

 

[disneygoof]

Bring lots and lots of ziplocs.

Bring extra pacifiers. They do sell them at the baby care center, but they're about $6 each. Not a lot when you're stuck, but why be stuck?

Bring warm clothes. I know September is warm, but if you get caught with a cold day, you'll pay a fortune in the parks for warm stuff, if you can find it that small. One thing we've done when stuck is to buy a hooded towel that acts like a blanket over the baby. Sleepy looked real cute with the hood on, too, like a little Pooh riding around in his stroller. Well, Tigger too, cuz we got caught with two cold days...

And if you don't know about the Baby Center, find it. In MK it's by the Crystal Palace. It's a huge, clean facility for changing diapers, warming bottles, feeding in a quiet, private place...anything baby. They sell supplies (up to pull ups) and the staff couldn't be more accommodating.

Have fun!

 

[DWhittles]

Extra pacifiers is something that I wouldn't have remembered to pack. If I get down to Disney without them I'm going to be super ticked at myself because I have an entire DRAWER of them here at home.
Thanks!

 

[DWhittles]

Thanks guys for the tips on Formula. I don't know why I thought he would be off formula by that time. I know my Ped. is going to start him on the rice cereal in another 2 months but that will be mixed with the formula.
I have him on Similac Isomil Soy based formula and I know it also comes in powder form. I'll just bring some of that with me.

 

[kimwim8]

You are gonna have a blast!

The last time we were in Disney (2002) dd was 3 and ds was 8 months. I really didn't think he would get much out of it, but he had a great time! He was young enough that he didn't realize he should be scared of the characters. He smiled at them, babbled at them, bit their noses, grabbed on to their faces & had a ball!

He was on ready-to-feed formula before we went, but while in Disney, we used powder. When we went to the parks, we brought bottles filled with water (and kept them room temp, since it was warm out anyway) and had a powder dispenser (container split in 3 sections, so you can pre-measure out the powder for 3 bottles).

Also, for your trip I would suggest giving your baby some juice either in a sippy cup or a bottle. Just so he feels refreshed with a cold drink. I watered my son's juice down so that it was 80% water & 20% white grape juice (what my ped recommended). I think it was a welcome change for him in the Florida heat!

Bringing a comfy stroller is manditory. And being so young, your baby will just fall asleep when he gets tired. Unfortunately it's hard to stick with your existing nap schedule, unless you go back to the hotel room regularly. But that's what vacations are all about, right?!

Enjoy and have a great time!

 

[ChesireSue]

I am so glad I checked the boards. We are leaving Saturday and driving down from NY. I'm still packing for my DD who will be 4months on the 17th. I am excited as this will be her first trip and my DH first trip as well, he's 35 on the 20th.

 

[jkjjhuddle]

The powdered formula canister works great. You can find them at target. My son will turn one the day after we return from WDW. He is now drinking whole milk, but we are planning on taking powdered formula with us as well for simplicity. We can easily fix bottles on the run. He will not drink his whole milk cold, he wants it warmed a little so we figured the formula would be the easiest way to go. Have a blast!

 

[DWhittles]

I'm so excited now! I wanna go TOMORROW.
We plan on bringing our stroller.
I actually am getting to do a pre-pack run next month. My mother my son our two dogs and myself are taking 5 days at our house in the Berkshires.
I'm going to have to pack really well for him beacuse our house is 45 mins from the nearest town so if I forget something it's not like I can run to CVS and get it.
I figure if I can pack correctly for THAT trip, Disney should be a total piece of cake!
Diana

 

[kimwim8]

have a great "test" trip and let us know if you came up with any additional ideas!

 

[Jsteph]

Questions...

My mother has started taking her Grandchildren to DW on their 5th Birthday. I could not make it when my nephew went, but now my niece turns 5 and they are going in Sept. My wife and I just gave birth to our first child. May 3, Emma. Anyway, my mother wants us to go. I want to go and in the process of convincing the wife.

Anyway, is that Avon SSS safe enough to put on a 4 month old to keep the bugs and the sun off her skin?

I keep telling her that even though we will not get to ride much a free room at the SOG in Sept for a week would be worth it alone. We would get to walk around and maybe ride when one of the family members do not want to ride. Plus mom said she would watch the children one night so we could all go to PI for the night.

Anyway, first time poster, obviously, thanks for all of the info on this site.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We went when our baby was 4 months old--she has an older sister (age 2 at the time) who is quite Disney experienced...

You would need to check with your Pediatrician on SSS....We tried natural mosquitio remedies--Burt's Bees offering to be exact--it has citronella and is safe to use on infants...however, my guess is once you cannot smell the citronella, it is no longer working. It is an oil. If SSS has similar ingrediants, then I can't see why it would not be okay. Note on the Burt's bees--we did not apply frequently enough and got bit plenty. However we were camping at FW (this is with now 3.5 and 19 month old--no longer tiny).

Back to the 4 months...and any infant--keep those babies hydrated--if you nurse, then that is all you need and nurse often--it may be more frequent than your at home schedule b/c baby needs the liquid to stay hydrated. If your baby is sweating--get to a cool place..little ones shouldn't sweat--if they do, they are too hot.

As far as rides--take baby on them!!! It's a Small World, Peter Pan, Pooh--those rides are safe for baby and obviously it is for your own personal enjoyment. Baby will love what she can see--as far as scare factor--little babies haven't learned fear yet--so Snow white and such--just offer more visual and audio stimulation. Until baby can sit up--I would avoid dumbo and Aladdin--as those go in a circle...Once baby is walking--tea cups are fun--my 19 month old went the first time around 12 months and had a blast.

Last but not least--don't forget the Baby Swap Feature!!! Your entire party (including baby) arrives at a height restricted ride--they give you the equivelant of a FP--part of the party rides--or everyone but the one watching the little ones. When they are done--you go on with anywhere from 2 to 4 people (depending on the ride). Saves you from having to wait double time in line.

Pack breathable cotton clothing--those cute disney souvenir outfits get quite hot--and aren't so cute when baby is sweaty, hot, and miserable.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Forgot--I think One Step Ahead sells these...

Get a clip-on ladybug for the stroller--and a net to go over the stroller. The ladybug replicates the sound of dragonfly wings--and mosquitos stay away so they don't get eaten by the "dragonfly". Worked like a charm for our children.

Get the netting for when you are walking around as an extra deterrant to mosquitos.

 

[Jsteph]

Thanks Lisa loves Pooh. Those Froggr things, one of the comments mention they were not as effective while moving. Did you see that as an issue?

Sorry to be a bother, just trying to get all my bases covered as quickly as possible. Even though not leaving until Sept.

Also looking at those Lunch/Dinner Q vouchers and the nicer Lunch only vouchers.