Waiting in line with 1 year old...tips....

[kellyf2626]

So when we took our son this past December, he was 4 months old and we were able to park the stroller and carry him in the Baby Bjorn while waiting in lines. We just realized that this isn't an option for our upcoming trip, as he is too big for the Baby Bjorn now. So how do we wait in line with a 1 year old?!? He is heavy!! Almost 25 lbs! Oh, and very squirmy! He wants to be down exploring on the ground, not being held for long extended periods of time.

So what is the best way to wait in long lines with a squirmy 1 year old? I know you all must have some good tips for me!!

 

[soontobewed07]

We brought snacks in a little backpack that he could wear also is he walking? I am going to get one of those backpack buddies (harness) for this trip I would rather let him explore than scream in my ears and I also would rather get the dirty looks to know he is safe!!!

We sang songs he chewed on tiny marshmellows organic apples grapes yogurt bites etc... All healthy things also we brought his sippy with Ice water and he thought the misting fan was a riot Many people would ask for him to spray them it was a hoot.

 

[LuvMickey36]

I second the backpack buddy harness thing! That was a total lifesaver when we took my ds the first few times. He was 1 & 2. He also did not like to be held, but wanted to be one of the "big" kids. Good Luck!!

 

[daleswife]

Im glad I clicked on this site!!! We are going to WDW in August. This will be my son's 2nd trip. He was 3 months when we first took him. He will be 21 months old this trip and he HATES to be held!!! I'll have to get a spray fan thingy too cause he LOVES to spray things....even though he can only use his thumbs and usually squirts himself!!!

 

[design_mom]

If your child likes to be carried, you might consider buying (or renting or borrowing) a child carrier intended for bigger children. I had an Ergo Baby Carrier and it worked great with my toddler daughter. DD is in it in my avatar. That style of carrier is called a "soft structured carrier" and there are some newer models that I've also heard are quite good.

We didn't use a stroller at all when DD was 18 months... she would even nap in the Ergo. And we still used the Ergo some when she was 3. It was easier/more comfortable just to carry her in the carrier. You could walk right into the queue with it and just snap it off when you got to the front of the line. It folded small enough you could shove it in a backpack if you needed to. (Even if you still took a stroller, you could just stick it in the stroller basket when you didn't need it.)

Taking lots of little snacks and small distractions is also a great idea. Keep rotating what's offered so things seem "new." (Too many choices can be overwhelming, too.)

 

[twooley2]

Lots of patience.

 

[disneybridetobe]

So when we took our son this past December, he was 4 months old and we were able to park the stroller and carry him in the Baby Bjorn while waiting in lines. We just realized that this isn't an option for our upcoming trip, as he is too big for the Baby Bjorn now. So how do we wait in line with a 1 year old?!? He is heavy!! Almost 25 lbs! Oh, and very squirmy! He wants to be down exploring on the ground, not being held for long extended periods of time.

So what is the best way to wait in long lines with a squirmy 1 year old? I know you all must have some good tips for me!!

I was just thinking the same thing!! DD will be 14mo when we get there, and I couldn't for the life of me figure out how we were going to keep DD in check when we were in lines! Thanks for asking!

I think we're going to bring the baby backpack thingie, (forget what it's called, its the one with the metal frame) and attempt to keep her in it. Key word here is attempt!

I think the little monkey harnesses are great... if she's walking by then!

 

[wlwilliams9]

Our dd was 10 months the 1st time we took her to WDW and not walking on her own yet, so lugging her through the lines was back breaking at times, DH and I took turns carrying her or holding her hands and letting her stand when the lines weren't moving. This last time was much better because at 22 months she was able to stand and walk on her own in line.

To keep her busy, I found a 12 count box of bubbles at the dollar store. They were the tiny bottles people buy for weddings (0.6oz and 2"tall). My dd and other kids loved catching bubbles in line and the bottles were small enough to stash in my pocket or the stroller.

 

[kellyf2626]

Wow - thanks everyone! Great ideas!! He will not be walking, but can stand - so giving him "standing breaks" is a good idea. Love the idea of the small bubbles. He is obsessed with "buhbuh's" so that will work.

I tried him in my girlfriends Ergo's yesterday and he hated it. I think because he really likes to face out - not toward me - so he felt confined. Maybe one of those back-pack standing things is the way to go. Anyone have any good recommendations for a style/type?

 

[Belle4mygrl]

I played silly games with my little one. Yes, I received the "is she insane" looks but my baby was entertained, no screaming, and everyone was enjoying themselves.

silly games: peek-a-boo behind dad, bouncing and twirling while making some obnoxious sounds. Littles are amazing; anything will entertain them. Mister Fan works wonders, visit the Disney Store and buy phones and other toys.

 

[soontobewed07]

I have seen this one.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.htm...110944&ci_sku=B000EBITU8&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001

 

[GrumpyMom25]

We have the GoldBug Monkey Harness that they sell at Wal-Mart ... haven't used it at Disney yet but my son spent the day at the Bronx Zoon wearing it. He loves it. We had a plain harness last time we went to Hollywood Studios. We made it through the gate, half way up down the street and he had already broke it. The Monkey has held up well. The GoldBug Monkey even has a zipped compartment on his bag so they can store snacks or small toys.

 

[Merriwind]

I don't waiting in line is something most toddlers do well. Remember Fast Pass is a good way to bypass a lot of waiting time.

 

[design_mom]

I tried him in my girlfriends Ergo's yesterday and he hated it. I think because he really likes to face out - not toward me - so he felt confined. Maybe one of those back-pack standing things is the way to go. Anyone have any good recommendations for a style/type?

Did you try him in the back carry or the front carry? My DD doesn't love the belly-to-belly front carry much either, but she loved the back carry. It would be the same orientation (both people facing forward) as a framed, stand-up backpack and would be *so* much easier to carry around. ANd it would be especially great if your friend would loan you her Ergo.

 

[bumbershoot]

I tried him in my girlfriends Ergo's yesterday and he hated it. I think because he really likes to face out - not toward me - so he felt confined. Maybe one of those back-pack standing things is the way to go. Anyone have any good recommendations for a style/type?

Since he's not used to sitting towards you, that just means he probably needs more time to get used to it. Do you carry him on your hip so his legs are more open than when he was forward-facing in the bjorn? If so, he's used to that a bit, and just might need a bit more practice. Sitting in the Ergo is totally different than the way they hang from the bjorn; there is much more support for the pelvis, so it'll take some getting used to.

Also, the key part of babies in babywearing devices is to put baby in and GET OUT of the house. YOu have to start moving immediately, generally, and not just inside. Getting outside and taking a walk will get almost every unhappy-seeming kiddo happy again. They are usually not unhappy with being worn, they are just unhappy that they aren't on the go.

Since you have an Ergo that maybe you can borrow I wont' suggest a mei tai, but this is me and DS when he was 16 months old at Disneyland.

You would not believe the amount of "flirting" a kid can do with strangers when the strangers aren't being seen by the parents. Strangers do the silliest things when not scrutinized (either I have eyes in the back of my head or I know what I do, or maybe I have family tell me what strangers are doing, LOL), and it's great fun for the little ones. And when they've had enough, they put their heads on you and rest a bit. In that picture, DS is a bit lower than normal; I was having the hardest time shoring that thing up that day!

Of course at 1 he could easily go into a back carry.

Here's me and my guy when he was 2, with the Ergo.

Especially if you can practice with him now, he can get very happy being up with everyone, seeing what you see (or the crazy people behind you). It's much more comfortable for you to have him up there, rather than worrying about all the railings he's licking, what's on the ground that he's going to put his hands in, is he going to bolt under a railing into the other part of the line, and so on. Much better on your back, too.

Good luck!

 

[kellyf2626]

Sooooo....we bought a Kelty KIDS Pathfinder Child Carrier yesterday. It looks a bit big and bulky, but we *hope* DS will love it and enjoy being up high. DH will have the job of wearing it most of the time. Just not sure what to do when we get to the front of the line? I'm not sure how compact it will fold up to get on a ride. We will see.....maybe we will just use it more when walking around. Can't wait until it comes, though!