Well this will be new, traveling with baby.

[Maleficent&Goons]

We are traveling to US this July for 7 days! We've never traveled with a baby before so I'm looking for any suggestions or advice to help prepare. We will be flying. We are not bringing the car seat or our regular stroller. I plan to buy a "cheap" summer/umbrella one. We are staying onsite at Lowes Pacific.

 

[tjmw2727]

A couple first thoughts - and it would help if you post how old your baby will be!

Stroller, my kids didn't do well in an umbrella stroler until close to a year so I would definately bring a fully reclining stroller for any child under a year. I would also bring an extra sunshade or clip on umbrella and a clip on stroller fan. I can't imagine a tiny baby trying to sit in an umbrella stroller in the FL heat of July.

Carseat, I would also bring a carseat for a child under a year old in case of a cab ride and for the trip to/from the airport.. Having rented a carseat from a rental agency I would never, ever do so again. We used it long enough to get to the wallmart and purchase an appropriate & clean one.

You can check both items at the gate just prior to boarding free of charge with most major airlines.

Sling/snugli some type of carrier - strollers aren't allowed in the lines so IMHO a sling was a lifesaver with babies

That said - are you looking for planning advice or packing type advice?

My kids always traveled well because like you we started them early. Packing for a baby is tricky though - you always need double what you think you will !!

 

[caitty13]

I just got back form Orlando, we did US and Disney. Universal was great cause it had the baby swap. How many people are you going with besides the baby?

I rented a car seat with the rental car to save on that one extra airport item, plus I didn't want the car seat to get all banged up. The stroller we never used with the baby, she was 8 months at the time. I did use it with DS5 when he was tired. I carried DD in her Ergo the whole time, the carrier was great.

You will be onsite so you should have lots of breaks from the heat.

I also had no problem's at the airport with baby food and formula...

 

[lathamary]

We didn't bring a carseat for our three month old. We did Disney's Magical Express from the airport, and we felt we didn't need one for that.

I wouldn't recommend a cheap/umbrella stroller. Your baby will be sleeping in it a lot, and you'll want something you can recline and something with a good sun shade to keep baby out of the sun. A good, sturdy, comfortable stroller is crucial at Disney World with a small child!

 

[Maleficent&Goons]

Ooops! She will be 6 months. I should also add that we are looking at the McClaren which does recline a bit. She hates sleeping flat on her back and I don't know if that will change or not. She loves sleeping in her carseat if that helps with a visual.

 

[Maleficent&Goons]

For now it's the husband and my parents, so total 4 adults. My parents are meeting us at the Orlando airport though so it's just me and the husband till we get there.

We are going to bring the bjorn or sling. I'm not sure which. Knowing me it will be both. Our carseat is just too much to carry around with luggage and baby but the car service we are using to get from MCO to Universal offers them.

I'm looking for both planning and packing advice.

 

[luckyfin]

We just came back from Jamaica with our 6 month old and we wouldn't have made it without the travel system stroller and we didn't do nearly as much walking as we do in Disney. It was also nice just to have the extra storage on the stroller.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Oh I would totally recommend the Maclaren for a stroller!

 

[Maleficent&Goons]

Hope it's not TMI she is breastfeed/formula feed ( i just can't make enough for her but I use what I can) so I'm thinking of bringing the Similac Individual powders that way all we need is a bottle of water.

 

[lathamary]

Hope it's not TMI she is breastfeed/formula feed ( i just can't make enough for her but I use what I can) so I'm thinking of bringing the Similac Individual powders that way all we need is a bottle of water.

Sounds good

 

[camdensmom]

Without question...buy a Maclaren!!!!

We did our first trip with DS4 when he was 8 months old and bought it for that trip. I couldn't imagine going without it. It's so light weight and easy to fold/carry and comfy for the baby. It steers easily and is great for taller people. I never understood how anyone could attempt Orlando with a cheap umbrella stroller where they need to hunch.

One of my favorite packing tips is to put everything into ziplocs. With our son we would be an entire outfit and a diaper in a bag. It made it so easy to grab and go.

If your baby isn't used to formula that way I would try using it at home before the trip. We always make formula ahead of time and let it settle. Using the individuals and shaking the bottle can make the baby very gassy, fussy and uncomfortable.

As far as bottled water, order from Staples and have it shipped.

You may also want to look into diapers.com as they offer free shipping.

Be sure to have a change of clothes for you and DH in your carry on as the baby may get you "messy."

 

[tjmw2727]

Ooops! She will be 6 months. I should also add that we are looking at the McClaren which does recline a bit. She hates sleeping flat on her back and I don't know if that will change or not. She loves sleeping in her carseat if that helps with a visual.

Yes - big difference and FWIW I don't consider a McClaren an umbrella - I was thinking the $20 babies r us version. That stroller will work well and I still recommend a clip on umbrella as its adjustable and will cover the parts of the baby the canope dosen't. I also liked the clip on fan because of the breeze and "white noise".

Make double sure that the car service knows you need an infant rear facing stroller. We have had 2 occasions when they showed up with a booster seat in the trunk !!

Other than that a 6mo is very portable and as long as you take care of yourself and the baby and go at a reasonable pace you will have a great time. In fact a 6mo is sometimes easier than a toddler

Ask the ped but I think at 6mos you can use a little sun screen and keep an eye out for lightweight outfits that will cover the arms and legs.

We took my oldest to Bermuda at 7mos and it was a fabulous trip so no worries.

 

[Maleficent&Goons]

Without question...buy a Maclaren!!!!

We did our first trip with DS4 when he was 8 months old and bought it for that trip. I couldn't imagine going without it. It's so light weight and easy to fold/carry and comfy for the baby. It steers easily and is great for taller people. I never understood how anyone could attempt Orlando with a cheap umbrella stroller where they need to hunch.

One of my favorite packing tips is to put everything into ziplocs. With our son we would be an entire outfit and a diaper in a bag. It made it so easy to grab and go.

If your baby isn't used to formula that way I would try using it at home before the trip. We always make formula ahead of time and let it settle. Using the individuals and shaking the bottle can make the baby very gassy, fussy and uncomfortable.

As far as bottled water, order from Staples and have it shipped.

You may also want to look into diapers.com as they offer free shipping.

Be sure to have a change of clothes for you and DH in your carry on as the baby may get you "messy."

ZIPLOCS!! Got IT! She is taking formula the way i described so we are good there. I'm glad to hear the McClaren is a good choice.

 

[tjmw2727]

ZIPLOCS!! Got IT! She is taking formula the way i described so we are good there. I'm glad to hear the McClaren is a good choice.

OMG ziplocks are a Godsend. My kids are now 15 and 13 and when we travel I still pack lots of stuff with ziplocks and bring extras with me

 

[Maleficent&Goons]

Thanks!!! Any other advice is greatly appreciated!!

 

[monkey30]

So far everyone has covered alot of it, we just returned a month ago (man has it been that long better start planning the next trip!) an DS was just 2 mths.

Make use of the baby care centers, in the heat u may need a nice cool break. The CMs were always so helpful there. Carry when u can, DS loved to just look around when he had the chance all the colors and such made his already big eye bigger!

As for traveling in the air make sure u have a bottle, pacifier something ready for them to suck on take off and landing, I can't say much else as DS just fell asleep and was for the whole 5.5 hr flight!

One thing that u can get and i know they are cheap at Toys r Us and such is a container that divids the fomluma up so u can premeasure in the am for the day, have the bottle of water ready and dump and you are done. Might be helpful. I was fortunate (first 2 ds would not BF) and this one is taking to it like a mad man! I was able to pump once a day and get a small bottle which we took with us the next day so if I was in line with the kiddos and Ds woke up DH was able to give him something to help till I got back.

Have fun and relax, u will get a lot of helpful info on here and u use whatever works for u. Enjoy your trip!

 

[princessmurdough]

My very best advice is to GO, get a Sit n Stroll - carseat and stroller combination.
You want to be able to put baby in a seat on the plane if at all possible, as well as on the car ride to/from, and as a stroller it is super-comfy. Our DS6 went everywhere in it, from Florida to Mexico and all over Europe. Now DD 6mos. will be using it when we leave next week.It is such a relief to not lug two separate things around, and still have the use of both!
We travel a LOT and wouldn't travel with a baby without it.

 

[lpoeppelman]

We just came back from Jamaica with our 6 month old and we wouldn't have made it without the travel system stroller and we didn't do nearly as much walking as we do in Disney. It was also nice just to have the extra storage on the stroller.

We took a travel system stroller at Disney and if you are taking buses, it was very cumbersome.

 

[lpoeppelman]

Hope it's not TMI she is breastfeed/formula feed ( i just can't make enough for her but I use what I can) so I'm thinking of bringing the Similac Individual powders that way all we need is a bottle of water.

You know what we did... this worked very well and was so much cheaper. Walmart sells these containers that are sectioned with a lid that moves from section to section. You put the powder in a section, then turn the lid to the section you want to use and open the spout. They cost only a couple dollars... very cheap. I thought this was a way cheaper options than Similac Ind. powders.

BTW-- breastfeeding is so convenient at Disney IMHO. Keep in mind, if you need a place to cool off or get off you feet, I highly suggest going to the baby center (at MK it is near Crystal Palace). They have a feeding room there. So relaxing!