What do you do with the carseat??

[alyssa810]

We plan on using our own travel system while at the parks, so we'll have our son's stroller and carseat. What do people do while on attractions as far as where you put the car seat? Do you bring your baby in the car seat, or do you leave it with the stroller? Any horror stories about having your car seat stolen?? I was trying to remember if I saw people with their infant carriers attached to their stollers, and I just can't remember.
Or should we maybe leave the car seat in the car and just have him sit in the stroller? He will be 12 weeks old (but he's a big little guy) when we're there...

 

[thunderbug548]

I would leave the carseat in the car. The stroller should lay down far enough for an infant. You may want to use a sling too to carry him and hold him in lines and in shows.

 

[kellyf2626]

We are bringing our LO on the 26th and he will be 4 1/2 months old. At first we were going to do what you said - put him in the carseat and put the carseat into the stroller to bring to the parks. But, he does fine just strapped into the stroller, so now we are just going to bring him in the stroller. It lays down flat, so hopefully he will nap in there too!! We will see! We also have a Baby Bjorn we will stash in the basket of the stroller to take out and use in stores, etc...

We won't bring him on very many rides...possibly Small World. All others are just too bumpy I think for him. My parents are also coming (and they don't do very many rides), so I have a feeling he will be hanging out with them a lot!

 

[puffkin]

When we had our son there at 12 weeks old we left the carseat behind. He was much happier in the stroller where he could look out. Plus it reclined nice and flat for him when napping.

We also (horrors) changed him most of the time in the stroller. We just pulled the canopy over, parked in a quiet corner, laid the stroller flat and changed him there. It was much more sanitary and faster than waiting in line for the changing tables in the bathroom.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Mason took his first trip at age 4 months. He was happy laying in the stroller watching the lights and people go by. He LOVED the rides - especially the Land boat ride and Small World.

I can't remember him being fussy on any ride or attraction - even the ones I thought would be too loud or startle him.

He was even fine on the Kilimanjaro Safari held tightly of course.

 

[dsneygirl]

My DS was a big guy as well and at 3 months we put him in a Mac Quest (umbrella style) stroller for WDW. He was also able to sit up in our Graco Quattro at that age. I wouldn't bother with the car seat, one more thing to lug around.

 

[all4fun]

Just FYI --there have been studies done on infants suffering oxygen desaturation when left in the car seat for too long. Also it is more confining then lying prone in a fully reclined stroller seat therefore it also increases the risk of the child developing flat spot on the head. Just FYI. with the advent of "travel systems" it is has becoming a social norm to see LO's spending a lot of time in their infant seat, more than is really healthy in some instances. I am *not* insinuating you would do this but thought you might appreciate knowing the potential health risks just to make an informed decision regarding whether to take the car seat into the park or not. I have to admit one thing that really bothered me was seeing parents lugging infant seats onto the ride, and the infant wasn't even sleeping. A) it looked really inconvenient, and B) I think babies love to be held - well mine did anyway.

 

[Ariel8676]

I'd leave the car seat and just recline the stroller!! Buy a GOOD carrier like a pouch or ring sling that the baby can get comfy in next to your body.
And as for the rides..as long as there is no height restrictions, you can bring the baby...he may enjoy seeing the lights and listening to the music!!!

 

[puffkin]

I'd leave the car seat and just recline the stroller!! Buy a GOOD carrier like a pouch or ring sling that the baby can get comfy in next to your body.
And as for the rides..as long as there is no height restrictions, you can bring the baby...he may enjoy seeing the lights and listening to the music!!!

I agree, in my previous post I forgot to mention to bring a sling or carrier because we forgot and that would have been helpful!

We took our son on EVERYTHING at 3 months old that didn't have a height restriction and he didn't have any problems with noise or the movements.

 

[CindyMomto2]

Yeah I'd leave the carseat in the car to be safe.

 

[Gillian]

Yes, do bring a sling or infant carrier because there are places you can't bring a stroller. Epcot especially has a lot of restrictions on strollers and you'll be glad for an alternate way to carry the baby.

 

[Gillian]

We also (horrors) changed him most of the time in the stroller. We just pulled the canopy over, parked in a quiet corner, laid the stroller flat and changed him there. It was much more sanitary and faster than waiting in line for the changing tables in the bathroom.

My SIL who lives in FL does this, and it makes a lot of sense. If you use a disposable changing pad, or one where the outside has never been on a yucky changing table, the stroller will stay clean. I hate public changing tables!

 

[alyssa810]

If we did decide to leave the car seat, what do you suggest if we have any TS meals? He's not able to sit in a high chair, and don't most restaurants have you leave the stroller outside?
Thanks for the good info though!!

 

[Jaymie]

If we did decide to leave the car seat, what do you suggest if we have any TS meals? He's not able to sit in a high chair, and don't most restaurants have you leave the stroller outside?
Thanks for the good info though!!

Some of the restaurants have infant high chairs. It's just like the infant car seat mounted permanently on the high chair. I know Chef Mickeys had them for sure. In the restaurants where they didn't have them, I kept my little guy on my lap til my food came, then I'd put him in the in infant carrier and hope for the best. Some times I would just nurse him under a blanket while I ate too.

 

[Nicolepa]

If we did decide to leave the car seat, what do you suggest if we have any TS meals? He's not able to sit in a high chair, and don't most restaurants have you leave the stroller outside?
Thanks for the good info though!!

All the resturants I've ever been to will let the stroller in for a non sitting infant or a sleeping child. I've never had a problem.

 

[puffkin]

If we did decide to leave the car seat, what do you suggest if we have any TS meals? He's not able to sit in a high chair, and don't most restaurants have you leave the stroller outside?
Thanks for the good info though!!

We never had a problem bringing the stroller to the table. Garden Grill had the infant high chairs, but we didn't see them anywhere else.