Advice on Taking 1 Yr Old to Disney / First Plane Ride

I took my twins on a plane trip when they were one and it was not too bad. I brought a little bag with toys they had never seen. Also slots of snacks and a little blanket. A small cookie sheet with some magnets was a big hit. You need to bring your carseat so you can use it on the plane. I used one carseat and held the other twin but I really wish I had just gotten a seat for each of us. Try not to overpack, it just makes it more stressful to get around. I ended up not needing half of the things I took on my trip. You can rent strollers at the park so I would not worry about it. If you can, get him used to sleeping someplace other than his crib now. Maybe you can use a pack in play or if you don't have one maybe borrow one from a friend. Best advice I can give is that if your son makes a fuss on the plane just ignore everyone else and concentrate on him. Both my twins had a fit after take-off. I got some dirty looks from some people but I was not going to lock myself up and miss a great trip just because it might cause a slight inconvenience to others. Just enjoy the trip and have fun. I wish I was going someplace warm. ;)

best advice I ever got (and it was from a mamasource mom!) was to take a package of balloons with you to the airport. While you're waiting (after you pass through security) blow up a balloon or two and let your little one play with it in the waiting area...it's a great distraction for you and other kids that may be there. Just throw it out or pass it along before you get on the plane and use a new one at the next stop.

I would take a pack and play for sure...some hotels let you rent cribs, but frankly, I wouldn't do it. It creeps me out...germs, etc. and you have no idea how old they are and if they get cleaned. Same with car seats. If you don't want to take yours on the plane (which you totally should if you bought him a ticket) it doesn't count as baggage. If you didn't buy him a ticket, see if you can gate check your car seat adn check with the agent to see if there are extra seats. Lots of times they will let you take on the car seat and put the baby in it if there is extra room.

Finally, I would advise on taking at least an umbrella stroller. You don't want to be traveling through the airport with a loose 13 month old! You need to be able to strap him in and have him still while you're messing with bags, shuttles, rental cars, whatever! You can gate check any stroller you take with you so that you can use it up until the last minute and use it immediately when you get off the plane.

Have fun!

This might be hard to do on a flight to Disney, but when I took my son to Italy at the same age, they let me use an empty seat to buckle my son in his carseat. (This was pre-9/11 so check with your airline to see if this is even an option).

If you have an umbrella stroller, especially one in which the seat lies back so that the baby can sleep, it can be a lifesaver. It makes it so much easier to wait for transportation and even just getting the baby back and forth from the hotel room to the car!

There are many rides that the baby can go on at Disney, and for many others it is possible for one adult to ride and one to wait with the baby, and then switch off without having to wait again!

Stay on the baby's schedule as much as possible. If you're staying in one of the Disney resorts, it's easy for one parent to go back to the room with the baby if need be.

I agree with the advice on not making it a do or die vacation. It's tempting to try and do everything, but the children are not going to care if they go on all the rides.

If there's a character that the children especially want to meet, schedule a character breakfast (we always did the breakfast at the Contemporary where you meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy.) If you do this at the beginning of the trip, it takes the pressure off.

Good luck and have fun!

Hi!

It's hard to sometimes feel like you're making the right decisions when it comes to these things. But, you know your child best, and if you prepare a little bit, I'm sure your vacation will be great!

My advice is this:
If your baby isn't used to sleeping in a pack'n'play, or anywhere else, practice at home if you can. Set up a pack'n'play in another area of the house for naptime. It's helpful to stay in a suite, if possible (even the smallest suite), because then you can set up his "sleeping quarters" away from you - behind a couch or around a corner in an open closet, so if he gets up, he won't be able to see you which might make it more difficult for him to settle down or go back to sleep. We always try to have some kind of white noise device (call ahead to see if your hotel has a portable fan, or set up the crib/pack'n'play by the bathroom where you can turn the fan on in there). Don't forget any special blanket or lovey that he's attached to!!!
As far as bathing, you just have to stay right by his side the whole time, but the hotel bathtubs are fine - we always showered with our little ones. You can put down a towel so they don't slip and bring a couple of toys in there!

As far as the plane ride, we never paid for an extra seat when the kids were that little. My husband and I took turns holding them (I was still nursing at that age, so it was easy for me to settle him down). If your son is happy in his carseat though, then sometimes it's worth it to buy the extra ticket. Don't forget to pack extra snacks, an extra set of clothes, a couple of bottles or sippy cups (one for milk, one for water), extra diapers, some books/toys, and a blanket in case your luggage gets lost or delayed. Sometimes, babies can have a hard time with the take-off and landing (their ears get plugged up). Make sure you have a snack or cup ready during these times so they can chew or suck on something, which is helpful. You can also walk the aisle a couple times, if your son is getting antsy during the three hour trip. You can pack a portable DVD player or your iPod if he'll enjoy watching or listening to something. Because of all the security issues these days, it might be helpful to use your own stroller (even an umbrella stroller) to get through the airport - they can gate check the stroller when you get to the plane and it will be ready for you when you land. A lot of places rent out the strollers and carseats, but sometimes it's just easier to use your own since you're used to them and you know how they work. Whatever's easiest for you though! Don't forget to check the airline guidelines for what you can and can't pack on your carry-ons (sizes/quantities of things, i.e. drinks or anything liquid for the baby). You don't want something that might be pretty important taken away before the flight!

We haven't done the Disney trip yet, so I can't tell you anything about that! I'm sure you'll get some helpful advice on that from some other moms!

Good luck and I hope you have a great vacation!

what fun! we took my son on his first trip when he was 3 months old and then when he was 1-1/2. it was great!

one thing our travel agent told us is to be sure to buy him a ticket. why? I know this is morbid but she said if anything would ever happen to the plane, without a ticket they wouldn't know your child is on the plane.

now, on to fun stuff.... a stroller is a lifesaver! that way you don't have to worry about carrying him through the airport, if he gets tired put him in and he falls asleep, carry your toys, backpack, food, camera.... without breaking your back. is your child mobile? if so, you definitely need a ticket for him. when you buy them a ticket you have to take your own car seat. it's a life saver! If you child is mobile you want to have a place where they can get off your lap. 3-4 hrs with your child sitting in your lap and climbing all over you will become VERY tiring for you. that way when you have a few of his toys he can sit COMFORTABLY in his own seat and play away.

we never did a pack and play. we had a large suitcase and just brought his "blankie" and another big fluffy one that we put under him and he slept in the suitcase. it worked out great! and he loved setting up his "bed" every night.

toys..... just bring a few "coloring books" (whatever you use for him to "write"/color in) a few books, and a couple toys. we ended up bringing his backpack full of stuff and that was enough for him the whole time (actually I think he didn't end up using everything we took)

when you get to disney.... don't be a "do or die" person. when you go to disney you used to get in/out priviledges. if they still do that, go in the am for a few hours, tour around, take some rides, (don't forget to take your food as it will cost you an arm and a leg to eat/drink there) then go back to your hotel early afternoon. take a nap, go to the pool, eat/drink, enjoy the amenities where you're staying, then go back to disney around 7/8pm. you'll be there in time for the laser/fireworks show but won't be too exhausted to enjoy it. We took our own stroller as it was a bit pricey to rent one there. don't forget your sunscreen and lots of drinks!

and enjoy! enjoy! enjoy! I didn't realize my son knew so much about disney characters until we got there and he fell asleep in his stroller saying "mickey, mickey, mickey". Have a great time!

before you take a carseat check to see if you will need one. Are you renting a car if not you may not need one. We just flew from LA yesterday and carseats are heavy if you dont need it. our shuttle to and from hotels on previous trips didn't have seatbelts so it couldn't be buckled in and we walked or rode a bus everywhere else.

My suggestion is to bring plenty of snacks and if you have liquid in the bottle or sippy the security does a test on it and you are good to go or you can have them empty before security and them prepare what you need after you are through.

definately bring an umbrella stroller. I like the chico about 50 dollars folds up small and fits throught the scanner easily. and pack your cary ons as light as possible. if your backpack feels heavy at home it will really feel heavy after a day of travel.

if your baby doesn't like movies at home he will not like them on a plane. I nursed my baby on take off and landing. if you are not nursing then pacifiers work well. My baby doesnt like pacifiers but just chewing on it helped a little .

good luck and have fun

Yeah! How fun!!! My kids have been flying since they were only a couple of months old. We always take a portable DVD player or Laptop so we can play cartoons/movies. They always thought it was cool that they had their own movies! We also had a V-Smile and/or a Mini-DVD player -I don't know exactly what they are called, but hey are for kids and have special disks - you can find them with the toys in Target (by the Nintendo Dancing Dogs at ours) they aren't very expensive.
Whatever you decide to bring - any of the above, crayons and a coloring book -- make sure it's new to them and not one just from home (new movie, new crayons...) that way they are interested longer.

As far as strollers ect.. I would rent them there. The less you have to carry and worry about the better. Regarding the crib in the room - you can usually get the hotel to put one up and I'd bring at least some of his blankets so there are familiar smells.

If you are staying on the Disney properties - they will take fabulous care of you!!

OH - and make sure he is sucking or chewing on something (bottle, pacifier, anything!) when you are taking off and landing. That way the pressure change won't affect his ears and you won't have any fussing due to pain! If he is sleeping, don't wake him up - he'll be fine. :)

Have fun - God Bless!!
C.

First off. TAKE YOUR OWN STROLLER! You can take it all the way to the gate and they will stow it and have it right there at the door when you land. We printed and laminated a big sign that said "______ Family Stroller" and had disney characters on it. We ziptied it to the stroller so we would be able to find ours easily if anyone else had the same one. They have "stroller parking" everywhere at the parks and with a child that young, you are going to want a comfortable stroller that he will be able to sleep in. The ones you rent are hard plastic, not to mention expensive to rent.

My kids have flown at ages 6 months, 9 months, 2 1/2, and 4 1/2. They have NEVER had any problems with their ears. I always had a cup, snacks, nuk, etc ready but never needed to use them AT take off or landing. You can bring LIQUID through the airport IF it is for young children. They will take it and test it, but then let you through with it. So pack some cups with different beverages!

Pack a bag with a COUPLE extra outfits for your son. An extra shirt for you and your hubby too (in case he gets sick on you or a blowout!) Have some toys, books, whatever he likes to play with along. I would not go out and buy a ton of new things. I never did for our kids and they played just fine with what I brought with. He will probably fall asleep for part of the flight. Our kids did almost every time.

Just use the bath tub there. Either you or your hubby can get in with him. Or just take a shower with him. You don't want to be lugging extra equipment you don't really need.

Car seat is up to you...... If you bought him a seat, bring it with on the plane. If you are checking other luggage, then it really wouldn't be that hard to check the carseat too. We personally, have just rented carseats though. But if you are NOT renting a vehicle, then you probably won't need carseats. If you are just taking the shuttles, you just hold the kids.

Make sure to pack extra snacks for your son to take into the parks with you! It will save a ton of money. We actually stayed in a place where we had a full kitchen so we packed our lunch every day and then came home for supper (around 7pm) and had a nice home cooked meal each night. Walmart was right down the street so we were able to pick up groceries we needed.

For sleeping. We just co-sleep on vacations for the most part. If a crib or pack 'n play is available, we get one and try that but we never pushed the issue for vacations. Everyone was always tired at the end of the day and slept good pretty much anywhere you laid down!