My family and I took our first trip as a family of 4 this Spring Break. I’ll be completely honest, I was nervous but couldn’t help it. I’ve traveled all over the world with my first as a small baby but it’s been such a long time (over 8 years ago) and let me just say WOW how the times have changed! There are so many more travel friendly items available today than ever before.
For this trip I planned, planned and planned some more. I researched all the newest baby products and accommodations to ensure we ALL had a decent time. Traveling with a 6 month is no joke but totally doable. Trust me I just did it even with a 2 day flight cancellation! That’s a whole other story.
Keep reading to find out what top 3 baby items I used on this trip to have a wonderful time fun time at the “Happiest Place on Earth” Disneyland!
Baby’s First Flight
Back in January my husband and I were going back and forth on what to do for Spring Break this year. After much thought and convincing from him, I agreed to Disneyland. I figured traveling with a 6 month old, visiting a smaller Disney park and a 3.5 hour flight wouldn’t be too bad. Right?
Flash forward, my baby did great on the plane! We received compliments on his behavior by the end of the flight. I was honestly worried because this was his first flight, he is 6 months and he is teething, eek!! He did get a little fussy from time to time but he honestly did wonderful.
*My pediatrician recommended Tylenol for his teething pain and also mentioned it could help with his ears if he had any issues. It worked!
#1 Must Have – Tushbaby
What the heck is Tushbaby? I’m so happy you asked! It’s basically a fanny pack with a small seat for your baby to sit on. I know it sounds weird but it was a life saver. The Tushbaby has several pockets and storage for diapers, bottles, wipes, pacifier, toys, phone, sunglasses, etc. I joked with my husband and said I felt like Inspector Gadget, LOL!! Only some of you will get that joke. All of this sits at your waist and it seriously helps distribute your baby’s weight. At Disneyland we stood in lines for a good 20 to 30 minutes each ride and he sat comfortably on me. I felt so comfortable I didn’t complained once about him being too heavy. Several people eyed my Tushbaby and whispered. All I can say is that it worked beautifully and after 4 full days at Disneyland and California Adventure I will not leave home without it!! Check out my pics!
Traditional baby carriers are great but when you have a baby who doesn’t want to be held in that particular way it can be difficult. The Tushbaby gives the baby more flexibility and freedom which makes them so much more comfortable. You can have the baby sit at your hip or the front, you can feed them with it, sit down and still be comfortable holding baby or have them take a nap. It’s such a wonderful invention!
**I purchased this item on my own freewill with no incentive to promote.
#2 Must Have – Ergobaby Metro Plus Stroller
If you ever dreamed of the perfect travel stroller, y’all this is the one! Travel strollers are so important when traveling because you want something small, durable, functional and very comfortable for baby. After much research I came across something called Ergobaby Metro Plus and it’s exactly what I was looking for!
The Metro Plus Stroller weighs under 17 lbs, fits as a carryon in the overhead of an airplane (American Airlines made us measure it and were shocked it was just as small as my carryon), made of sturdy material, lays completely flat for baby to sleep, has a wide sunshade, 5 point harness, super easy to maneuver even in tight areas, comes with a rain stroller cover, has rubber wheels and some storage at the bottom. The ONLY thing I wish it did was have the option to turn baby to face mommy or daddy while pushing stroller but it cannot. Other than that, it is a near perfect stroller for me and my family.
Having the ability to store my stroller on the airplane with my carryon is so important because most airline workers just toss and throw bags into the bottom of airplane with no care in the world. I get it, they are just trying to do their job as fast as possible but I have had several strollers, luggage, and carseats ruined because of that treatment.
My son loves his travel stroller and was quite comfy during the ride. We purchased the support bar which he loves to rest his legs on. All in all this stroller is a bit pricey but I do anticipate for it to last a long while because it can support a child up to 50 lbs.
**I purchased this item on my own freewill with no incentive to promote.
#3 Must Have – Baby Trend, Trooper 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
As many parents know, traveling with a car seat is essential so baby is safe and of course it’s the law. At home my son has the Chicco Key Fit 30 car seat which is super nice for traveling locally in our personal vehicles. The Key Fit 30 is massive in size and weighs almost 18 lbs on its own not including the base. In other words, this particular car seat for me and my family is not ideal for travel.
After much research I found the Baby Trend Trooper 3-in-1 Convertible car seat. This car seat is slim (16.75″ wide), does not need a base, weighs only 10 lbs, made of great material, feels sturdy, is forward or rear facing and grows with your child up to 65 lbs! Y’all this is seriously an awesome carseat and very easy to position in an Uber, Lyft or Taxi. We were pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to install in our Uber’s.
**I purchased this item on my own freewill with no incentive to promote.
Did You Know ALL Disney’s have Baby Care Centers?
What is a baby care center? At Disney a baby care center is where you can take your child or children to change diapers, nurse or feed your precious bundle of joy in a more comfortable setting versus a bathroom. Trust me, on a cold wet day or hot scalding day, these areas are the best! So what’s in these care centers?
- Nursing room with chairs
- Changing room with tables
- Toddler size toilets (for guests under 42″)
- Feeding area with highchairs
- Kitchen with sink, bottle warmers and microwave
- Vending machines offering formula, baby food, juice, diapers, wipes, sunscreen, pacifiers and OTC medication – all available for purchase.
After getting my children’s name embroidered onto their Disney ears, a Disney employee asked me if I knew about the baby care center, I was pushing my 6 month old son in his stroller. I told him I had no idea that existed so he told me what to expect and where to go and I was very surprised I had never noticed before! You’ll be pleasantly surprised once you arrive.
If you are at Disneyland Park you can find the Baby Care Center at the end of Main Street next to First Aid. So if you are walking towards the Castle it will be towards your right at the end of Main Street.
If you are at Disney California Adventure Park the Baby Care Center is next to Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop in Pacific Wharf. It’s on your way towards Cars Land area.
In Conclusion…
When traveling by plane with a family of 4 (keeping in mind most of us have carry-ons and 2 large luggage pieces) investing in smaller, durable and lightweight items for baby is so important. My husband will always carry all of the luggage and any additional items we have, while I push the stroller and have eyes on my eldest, so I try to make it as easy and efficient as possible for him. I will say after our first major trip on an airplane, I did a great job! Having the Tushbaby (for standing in Disney lines), Metro Plus Stroller (compact and easy) and Trooper Convertible car seat we were set. Rome here we come…
