We spent the week at Disney's Vero Beach Resort, and left with mixed feelings about the place. On the one hand, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We had fun at the pool, enjoyed some tot activities (we had to pretend to be 3...more on that), and met lots of great families from all over the country. However, we were, as we have been at other Disney hotels, disappointed with the quality of the accommodations and the food.
We just got back from a week-long trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and the whole family had a great time! I thought I would share some tips that I thought might be helpful for those of you who are traveling to Disney with a toddler.
We took our first train ride last weekend, when we went to DC to visit my sister and her two daughters. Boy did we have a blast! Kate loved being around the older girls, who are five and three. We stayed with friends who also have a five and three year old, so we had five girls under the age of five for four days. Needless to say, the girls enjoyed it!
We took Amtrak, mostly because I thought it would be easier than driving with a 7 month old for five hours in a car. It really went smoothly, I have to say. I got some attachable wheels for the car seat, which helped in navigating the train station. (more...)
I love this Maclaren Infant Carrier! We have been using this carrier since our daughter was born, and we really have found it useful. The feature that swayed our purchase of this carrier is the infant pod, which allows you to safely carry the tiniest newborn in snuggly safety. You put this infant pod around their legs and bottom, and strap it into the carrier facing towards you, and it prevents them from slipping out. What a clever but simple idea!
We use this carrier for short walks, long walks, quick trips to the grocery store, and airplane travel. I have even used it to calm my fussy baby. At three months, she was ready to face forward and of course she loved it even more! It is easy on the back too, with really wide straps to spread the weight. It has never bothered my back at all. We looked at the Baby Bjorn and while "everyone" has it, it just didn't seem to be as well designed, nor as suitable for a newborn as the Maclaren.
We received the Close & Secure Sleeper by First Years as a shower gift, and it provided some much needed relief during those new baby days. It has several features that we found appealing.
First, it provides a barrier, allowing the baby to sleep in your bed without your having to worry about rolling over on her in your sleep. Second, there is a handy night light, which is good for middle of the night feedings and just for checking to make sure the baby is still alive (c'mon, I'm not the only one who checks for this!). (more...)