When we take our young kids into the parks during the summer, I like to be prepared! I tend to bring a lot of items into the parks with us (unfortunately, but maybe fortunately for us!), especially when it is hotter than the surface of the sun!

We do use strollers, so that helps.

Below I have up to 45 suggestions that I recommend you pack if you are like me!

*** I am NOT a doctor! The things I suggest below are my opinions and you should definitely ask your children’s doctors any questions before going on your vacation. They will tell you what you should be doing when planning to be in extreme heat for extended periods of time.***

You have to remember, that babies cannot sweat and keep their bodies cool in the same ways that adults can. This means that they can become easily dehydrated or sick from the extreme heat temperatures that you get in Florida. We like to pack park bags (yep, I said bags with an ‘S’!) with many things that could aid us in keeping our babies safe and healthy while outdoors.

The first one is easy. Yes, you can get free cups of water anywhere in Disney World, but I just cannot get over the taste of it. One of our bags is a cooler for this reason.

We have a nice backpack cooler that can be worn and still have 2 hands free. We load up the backpack each morning with 8-10 water bottles and put some ice in a double-bagged gallon ziplock to keep it cold. This is not only nice to have bottles right on hand during the day, but it can also be very handy for anyone who will be bottle-feeding their babies, to have a cooler to store all of their feeding necessities.

(*TIP* keep the water bottles in the fridge overnight before loading them in the cooler)

We do use strollers in the parks, and I make sure to have one with storage underneath. I really like the 3D lite stroller with an under basket and carry strap. We will often park the stroller in designated areas and leave the cooler bag with it. (This is always up to you to leave your items unattended, but there is no guarantee that your things will be safe from theft. We do this because it is not considered a ‘valuable item’ to us if something DID happen.)

The other bag, also a backpack, we take with us is what I consider our “Park Bag.” We have this with us at all times, as we often do have things of value inside.

The things we pack are listed below, but I keep certain items grouped together in ziplock bags to make it easy for finding.

Diaper changing gallon bag:

•   Changing pad

•    2-3 Disposable changing pads

•    6-8 diapers

•    Disposable diaper bags for dirty diapers

•    small pack of wipes (25 count?)

•    small tube of diaper cream

•    extra pair of clothes

Toddler potty bag:

• Extra pair of undies and shorts (or pants)

•    4-5 Disposable seat covers

•    Small pack of flushable wipes

• (optional) pull-ups if child is newly potty-trained or could possibly have accidents

While we’re on the topic of extra clothes; If it is so hot and humid, or could rain – you may want to take an extra shirt or pair of clothes for anyone in the family who would appreciate a change. (you could choose to leave that with your cooler bag)

Baby eating bag:

• 2-3 Disposable bibs

• 2-3 Disposable table covers

• A spoon you can wash or throw away, if eating baby purees.

•    Baby food pouches

•    Puffs or Yogurt melts in baggies

             If you are formula feeding, you may be able to fit pre-measured baggies in this large bag. If you are bottle feeding breastmilk, you would need to keep that in a cooler.

I was breastfeeding an 8 month old the last time we were at Disney and she was both nursing and starting solids. Nursing or Formula is still the PRIMARY source of a baby’s nutrition and hydration at this age, so it is very important to make sure they are fed. If you are nursing, you will not have to bring as much into the park. And if the baby is not on solids yet – then you will not have to bring any of the feeding supplies above except for the items if needed for bottles!

Mamas should expect to take many breaks with an infant, and not worry so much about what you need to see next. Take in the experiences of people watching or resting a bit between the hustle and bustle!

Foot care bag/first aid items

• Pack of moleskin padding

•    Little scissors to cut moleskin

•    Neosporin To Go

•    A few sizes of Band-Aids

•    Lip balm

•    Small bottles of Tylenol or Ibuprophen

•    A small bag of Tums

For small children, if they are old enough to have children’s or Infant’s Tylenol, you may want to bring it for them if you think you could need it. None of these items are musts if you don’t want to bring them – and each park does have a first aid building if you were to need something.

I just like to be prepared and have something immediately on hand, especially since our time is important since we all know that anything with babies and toddlers is not done quickly or easily!

The rest of the things we pack in our bag can be useful, but is ultimately up to you depending on how much you want to carry around. I DO suggest at least having the child cups so that they can drink when they need to and not have any problems in the heat.

All other supplies:

• Sippy cups or Thermos cups, 1 for each child who can drink water (young babies should not – please ask your Primary Care Pysician for recommendations on keeping hydrated for all of your children)

•    Mister fans

•    Stroller fans (clip on)

•    Cooling towels

•    Sunscreen

• Sunglasses

• Hats

•    Extra portable phone chargers and cords

•    A few extra batteries for fans

•    Disposable ($1) ponchos

•    Small umbrellas

•    Various snacks you can grab quickly (fruit snacks, granola bars, – yogurt melts, trail mix, etc.

•    Nursing cover if you use one

•    Compact brush, extra hair tie, makeup blotters

•    Folder with Itinerary if you have a printed one.

•    Autograph book with pen or markers

•    A couple glow sticks

•    Or small (age appropriate) toys/activities if your child gets antsy in lines or while eating

•    Gum – Disney does not sell any on property

•    Antibacterial hand wipes

•    Small hand sanitizer

•    Don’t forget your Minnie/Mickey Ears!

*In the past we even had a THIRD bag! (I know! What the heck for?!?) It was a separate diaper bag. I wanted to keep our main backpack lighter so we did that, but it was NOT ideal! Since then, I have switched to using the ziplock bags method, which helped a TON. And having a cooler backpack with a couple zipers, we are also able to keep some things in there to lighten the load. Examples would be: any extra clothes, maybe umbrellas, extra snacks or baby food. This is left with the stroller when it’s parked and hoped that it stays safe. USUALLY it is, but you never know when someone might feel a little entitled to your things….

Is there anything I am forgetting??? What is something that you MUST have or need while in the parks? Comment below and I can always add to my list!

Thank you for reading!

The post What to take in the Disney parks on super hot days with babies/children appeared first on Main Street Mrs..

The snack mix below could actually work for anywhere and anytime; not just for Disney. But because we are here at Main Street Mrs., we’ll put it in Disney context!

We’ve really only taken family trips to Disney World when the heat is pretty intense – which in Orlando, FL, is much of the year anyway! Being out in the crazy heat all day every day, you are going to need to stay hydrated and to make sure you keep your energy up in order to avoid heat exhaustion or anything worse. Of course we love to grab all the Disney snacks when we’re able to, but sometimes you get yourself caught waiting in lines, taking a break, maybe watching a show or something, or even just wanting to save a few bucks and you really need something to munch on – and we’ve got a great alternative right here for you!

Put these into little Ziploc snack bags and throw a few in your bag each day going into the parks.

BONUS: When you make these at home and bring them in your luggage, you’ll have extra empty space for that Disney merch when going home!

*** You know your family’s allergies – obviously, if you have any, just omit or find an alternative ingredient for the snack mix!

Home Made Snack Mix!

 The following things I would put a small handful (maybe 10 pieces, more or less) of each one into each bag. You can adjust the amount as you wish, but I feel it’s easier to make them in individual bags because the heavy items would sink to the bottom of a large bowl if you try mixing together first.

• Ziploc snack size bags

• Goldfish
• Mini pretzels
• Popcorn
• Granola bites
• Yogurt covered raisins
• Chocolate covered blueberries
• Reece’s pieces

Those are the ingredients I usually throw into the bags, but sometimes I add or switch out 1 or 2 things as well, like teddy grahams, raisins, marshmallows or nuts. I try to keep a lot of chocolate out of it as possible, but you can put in chocolate chips or m&m’s also. The chocolate covered blueberries are enough for us! The Reese’s pieces are also a nice sweet added and the kids like it better than peanuts!

You want to make sure that the whole mix is not going to get all melty or sticky! The ingredients listed held up extremely well in our park bag, in the heat.

One of the main goals besides having a good snack on hand, is that my children will actually eat them too! And I am always conscious of deciding what is a choking hazard for them, or if they can eat it. I will only make them what I believe is safe for them to eat.

They absolutely love chowing these down while in the parks. We’ve had them while sitting in Magic Kingdom’s Carousel of Progress, the shows in Epcot World Showcase and Hollywood Studios, and The Festival of The Lion King in Animal Kingdom. We also have handed them a bag as we just push them in their strollers.

The sweet and salty combination is a perfect filler to give you and the kids that boost of energy along with a cold cup of water. Sometimes you can tire out easily while in the Disney parks, and you need to be aware if the little ones just aren’t eating or drinking enough. This is hands down, our perfect solution when those times occur because they definitely eat these goodies. I also don’t feel as bad giving it to them because it is not the ice creams or candies that are completely full of sugar either.

I look forward to hearing back – Let me know if this helped or worked for you! Or if you have a trail mix or snack mix that you love or make yourself as well! What would you substitute?

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