4. Avoid a pooptastrophe

Disney days can do a number on baby diapers. Long times in the stroller combined with Florida/California heat make more quite the explosive combination.

Theme parks are just about the last place anyone wants to deal with a diaper blowout. Rather than simply hoping for the best, there are a few preliminary steps you can take to keep your trip from becoming a poo-pocalypse.

First, make sure your baby is in the right sized diapers. This isn’t always easy as different brands use different size measurements. I’ve found Huggies tend to run larger than other brands, for example. Some diapers parents swear by for reducing blowouts include Members Mark, Kirkland, Millie Moon, Rascal & Friends, and in some cases, Hello Bello. I’ve had hit-or-miss luck with Huggies Snug n’ Dry as well.

Rather than relying specifically on the diaper, we add an extra layer of protection. You can use a cloth diaper cover (like these from Kanga Care) over a disposable diaper to help contain any blowouts. Some parents also swear by reusable diaper extenders to prevent blowouts up the back, especially when baby is between sizes.

Other essentials that can help with making diaper time easier include a plastic bag roll (I like these ones from Munchkin/Arm and Hammer because they’re pretty durable and contain the smell well) and a mobile changing pad. If possible, I highly recommend using the Baby Care Centers for diaper changes—each station comes with an abundance of disposable liners.

5. Ditch the nursing pillow

Ditching your nursing pillow can seem a daunting task, especially if your baby won’t feed without one. You do have some options to lighten the load for your Disney parks excursion, however.

Some of the traditional methods for ditching a nursing pillow all require some practice ahead of time. These include learning how to nurse in a woven wrap or ring sling (something I have not yet gotten the hang of), or working with a lactation consultant to learn how to nurse without a pillow (such as in cradle or koala position).

For many of us, the pillow remains a necessity. Sure, you could buy a travel nursing pillow, but there’s an easier option.

Just bring your nursing pillow’s pillowcase.

This trick solved so many problems for us on baby’s first cross-country trip. The way it works is that when you need a nursing pillow, just stuff the pillowcase with whatever soft things you have on hand. Anything can work, from sweatshirts to baby blankets, to shopping bags, to diapers. It does require you to carry enough things to fill the pillow out (which works better with something like a Boppy), but this can ultimately prove easier for some moms than bringing the pillow itself.

Just need a little support for your arm or baby’s head while nursing? Bring a small travel pillow which can act as a mini-boppy. It won’t replace a full nursing pillow, but it can be adjusted as needed to provide a little support in a pinch.

6. Take that, teether toss

A Disney park is not the place to learn your baby has a talent for the toddler-toss. The solution requires some prep but is fairly simple: tether everything.

Seriously, load up on more pacifier clips and toy tethers than you think you need. I find myself using them for everything from pacifiers, to soothy animals, to teething toys. If your little one is old enough to use a snack tray, a suction cup tether or something like the Busy Baby Mat might be the way to go. As with all things, supervise baby’s toy usage and be careful to position tethers where they won’t pose a strangulation hazard.

7. Bring a bottle washing kit

Disney’s Baby Care Centers are amazing, but you do need to bring a few things on your end to get full mileage out of them. One of the biggest game changers for reducing your baby kit is the ability to wash your bottles. The Baby Care Centers have sinks and paper towels for parents needing to wash bottles and pump parts, but you’ll need to bring your own cleaning supplies.

You don’t need much for a simple bottle washing kit—at a bare minimum, some dish soap and bottle brushes. While there are travel brush kits available, many of these are too bulky for a Disney day (the Boon one can work well for a hotel but not for the parks). A better alternative is to get a pack of dental swabsticks which have a small sponge on the end. These are basically what NICU’s give out to parents to keep bottles and pump parts clean, and they are both cheap and work great.

If you want to level up your bottle / pump part washing game, bring a microwave sterilizer bag with you to quickly sterilize whatever you need using the Baby Care Center microwaves. If you can’t wash your bottles without a basin, Ceres Chill has a rather nice portable one that can work if you don’t mind adding a little more to your kit.

Continue reading for advice on how to hack your baby's bed space, pumping in Disney parks as well as understanding all the Disney baby perks you can get your hands on...