Welcome to the next stop on Magical Blogorail Blue. Today we are discussing
traveling to the Disney Parks with toddlers.
A meltdown or tantrum is defined as "an emotional outburst, usually associated with children or those in emotional distress, that is typically characterized by stubbornness, crying, screaming, yelling, shrieking, defiance, angry ranting, etc." Many children have meltdown's when they are tired or simply do not get their way.
My little one was just 11 months old when she visited Disney World for the first time
To prevent an embarrassing meltdown while on vacation I would recommend the following:
- Be sure to take an afternoon break to allow your little one to take a nap
- Apply sunscreen every 3-4 hours to prevent painful sunburn
- Bring your baby or toddler sunglasses and/or a hat
- Bring a lot of snacks to keep your little one happy while waiting in long lines
- Bring a portable fan to attach to the stroller to prevent your little one from getting overheated
- Most importantly, don't try to force your little to ride any rides they are not comfortable riding
A lot of times children will have a meltdown because they are simply tired. If you notice your toddler getting cranky and heading down the meltdown route start making your way towards the park exit. If your child happens to have a full blown meltdown don't be embarrassed and don't make an even bigger scene by yelling at your child. A friend once told me that she would tell her toddler that if he/she did not stop screaming or yelling in public that they would be asked to leave. I tried this once and it actually worked. My toddler stopped crying because he did not want to have to leave.
My children nap daily and I try to keep their routine very similar when we travel. We always plan an afternoon break and return to our condo for a 'quiet time'. This is a nice time for adults to take a break, swim in the pool while one parent stays with the child, etc. We always make sure to pack a lot of snacks and a sippy cup for constant hydration helps too.
Here is the map of our
Magical Blogorail Blue | Traveling to Disney with Toddlers Loop:
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