What to pack when you cruise with Infants/Toddlers (Part 2)

This is a continuation of my post here

More things to pack when cruising with toddlers/babies!

•  Temporary tattoos that you can write on--while most cruise lines use wrist bands to identify the muster station for children, it's not a bad idea to buy some of these tattoos. You can write your cabin #, muster #, or allergies that your child might have. These are waterproof, and last 3-4 days before they start to peel. We've used them at waterparks before, and they really stay in place.

•  Comfort items--this includes a wide range of items. Pacifiers (if used) are easily lost at home, imagine losing them on a ship. Or overboard! Pack extras if they are used, and maybe a tether for them! Blankets that they sleep with. Both of my boys have a blanket they have to have. Thankfully, they aren't full-sized blankets! Does your child insist on sleeping with a bear? Dog? Monkey? Bring it! Or look for a duplicate, and bring that one. Even though you may find that your child falls asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow, it's nice to have something familiar and loved in a new, overwhelming place.

• Snacks--okay, yes, there's a ton of food on cruise ships. So much that if you aren't careful, you'll gain 10 pounds. However, sometimes your kid just cannot live without a Goldfish cracker. Or raisins. Buy the individual serving packs (food brought on must be sealed) of their favorite snacks if possible. They won't take up a lot of room, and will really come in handy when you are waiting for a tender, sitting on the beach with only a BBQ shack/bar nearby, waiting to embark, etc.  Also included in this category would be baby food if you have an infant that eats it.  Some cruise lines do make baby food from menu items (Disney does!), but many do not. And finding it in the gift shop on board is probably unlikely.

•  Crayons/paper/toys--I'll be honest and say that I have no idea if any lines provide crayons and paper. But there will be times that you don't want to be going, going, going. There will be down time, especially when you have youngsters. And the TV choices are limited (and who really wants to watch TV on a cruise?) so bringing a small box of crayons and a bad or 2 of paper might just save you from a whining toddler! This may come in handy especially during dinner! Also, new small toys. I say "new" because you want them to be a distraction, something to stave off whining. (I have 2 professional whiners, so this is a really good one for us!) We have stocked up a small bag that has new Matchbox cars, some happy meal toys, small robots, etc. (We have boys, adjust accordingly) And just think of the silence that new toys or crayons can induce so that you can spend 5 quiet minutes in the morning sipping coffee on your balcony.

• Sand toys--We are packing a small set of sand toys that we plan to leave behind. Going to 2 beach ports and our boys love to build in the sand. These will take up a chunk of luggage, so this is something to bring is you definitely know it will be used, and you have the space for it.

• Baby powder--this is a good one for adults too. No, not for your bum, for your hands and feet! Great for absorbing moisture of sweaty feet! But also (and the reason we have it packed) is because a quick dash of baby powder will get sand off of your hands and feet. Sand is weirdly sticky, and if you want a snack on the beach, you tend to end up with a sandy mouth. So, baby powder to the rescue!
  

• Duct tape/painters tape--you'll see duct tape on many, if not most, cruise necessities lists. When you have small kids, they get into everything! Tape the drawers and cabinets shut in your room.Then you don't have to worry about pinched fingers, banging cabinets, etc. You can always find a use for duct tape.

• Inflatable pool--on most cruise lines, diapered children cannot go into the pools. Bummer, right? So what do you do? Blow up pool. Little pools take up very little space in luggage. You can ask for a bucket form the bar and fill it with water from the big pool, then use the deck drains to dump it. Or! The duck bathtub (most parents will know what I'm talking about here...). This one can pull double duty, as most cabins do not have bathtubs (not counting Disney), and unless your child takes showers, it is nice to have a tub.

• Stroller--leave it home. No! Leave it home. Seriously. They are cumbersome. they are bulky, they are heavy. They take up precious space in the hallways, the cabin, etc. Even the umbrella strollers. And have you ever dealt with one on a beach? Just leave it home. So...what do you use then? 

• Baby/toddler carrier--even if your child can walk, cruise ships are huge. Ginormous. Massive. Especially when you are 3 feet tall.  And strollers get in everyone's way. Enter the baby carrier. If you have never worn your baby, now is the time to start. Well, preferably a few months before your cruise, as most carriers have a bit of a learning curve. There are carriers that you can use from birth to 50 pounds. 50 pounds! Well, the 50 pounds is pushing it. But I have an OnyaBaby, and I have put my 4 year old in it. Comfortably. My 2 year old loves it. I have also used ring slings, pouch carriers (Hotslings), wraps, etc. Wraps probably have the biggest learning curve, but they are the most versatile. (I do not recommend the Baby Bjorn carriers. Those things dangle your child by their crotch, so not comfortable or good for their developing bodies) Seriously, you can go anywhere with a baby carrier. No worries about sidewalks in foreign countries (sometimes roads/sidewalks are treacherous, if not nonexistent). You don't have to take up tons of space in your room/closet, you don't have to worry about checking it if you are flying. Most fold up into pretty much nothing, weigh less than a pound. And you have your child right next to you. You don't need to worry about them being bumped, knocked over, have something spilled on them, cigarette ashes flicked on them (I've seen that many times). It's a great bonding experience (for mom or dad!) and is comforting to your child--very important when they are being overwhelmed by new experiences and this huge ship full of strangers. I recommend finding a babywearing group nearby and trying some different carriers.  There are forums (thebabywearer.com) that have lists of groups, or if you know a midwife/doula in your area, they may be able to point you in the right direction. Or you can contact me, and I will try to help you find a group near you.Also, you can rent some kinds of baby carriers on PaxBaby.com, which is a good idea if you want to try some (or even just rent one for vacation if you don't want to invest in one!).

Like I said, every family cruising with infants/toddlers does not need all of this stuff. But these are just some things that you might want to consider or something you may have not even though about! Regardless, you'll probably have too much stuff. But when it comes to my kids, I'd rather have something and not need it, than need it and not have it.