Tips for Travelling to Orlando, Florida with a Baby or Toddler

5th February 2022

Holidays with a baby or toddler in tow will always require extra luggage, but fear not, you won’t have to pack every item that your little traveller will need!

Everything necessary for safe, comfortable travel with an infant or small child – from socks to Pack ‘n’ Play cots or pushchairs – can be easily purchased in the US, but it isn’t necessary, or feasible, to do so. Nor is it necessary to lug every bit of it all the way across the ocean.

Here is our list of items for happy travel, categorised as Bring it with you; Buy it when you arrive; and Available in your villa.

Bring it with you:

Along with everyday essentials, including clothing, sleepwear, bibs, nappy bag with essentials, enough nappies for a few days, feeding supplies, and nursing equipment, there are definitely a few things you’ll want to bring from home.

Prescription medications and over-the-counter medications you know and trust for teething, fever, tummy upset and minor ailments are best brought along with you, but most can be purchased in Florida, though they may be under a different name.

For example, paracetamol is called acetaminophen in the US (brand name Tylenol). Children’s ibuprofen goes by the brand names Children’s Motrin, Infants’ Advil or Children’s Advil, but please always consult your doctor for any medication recommendations.

baby medicines

Be sure to programme your doctor’s phone number into your mobile phone. In the unlikely event that your youngster needs to be seen, the attending physician may want to consult with your baby’s doctor, depending on the circumstances, and it’s handy to have quick access if you just want the comfort of a familiar source of advice.

Reasonably priced, touchless thermometers are available at all chemists (“drug stores” such as Walgreens and CVS) and other stores, such as Target and Walmart, but it’s handy to have one available without having to leave your villa.

Nursing mothers should bear in mind US electrical supply voltage is 120 volts, so typical British 230-volt electrical items will be a bit sluggish and won’t work as efficiently. Manual pumps are easily found at chemists, Walmart or Target, or purchase an electric pump after arrival. Also consider a manual pump if you think you may need it during your arrival and return flights. Major infant formula brands in the US are Similac, Enfamil, and Gerber.

As all parents know, baby’s favourite “lovely,” – whether it’s a cuddly toy, a blanket, dummy (plus spares!) or something else – is essential travel gear for naptime, bedtime and comfort in unfamiliar surroundings. Pack it as part of your flight bag, too.

You should be able to buy baby milk, nappies, and other baby essentials for your flight once you've checked in and gone 'airside'. Be sure to pack an extra set of clothing (or two), a nappy and wipes, inside a large, sealable plastic bag, for use during the flight. Babies sometimes choose the worst moment for a major “event,” and it’s a lot easier to cope with if you have everything you need in one place for a rapid change, and a quick, non-smelly disposal or containment.

baby toiletries

Bring along a sippy cup, spill-proof, reusable snack cup, and baby utensils for on the plane and in the pushchair. The ones with a suction cup on the bottom could prove invaluable on the plane journey.

Bring your own car seat, or get one from the car hire company. It is illegal to drive with a baby or young child not in a car seat, so you won’t be able to leave the airport and pop into a nearby store to buy one. You must have it when you depart the airport. For those hiring an Uber or other transportation to their villa, make sure your pick-up company knows you’ll need a car seat, and the age of any children who will use one.

If you have transport to and from the airport that includes a car seat, but you’ll use a hire car at any point during your stay, it may be worth purchasing one after arrival. One way or another, this item is non-negotiable.

Almost ready to go? Consider downloading a Baby Monitor app to your mobile phone before leaving or once you’ve arrived.

Buy it when you arrive:

Nappies (“diapers” in the US). Major brands in the US are Pampers, Huggies, and Luvs. Pull-Ups, Goodnights, and DryNites are major brands for potty-training and older children.

Swim nappies! With Florida’s excellent year-round weather, and the likelihood your villa will have a private pool, you’re going to spend time in the water. You’ll find they are called “swim diapers” in the US.

Baby or child-safe sunblock with an SPF of at least 30 is absolutely necessary year-round (yes, even in winter). There are several brands available, some with SPF 50+. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants under 6 months should be protected from the sun through the use of shade or clothing rather than sunblock.

If your little traveller doesn’t require special shampoo or body wash that you need to bring with you, regular types can be purchased after arrival. Major brands in the US are Johnson’s and Aveeno, among others.

Does your youngster only eat a specific brand of food, or have a strong preference for a certain cereal or snack? Consider bringing it with you. Ideally, this is not something you’ll want to pack, due to weight and the quantity you’ll need for the duration of your holiday. Major baby food brands found in most stores in the US are Gerber and Gerber Organics, Beech-Nut, and Earth’s Best Organic.

Babies will need a sun hat in spring, summer, and autumn, or a warm hat during winter. If you don’t want to pack one, they’re easy to find in the shops.

dad and baby

Lightweight pushchairs (“strollers”) are easy to find in Orlando, and they’re essential, even for older children who have been out of them for a year or two. This is a holiday that involves a lot of walking for little legs, and even 5 or 6-year-olds benefit from a quick mid-day rest. Many villas will have one or two in the garage or games room area left behind by previous guests, but if they haven’t then these can be picked up at the local Walmart store for less than $20.

Travelling with a newborn or an infant? A sling, structured front-of-body carrier, or wrap-style baby carrier can be easier than using a pushchair while in the parks, especially for hands-free access. Or use one in combination with a pushchair.

Invest in an inexpensive, one-size-fits-all pushchair cover that doubles as a sun shade. It makes a fantastic addition to your lineup, for shade and for nap time on the go, and they’re also helpful when leaving things in the pushchair while in the parks, when ‘out of sight is out of mind’. Look for one that blocks up to 99% of sunlight. Alternatively, bring a blanket to drape over the pushchair for baby’s nap.

water baby

Unless your young’un has specific sensitivities that require special detergent, buy your baby-safe laundry liquid after arrival. Dreft Stage 1: Newborn laundry liquid is easy to find, it’s been a major brand for 80 years, it’s hypoallergenic, and it smells fantastic.

Baby and child-safe pool toys and floats make splashing around in the villa swimming pool even more fun, though they should never be a substitute for constant adult supervision.

the list:

Available in your villa:

Debbie’s Villas offer the option to hire double buggies, stairgates, Pack ‘n’ Play cots, regular cots, highchairs. Be sure to confirm when making your reservation. Bring your own bedding for the cot or Pack ‘n’ Play or use a normal bed sheet from the linen cupboard in the villa.