Baby Care Centers

Large cushioned changing tables, comfy rocking chairs, and nice high chairs. No, I’m not discussing the selection at the local baby superstore. These are some of the amenities available for infants and toddlers at the Baby Care Centers at Walt Disney World theme parks.

All of the restrooms at the World, both men’s and women’s, are equipped with changing tables. Many are stainless steel so they are sturdy and easy to clean. However, sometimes you (or your child) need to take care of diaper duty in a more relaxed environment than a busy park restroom. Head straight for the Baby Care Center. Here you will find large changing tables with huge paper liners, a shelf to set your things, convenient trash receptacles and facilities to wash up.

For those in the process of potty-training, you can help avoid setbacks by using the kid-sized toilets found in the Baby Care Centers. Another plus, these are not auto-flush toilets so you don’t have to worry if your child normally sets off the flush too soon or is frightened by the noise. Regarding the auto-flush sensors, put a few post-its in your bag. You can cover the sensor on the automatic toilets and keep it from flushing until you are ready.

Another room in the Baby Care Centers is reserved for nursing moms. I’ve read reports on other unofficial sites that claim these rooms are for bottle-feeding moms too. But, I’ve also read tearful reports from moms who were refused entry because they weren’t nursing. I didn’t need this area during my visits to the Baby Care Center and Disney doesn’t specifically address it. So, I’m going to call this a nursing room because I don’t want to set the wrong expectations. If you are bottle-feeding your baby while at WDW and need a quiet spot, check with the Cast Member at the Baby Care Center. I’m sure they’ll accommodate you if they can. This room has rocking chairs and lower lighting. No one is allowed in but mom and baby to keep things nice and calm.

There is a feeding room in the Baby Care Centers for those needing a more home-like setting than a park restaurant. This area is furnished with traditional high chairs as well as tables and chairs for Mom and Dad. There is a television with cartoons to entertain your older child while you help baby eat her pureed peas.

Kitchen facilities within the Baby Care Center allow you to warm bottles or food and clean up afterward.

If you’ve forgotten a baby necessity, check with the Baby Care Center. They stock items such as diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, baby food, pacifiers, etc. These will be at a much higher price than at a grocery store, so try to come prepared. It is nice to know that these items are available in a pinch.

And the most important feature of the Baby Care Centers are the great Cast Members who are there to help greet you and keep the place really clean.

One Baby Care Center is available at each Walt Disney World theme park to give you a calm and cool place to take care of the needs of your baby or toddler. Here are the locations of each facility:

Magic Kingdom® Park:
The Baby Care Center is next to The Crystal Palace restaurant on Main Street, U.S.A.

Epcot:
The Baby Care Center is inside Future World’s Odyssey Center.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios™:
The Baby Care Center is in the Guest Services Building inside the Main Entrance.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park:
The Baby Care Center is behind Creature Comforts in Discovery Island™.

While you won’t make the trek across the park every time you need to change or feed the little one, they can be a refuge for the over-tired or over-heated baby (or mom!)

Great Baby Travel Gear--Booster Seat

Tink has traveled a good bit for someone so small.  I'm starting a new recurring piece to share some gear that makes travel easier. 

FYI:  I received everything that I will be reviewing as gifts from family or friends.  (Nope, no products thrown my way, but I'd be glad to post an honest and FTC compliant review of anything you'd like to send me.) 

First up is the Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Seat - Blue/Green/Gray.  I have this in a red/cream color scheme.  It is a highchair or booster seat that attaches to a regular chair with two straps.  The chair can be used once baby can sit with some assistance.  We carry this with us just about everywhere--Grandma's house, restaurants, family reunions, etc.  It doesn't go to Walt Disney World with us since we fly.  It's simple to attach and gets easier with some practice.  I can do it while holding my daughter.  My mother-in-law was so impressed with it that she bought her own.  My mom says this chair will be her new go-to baby gift.  So why do we like it so much?  My daughter sits in this chair far better than the standard wooden restaurant highchairs which gives us more time to enjoy meals out.  She's well-restrained yet comfortable and that cuts down on the wiggles that happen in the standard chairs.  The height is adjustable so we can raise her up to be involved in the dinner conversation.  I'm not a germaphobe but I do love that I can wash the tray so I know her dining surface is clean.  The edges on the tray also mean Tink doesn't knock much into the floor.  There is a cover for the tray so it all stays clean while being transported or stored.  The seat itself doesn't have corners to catch crumbs and easily wipes clean.  We do have one of the cloth covers for a grocery cart or a restaurant high chair but I only find it works well at the grocery store.  This chair doesn't take up a lot of room in the van and one of the straps makes a nice handle or shoulder strap for carrying.  We've used it on several road trips and turned hotel room desk chairs into high chairs for breakfast.  Used without the tray, this is a booster seat, so we'll be able to use it for years to come.

Check back for future posts on other items that make travel with baby a little easier and more fun.