Rennlet on the loose! … OK almost.

[Ginette]

     How do you get your rennlet, that isn't walking, around faire?  The first faire my youngest daughter will be attending is when she is about 5 months old and my oldest, she's 11, has it in her mind that she is going to carry her little sister around faire all day.  As good as my oldest intentions are and I am very proud that she has stepped up the plate and making that offer, I don't want her to carry her sister around faire all day, she won't be able to enjoy herself at faire to the fullest. 

     So what do you use to transport you little one around faire?  A stroller, a front or back carrier, a sling maybe?  Why did you pick that, the room, convensence maybe, ability to get in and out or places easier?  And as the mom of the family I also double as the family pack mule and the group's pack mule on occasion as well.  Now if you use some kind of carrier or sling how do you balance other items, like a diaper bag (that of cores looks the part  ), water, garb that comes off with the weather or the striped socks that I know I will have to buy at some point.   

     Thank you all for the help everyone!!

[Trillium]

Stroller is the way to go!  You have storage space for the wee one's stuff and your stuff and it will save your back a lot of pain.  Plus you can set them free when you want to and let them sleep comfortably when they want to.

[LadyFae]

I tend to just carry my non-walker or wear her in a sling.  (I have more issues pushing a stroller while in noble garb- just doesn't work for me!)  I keep a pouch on my belt of basic baby supplies and I am not opposed to going back out to the car if I need to.  My older girls wear pouches on their belts so that they have their basics, as well.  We make it work and we don't tend to buy a lot while at Fest, anyway so I don't get stuck carrying extras for long.  When we do make purchases that must be carried we wait until just before we head to the car.  And yes, apparently I am a glutton for punishment when it comes to my kids and Fest!

[Rani Zemirah]

I agree with Trill, a stroller is definitely better at that age than any other option, even the cool wagons some places have for rent.  The baby has shade and can either sit up or lie down, there is a place for all the extras a parent has to lug around, and they're fun and easy to decorate to make them look like they belong there!  

Then again, I have never worn nobles, so I don't know if those wide skirts would be all that easy to to navigate in, but for a narrower silhouette it works just fine.

[Rani Zemirah]

Just found this site, and while it's not strictly renaissance, it illustrates the idea of decorating for a certain period...  And they're all adorable, and some are hilarious! 

[Hoowil]

Stroller is definitely the best for the extra little ones. You can recline them to sleep, have them sit up, and have them secured in a padded, familiar seat. You also would most likely have some kind of cargo area for food, diapers, extra clothes, etc. I would recommend a joggin stroller, or one with large wheels if you have it, as it'll be much easier to maneuver in areas with dirt or gravel, or pretty much anywhere not paved.
Wraps, carriers and slings are great too, but it'll be like wearing a heavy backpack all day, and you won't be able to put the little one down and still be able to be out and about. And, carriers/wraps/slings are warm. Warm for you, warm for the little one. So if you think over-heating might possibly come into play, keep that in mind.
I've got my wagon, with a canopy (which I have been disguising) but we used the stroller exclusively for both kids until they were walking. Even then, our wagon has seats and seat belts.

[Ginette]

Thank you everyone!   

[LadyFae]

OMG Rani!  I absolutely LOVE the horse drawn carriage idea!!!!

[Rani Zemirah]

I thought that one was particularly cute, myself!  There were some adorable designs in there, and they should help anyone generate a cute idea for disguising a modern stroller for Faire! 

[Sabrina Black]

I had been thinking about this very subject and just found this thread.  Should help a lot

[Rani Zemirah]

I'm guessing... SPAM?  Reported...

[THELADYKAT]

Dorian's first year he was 2 months and 4 days. I took the stroller warped up with black cloth  to hide all the plastic and to go with my garb. I did not put the car seat on it so he would have more room and so would i for holding stuff. I laid down more blankets under him and around him so he would not move around to much and he loved it. and it kept him in the shade all day. His 2nd year I had a wood wagon made for him that is just like a mobile baby bed and he loved it too.