Tag: child-friendly

Six Foods Our Toddler Loved and Loathed at Walt Disney World

No two toddlers are the same, but maybe our dining experience will help you prepare!

Soft pretzels, pizza, macaroni, ice cream. They all sound like winners when it comes to feeding a toddler at Walt Disney World, if not the most healthy winners. But if you have a toddler, you know that chaos is the norm, even when it comes to the most toddler-friendly foods. For that reason, our family approached Disney dining on our family trip in March with a buffet of mixed feelings. We were excited to try all the “big people” food I discovered on TikTok. But we also worried our 19-month-old daughter would refuse everything I scoped out for her (if you’re wondering, only two of the four aforementioned foods went over well).

Nonetheless, our daughter did end up nomming on a reliable selection of meals — especially breakfast foods. But she turned down some unexpected, kid-friendly favorites, as well. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of six foods our toddler enjoyed across Disney World, including Disney Springs and the All-Star Music Resort, along with six foods she promptly threw on the ground.

Foods Our Toddler Loved

Our 19-month-old daughter reliably enjoyed this breakfast at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort during our family trip in March of 2024. She wasn’t big on the tator tots or Mickey Waffle, but my husband and I happily helped with those!

Food Court Breakfast (All-Star Music Resort): In a wonderland of unpredictable options, breakfast turned out to be our guiding star. We took advantage of the wide variety available at the All-Star Music Resort each morning. For our daughter, we ordered eggs, a banana, and a blueberry muffin. With just a little help from Mom and Dad, she devoured this meal consistently. To accommodate these plans and maintain sleep and sanity, we hesitantly gave up our plans to rope drop. And I don’t regret it. I believe the extra sleep and the (relatively) balanced meal made this sacrifice worth it.

Jumbo Pretzel (Magic Kingdom): Spontaneous meals can be tricky with a toddler at Disney World, but well-calibrated expectations can help, along with making a plan whenever possible. I scoped out the menu before most meals on our trip, but lunch at Magic Kingdom was a question mark in our itinerary. After we settled in at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café (where I enjoyed the Sulley Slush), I quickly realized our daughter wouldn’t eat anything on the menu. So, a nearby pretzel cart ended up being our best solution, along with some fruit and applesauce we brought into the parks. It wasn’t the most balanced meal, but she did enjoy it. Disney is known as the most magical place on earth, not the healthiest — we knew what we were getting into.

Via Napoli Pizza (Epcot): Everyone has something to say about the pizza at Via Napoli. Some say it’s overrated, but most reviewers seem to favor it. Our daughter, thankfully, falls in with the latter. She was all about this cheesy, floppy, brick-oven-style pie. That said, this meal was still a wild ride. Other foods were rejected and thrown on the floor, along with toys and anything else in reach. I managed to scarf down a few slices while keeping our daughter fed and keeping the floor (mostly) free of debris. My review of the pizza? Also a thumbs up!

Woody’s Lunch Box Grilled Cheese (Hollywood Studios): This is another item that comes up frequently in reviews, almost always favorably. And our daughter doesn’t disagree. She never says “no” to a grilled cheese, and she ate this one eagerly, despite the hot sun that beat down on our outdoor table. We served this along with some applesauce and raspberries that we brought into the park. Both daughter and mom also nibbled on a Lunch Box Tart! It was a little dry, but delicious.

Quesadilla (Animal Kingdom): If you’ve picked up on a theme, you’re not wrong: Our daughter gravitates toward the classic cheese-carb combo. Within this category, we did manage to change things up at Satu’li Canteen, where we ordered a kids’ quesadilla instead of a grilled cheese. This went over well and accommodated my plans to try Satu’li, after all the good reviews I saw on TikTok. My husband and I (both vegetarians) enjoyed our meals quite a bit, although I ran into some trouble with mobile ordering. I ended up with rice, when I wanted noodles. I think this was mostly user error. After four long days in the parks, my brain was definitely inclined to short circuit.

Satu’li Canteen in Disney’s Animal Kingdom was a hit for our entire family during our trip in March of 2024!

Earl of Sandwich Pizza Bread (Disney Springs): Our expectations weren’t high when we popped into Earl of Sandwich for lunch toward the end of our trip. But this quick-service spot surprised us. The sandwiches were great, and our daughter enthusiastically enjoyed the kids’ pizza bread. We were also glad that this kid’s meal didn’t come with any sides or a drink. For some, that might be a downside. But our daughter was too young for juice, only drinks whole milk, and wouldn’t have touched any of the sides. Which is a nice transition into the not-so-beloved foods she tried below.

Foods Our Toddler Loathed

Mickey Pretzel (All Parks): Our success with the jumbo pretzel in Magic Kingdom definitely did not translate to the Mickey Pretzel, which can be found across the parks. Our daughter rejected this pretzel resoundingly. And, really, who can blame her? These are widely considered bottom-of-the-barrel pretzels. Even toddlers can’t be fooled!

Fruit as a Side (Across Parks): We held out hope throughout our trip that we would order fruit with a kids meal, and our daughter would eat it. But this hope was repeatedly dashed. Don’t get me wrong: Raspberries are among her favorite foods, and she’s also a big fan of strawberries and bananas. But fruits she doesn’t like include oranges, melons, cantaloupes, and grapes: all fruits that tended to pop up in side orders. We had better luck feeding her a banana in the morning and bringing raspberries with us for her to enjoy early in the day.

Macaroni and Cheese (All-Star Music Resort): We wish it weren’t true, but there’s no denying it: Our toddler won’t eat macaroni and cheese. Perhaps this is a byproduct of the fact that I got her hooked on chickpea pasta at home — a healthy decision that I don’t regret. Whatever the reason, it causes plenty of inconvenience when the kids’ menu at any given restaurant leans into macaroni and away from grilled cheese. We hoped this distaste would be intermittent after she tested the macaroni at All-Star Music’s Intermission Food Court. But it held true throughout the trip, until we finally stopped trying.

It may come as no surprise that we didn’t take photos of the foods our daughter rejected. Despite turning her nose at the macaroni and cheese, she loved the grilled cheese at Woody’s Lunch Box in Hollywood Studios during our trip in March of 2024.

Uncrustable (All-Star Music Resort): These pre-packaged PBJs are a classic choice for picky eaters. But not our picky eater. Had our daughter enjoyed Uncrustables, they would have been easy to order throughout the parks or to bring with us. But she firmly refused the one we tried at Intermission Food Court. Call me delusional, but with our trip now three months in the past, I actually bought a box of Uncrustables the other day to try again at home. Here’s hoping her taste has changed on this one! 

Fingerling Potatoes (Epcot): In the section above, I mentioned several items that made their way to the floor at Via Napoli in Epcot. The fingerling potatoes were one of those items. In our worry that she wouldn’t like the pizza, we ordered these as a back-up option. As it turns out, we had nothing to worry about in terms of the pizza. At least I enjoyed a few potatoes that managed to avoid a floor-bound fate.

Cheese Empanada (Epcot): As I’ve established, our daughter loves cheesy carbs. So, we thought the Empanadas con Queso at La Cantina de San Angel would be an easy win. We were wrong. The bite we gave our daughter came right back out almost immediately. Such a waste, because I absolutely loved these!

Bonus Dessert Round

I’m a big fan of the Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar, or “Mickey on a Stick”, but our 19-month-old daughter had no interest during our family trip in March of 2024.

Our Toddler’s Favorite Disney Dessert: The Wookiee Cookie! This giant snack can be found at Backlot Express in Hollywood Studios. Despite her passion for this creme-filled cookie, our daughter certainly didn’t need one to herself. These treats are massive, so it’s easy to share one between parent and toddler.

Our Toddler’s Least Favorite Disney Dessert: Ice cream! Of any kind. More than once, I surely came across as the greedy mom munching on a Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar or Dole Whip while my toddler looked on. I tried to share, but she just wasn’t interested. I think cold is an unpleasant sensation for her that gets in the way. She will occasionally eat ice cream at home, depending on the flavor, but all the ice cream we tried at Disney was a no-go.

That brings my round-up of toddler likes and toddler dislikes to a closes. If you can believe it, I’m still not finished putting together my Disney content from our trip in March. Stay tuned for more Disney tips in the coming weeks!

Family Restrooms A Near Miss at Luxor in Las Vegas

Sometimes a locked restroom feels worse than no restroom at all.

Family Restrooms: Yes
Diaper Changing Stations: Yes
Lactation Space: No
Stroller-Friendly: Somewhat
Overall Child-Friendly: Somewhat
Time Spent: 1-2 hours

This stop came so close to meeting our minimum needs while traveling with a baby in Las Vegas. After we had trouble locating family restrooms at several hotels along the Las Vegas Strip, during our trip in May of 2023, we were thrilled to finally track one down near the food court at Luxor Las Vegas. But the restroom was inaccessible, and our happiness short-lived. This almost-but-not-quite situation does Luxor no favors in our ranking of baby-friendly spots in Las Vegas. Since we weren’t able to use the family restroom we found, and nothing else about this spot is especially child-friendly, I’m ranking this stop at #10.

We discovered this restroom during a quick pit stop for lunch. Before we sat down to eat, I was hoping we could use the space to pump and change our 10-month-old baby’s diaper. In vain, we tracked down multiple hotel and food court employees who did their best to help us unlock the space. It turns out, the restroom was out of order, which meant it was entirely off-limits. 

In my frustration, this is where I finally decided I was done pumping in bathroom stalls and would, instead, try pumping in the spacious area around the sinks. Looking back, I wish I had done this more often, when I wasn’t able to find a private space. I felt a little self-conscious, and I had some trouble discreetly positioning my nursing cover, but otherwise, I didn’t run into any issues.

Our trouble locating elevators across the Las Vegas Strip became a running joke between my husband and I, and this sign at Luxor summed the joke up nicely.

Aside from the family restroom fiasco, things were fairly smooth at Luxor. We easily found a diaper changing station. I made a follow-up inquiry with Luxor’s hotel group, MGM Resorts, after we returned home, and I confirmed that there is at least one family restroom available, and that multiple changing stations can be found, although there is no public lactation space on site. I asked for a few more details, and I’ll be sure to update this post if I hear back.

We made use of Luxor’s elevators to navigate with our Evenflo Pivot Xpand Stroller and ran into our favorite sign, which read “This is Not an Elevator”. The sign did a great job illustrating the circuitous nature of the Las Vegas Strip for families with babies, a circumstance that certainly isn’t limited to Luxor. Otherwise, Luxor didn’t stand out much in terms of its child-friendliness or lack thereof.

If your adventures in Las Vegas take your family through Luxor, I would definitely recommend checking out the family restroom and changing stations. You won’t find them everywhere. We hope this eventually changes for traveling parents in the future. As things stand, hopefully your experience is a bit smoother than ours.

What Works, and What Doesn’t, for Families at the Big Apple of Las Vegas

Fun amenities outweigh the practical ones

Family Restrooms: Yes
Diaper Changing Stations: Yes
Lactation Space: None
Stroller-Friendly: Somewhat
Overall Child-Friendly: Yes
Time Spent: 2-3 hours

If you read my first post in this blog, you’ll recall an awkward but funny scene: Me, huddled in a nursing cover at the New York-New York Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, pumping in the restroom alongside the showgirls. As it turns out, I could have avoided this scene altogether by locating an elusive family restroom on site that I missed. Instead, I used this opportunity to stop tucking myself away in bathroom stalls and try pumping more openly. For better or worse, this experience is emblazoned among my strongest memories of Las Vegas’ Big Apple.

Most downtown Las Vegas hotels have fairly large restrooms with long rows of sinks, which provide enough space to set up a portable pump — in my case, the Medela Pump in Style. This set up is what I tried at New York-New York, with relative success. I ran into a bit of trouble getting my nursing cover in place discreetly, but once I got situated, I quickly realized the sinks were preferable to a stall in terms of spaciousness and cleanliness. I was also pleasantly surprised by the flood of positive comments I received from other women. My self-consciousness gradually receded with each new comment.

A family restroom still would have been better, in my opinion, and a follow-up inquiry with the MGM Hotel Group confirmed that there is at least one on site. But, since my family wasn’t able to find or use it, I’m listing New York-New York at #9 in my ranking of baby-friendly spots in Las Vegas.

Through my follow-up inquiry, I also confirmed that New York-New York has at least one diaper changing station but no public lactation space. We did locate and use a changing station, although I recall checking more than one restroom to find it. Across the Las Vegas Strip, we never did locate any public lactation spaces, although we certainly didn’t stop everywhere. In the future, it would be great to see more public lactation spaces across the Strip and more clear signage to guide families to existing amenities.

I sent a couple more questions to the MGM Hotel Group about the number and location of family restrooms and changing stations at New York-New York, but I haven’t heard back yet. If I do, I’ll be sure to update this post.

This area in New York-New York was a great spot to enjoy coffee and pastries in the morning!

Aside from the restrooms, New York-New York was about as child-friendly as a casino can be. Like Paris Las Vegas, there’s a Disney vibe that I enjoyed. The decor evoked a picturesque, bustling city with vendors hawking hotdogs, coffee, and even custom s’mores near Hershey’s Chocolate World, which were delicious. For older children, New York-New York also features The Big Apple Coaster, a visible feature along the Vegas skyline.

One of our favorite family features was the arcade near the entrance to the coaster. We walked past several arcades in downtown Vegas that turned out to be duds, but this one had a wide variety of games. It’s worth noting that Excalibur also has a great “Fun Dungeon”.

As with many other downtown locations, New York-New York required plenty of ups and downs in the elevator, as we met up with family and navigated with a stroller. Baby-wearing is definitely an option worth considering, depending on your plans throughout the day. We opted for a stroller, because we had a full day with multiple stops planned. For us, baby-wearing would make more sense during an isolated, fully air-conditioned outing to a single resort.

All-in-all, I think New York-New York is a fun choice for families, especially compared with other casinos that lack child-friendly attractions. If I could do our visit over again, I would ask for help locating the family restroom, or restrooms, that I missed. The missing pieces for me are more practical family amenities and more information about the amenities that are available.


Paris Las Vegas: A Dreamy Excursion, Until You Need a Place to Pump

Thank goodness for purse hooks…

Family Restrooms: Unsure
Diaper Changing Stations: Yes
Lactation Space: Unsure
Stroller-Friendly: Somewhat
Overall Child-Friendly: Somewhat
Time Spent: 2-3 hours

Picture a pair of wide-open shutters looking out on winding, cobblestone streets. In the distance, you see cafes and famous wonders like the Moulin Rouge, the Sacre Coeur, and the Chat Noir. Ok, well, that’s actually a memory of Montmartre with my husband, years before our 10-month-old daughter was born. But our visit to Paris Las Vegas last May really did conjure that amazing adventure from six years prior. To me, it felt like Disney meets Paris: a combination of two mismatched destinations that I love.

It’s also a combination that creates a fairly family-friendly environment outside the casino floor. The downside? We had trouble locating family-friendly amenities, like a public lactation space or family restroom. For this reason, it ranks at #11 in my ranking of baby-friendly locations in Las Vegas. 

Our family of three passed through Paris Las Vegas before joining my extended family for dinner at Alexxa’s, located within the resort. This kept us there for a while. In order to follow my pumping schedule, I resorted to a tactic that I’ve reluctantly used only when necessary: pumping in a bathroom stall. We couldn’t find a private place for me to pump, and I wasn’t yet brave enough to pump along the restroom sinks.

Just a day or two later, I gave the sink method a try. Although it wasn’t very private or easy to keep my nursing cover in place, this tactic felt more comfortable and sanitary. Looking back, I wish I had avoided more bathroom stalls and pumped at the sinks instead.

At Paris, pumping in a stall felt like my best option. When we returned from our trip, I did reach out to inquire about any family restrooms we may have missed. So far, I haven’t heard back. However, my inquiries to other resorts have yielded surprising results. There are family restrooms we failed to find in several locations, and Paris Las Vegas could be one of these spots. If there is one, though, it wasn’t easy for us to find.

As far as the bathroom stalls go, the ones at Paris Las Vegas weren’t the worst I’ve encountered. There was much more elbow room than usual, and, importantly, there was a flat toilet paper dispenser and a purse hook. If you find yourself pumping in a stall, for whatever reason, these details make all the difference. I’ve used the flat dispensers as a spot to set up my portable, Medela Pump in Style pump. It’s also a great spot to set your phone, as you track the time or watch the latest series you’re binging (for me, it was a rewatch of The Magicians). The purse hook is where you’ll hang your pumping bag, providing a hands-free way to carefully sift through supplies without dropping anything on the dirty bathroom floor. 

This was the view we encountered outside the small “patisserie” where we stopped for pastries, a bottle of water, and a chance to give our daughter her bottle.

I hope I’ve made it clear that stall pumping isn’t my favorite, but at Paris Las Vegas, I was able to accomplish the task without too much fuss. Twenty minutes later, I changed our daughter’s diaper in a different restroom near the lobby. Not all the restrooms have changing tables, but we didn’t have too much trouble tracking one down.

I’m curious whether Paris Las Vegas has aligned with a relatively new law in Nevada that requires new buildings to have at least one changing table accessible to men and women. There are exceptions, and Paris Las Vegas opened its doors long before the law passed. But I’m encouraged to see Nevada moving in this direction. The changing table we located at Paris was in the women’s restroom, but we didn’t check all the restrooms on site. If anyone tracks down a changing table in a men’s restroom there, please feel free to reach out and let me know. Overall, I hope to see more changes across the Strip to help families access lactation spaces and family restrooms.

At Alexxa’s, we were a bit nervous about setting our stroller aside in the lobby during dinner, but there was no way it would fit near the table. In the end, the arrangement worked out fine. There weren’t many vegetarian options to choose from on the menu, but the appetizers were delicious, and the view from our patio table was spectacular. Our daughter slowly worked on a bottle as we ate and chatted. Throughout the trip, she took most of her bottles on the go in her stroller or with us at restaurants, alongside the solid food we prepared at our hotel, the Desert Rose. 

All in all, I wish I could rank Paris Las Vegas higher, because I enjoyed our time there. It was one of my favorite stops. But my ranking is focused on amenities for families and babies, and the overall experience is just one factor. In this case, the lack of adequate pumping space created significant hassle and discomfort. If you’re making a tour of the Strip, I would definitely recommend stopping at Paris Las Vegas. Just be prepared, or face the dreaded stall.

Recharge With Amazing Tacos After Pumping at Tacotarian

Tacos at your table after pumping: need I say more?

Family Restrooms: No
Diaper Changing Stations: Yes
Lactation Space: None
Stroller-Friendly: Yes
Overall Child-Friendly: Yes
Time Spent: 1 hour

It might seem odd to include a taco restaurant in my ranking of baby-friendly spots in Las Vegas. But if you know me, maybe it doesn’t seem odd at all. In all seriousness, Tacotarian offers more than just a great bite to eat. They came to our rescue a couple of times during our family trip. They provided a boost of family-friendly vibes precisely when I needed them, along with private restrooms and delicious vegetarian food. That’s why Tacotarian earns a number-six ranking in my list. 

Tacotarian was our first stop after arriving in Las Vegas in May of 2023, as my husband and I (mostly me) faced some early-trip jitters about navigating Vegas with our 10-month-old daughter. Nothing in the area looked particularly family-oriented or baby-friendly. But when we walked into Tacotarian, I started to feel better. Granted, Mexican food tends to have that effect on me in a variety of contexts.

In this case, my relief was compounded by the two gender-neutral, single-user bathrooms we found, as well as the welcoming ambiance. We visited the location on Casino Center Blvd., and, while there was no dedicated lactation space, I was able to pump there without too much fuss.

I came prepared with the Medela Pump in Style breast pump, a choice I made during pregnancy. This pump comes with a battery pack, tote bag, and mini-cooler, making it portable and perfect for travel. Using these features, I found plenty of space in the Tacotarian restroom to set up a makeshift pumping station. Both restrooms were clean and pleasant.

My Medela Pump in Style pump came with the black and gray tote bag pictured here, and it has definitely come in handy!

When we returned home, I realized my memory was a bit fuzzy about the diaper changing stations. This trip inspired my blog, so I didn’t have all my ducks in a row yet while we were in Vegas. To fill in the gaps, I’ve been making direct inquiries, including an inquiry with Tacotarian. They confirmed that there is a changing table on site, in line with a relatively new law in Nevada that requires new buildings to have at least one changing table accessible to men and women.

Outside the restrooms, the atmosphere at Tacotarian was family-friendly, including a small gift shop that sold a couple children’s items. The menu focused on vegetarian food, which was a wonderful change of pace from the cuisine I’m used to as a vegetarian in Iowa. I ordered several different tacos and liked everything I tried, although I surprised myself by preferring the basic “Gabacho” with Beyond Beef. The extra calories you burn while pumping breast milk can mean great things when it comes to maximizing taco consumption. 

If you find yourself in the vicinity of a Tacotarian during your stay, I would definitely recommend stopping in, whether you’re hungry, seeking a family-friendly refuge, or both. There are four locations across the Las Vegas metro area, and they also have a new location in San Diego, CA. If you’re reading, Tacotarian, we would love to see a location all the way over in Iowa!

Surprising Creatures and Familiar ‘Fishies’ at Mandalay Bay’s Aquarium

The variety of interesting animals makes up for the elusive amenities

Family Restrooms: No
Diaper Changing Stations: Yes
Lactation Space: No
Stroller-Friendly: Yes
Overall Child-Friendly: Yes
Time Spent: Roughly 2 hours

Wildlife might be hard to spot in an arid, urban place like Las Vegas. But at the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, you’ll encounter animals both familiar and peculiar. I was tempted to review the aquarium on its own, rather than lumping it in with the less baby-friendly Mandalay Bay Resort, where it’s located. But, since you can’t extricate one from the other, a side-by-side review makes the most sense.  With everything taken into account, this stop on our family trip clocks in at #5 in my ranking of baby-friendly spots in Las Vegas.

As long as you plan diaper changes and feedings carefully, the Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is a stop you don’t want to miss. It’s family-friendly, with a surprising variety of creatures. The trouble we ran into during our trip in May of 2023 involved finding a changing table outside the aquarium and a lack of family restrooms and lactation spaces. Planning ahead will help you avoid these obstacles.

Since our family of three was traveling with a group of extended family, all with different priorities, we almost skipped this stop. But I’m so glad we didn’t. Our 10-month-old daughter loved every minute, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. We encountered surprises ranging from a Komodo Dragon to an octopus to a tank of piranhas, along with plenty of familiar favorites, like tropical fish, sharks, and turtles. 

Our family, parents and baby alike, could stare at the octopus tank for hours. We were thrilled to find one at the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay!

Our daughter has grown to love “fishies” and aquariums. We made a point of visiting several before she turned one, and her passion even inspired us to throw her an undersea-themed birthday party. It would be hard to pick favorites among the aquariums we visited, but this one stood out in terms of its unique animals and its size relative to its context. We expected a quick walkthrough with the basics, but that was not the case. At the same time, it wasn’t too big to manage. 

This is another spot where we appreciated our Infantino Flip 4-in-1 Convertible Baby Carrier. A stroller would work fine (we brought ours along to stow our diaper bag and my pumping supplies), but our daughter appreciated the opportunity to see the animals up close. She’s been known to reach out and try to grab the fish! 

I’m an animal lover, and I have a special place in my heart for creepy crawlies, including reptiles of all kinds. This giant Komodo Dragon was my favorite animal encounter at the Shark Reef and Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Resort.

All of that said, we never did find a diaper changing station outside the aquarium — and we regrettably passed up our chance to use that one. This changing table is located en route inside the aquarium. A helpful employee actually pulled us aside to let us know about it. At the time, we didn’t need it. But, knowing what I know now, I would recommend taking the opportunity, especially if you plan to spend more time at the resort beyond the aquarium.

To be fair, we did not check every restroom on site. I didn’t have this blog in mind yet, and we didn’t want to waste our time ducking in and out of restrooms. After checking a few, we moved on to the next stop.

Before we left, I called the resort and confirmed that there aren’t any family restrooms or public lactation spaces at Mandalay Bay. We planned around this disappointing circumstance, and I didn’t try to pump while we were there. For this reason, I didn’t get a close look at the restrooms with this purpose in mind.

Next door, the Luxor does have a family restroom, although it was closed when we visited. Luxor also has changing stations in at least some of the men’s and women’s restrooms. If the Luxor is the next stop on your list, it might be worth waiting.

All-in-all, if you come to Mandalay Bay prepared and stay for a short time, this Vegas stop is both doable and lovable. Scope out your favorite animal, and take the opportunity to let your little one discover theirs.

Looking for a Family-Friendly Vegas Resort? Try The Desert Rose!

This low-key home away from home checked all our boxes

Fridge and Freezer: Yes
Stroller-Friendly: Yes
Overall Child-Friendly: Yes
Time Spent: 5 nights

When you envision a trip to Las Vegas, several famous hotels might come to mind. The Desert Rose Resort, located near MGM Grand, probably isn’t one of them. This unassuming option might not be famous or fancy, but it did cover our most important f-words: family and friendly! Our family of three stayed there with our 10-month-old daughter on a trip with extended family in May of 2023. For us, the Desert Rose was affordable on a budget, and it offered amenities that accommodated our unique needs with a baby in Las Vegas. For that reason, I’m listing it at #4 in my ranking of baby-friendly attractions in Las Vegas.

In Vegas, it’s tricky to find a hotel that accommodates families who pump to keep baby fed. For us, the most elusive amenity was a full-size refrigerator with a freezer. My husband and I searched high and low, and our options were limited. But the freezer wasn’t optional. We needed it to re-freeze our icepack, so we could carry breastmilk at a safe temperature throughout our trip. In the future, it would be great to see more hotels providing this essential amenity for pumping families. During our trip, the Desert Rose Resort was the solution, with the freezer we needed and several other helpful features.

For starters, parking was very simple. There was no fee when we visited in May of 2023, and there were always plenty of spots near the walkway to our room. From there, we found that our suite was clean and pleasant. The layout was like a small apartment: both practical and comfortable. The fridge and freezer were located in a full kitchen, which made it relatively easy to keep our daughter fed. We stuck our Medela ice pack in the freezer daily, so we could explore with multiple bottles on hand at a time.

I used my Medela Pump in Style breast pump throughout our trip to Las Vegas. The battery pack and travel accessories came in handy countless times on our trip.

Back at the hotel, we used the stove and dishes that were provided to prepare additional meals, since our daughter was well into her journey exploring a limited selection of solid foods. “Messy” and “picky” are two very apt keywords to describe this journey. For that reason, we appreciated the flexibility to cook meals we knew she would like, and we especially appreciated the dishwasher when clean-up time came around. Beyond the kitchen, we made use of the small dining table, couch, end table, and coffee table, where I set up my pumping station. 

One of our favorite features at the Desert Rose was the family-friendly pool. Our daughter took her first “swim” there, and I enjoyed the hot tub. We also enjoyed our quiet, poolside breakfasts on site. The same waiter helped us throughout our stay and always made sure my breakfast burrito had no meat. 

The bottom line: Compared with other resorts, the Desert Rose has less of the flashy, Vegas appeal that you might expect. But if you can let that go, it’s the perfect refuge for families with young children after a busy day navigating the Strip. 

Get Lost in Novelty With Your Family at Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart

Bewildering sights and sounds for babies and parents alike! 

Family Restrooms: No
Gender-Neutral Restrooms: Yes
Diaper Changing Stations: Yes
Lactation Space: None
Stroller-Friendly: No
Overall Child-Friendly: Yes
Time Spent: 2-3 hours

If you like weird, you’ll love Meow Wolf. As a new family of three, we’ve seen our share of enjoyable zoos and museums, but nothing quite compares to Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart. This attraction did something unique: it put us on a level playing field with our daughter, allowing us to experience the world together through new eyes. In my ranking of baby-friendly attractions in Las Vegas, Meow Wolf easily comes in at #3, despite a couple of small challenges.

Omega Mart, located just northwest of the Las Vegas Strip, took us through a labyrinth of dizzying colors, unearthly sounds, and unexpected visuals. Perhaps for our 10-month-old daughter, this wasn’t much different than a typical day, encountering curiosities in a world that’s still new in so many ways. For my husband and I, it was a reminder of just how strange and exciting the world can be at any age.

We used our Infantino baby carrier to bring our 10-month-old daughter into the immersive experience at Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart in Las Vegas.

Although the experience was awash in novelty, this actually wasn’t our first Meow Wolf adventure. My husband and I visited Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station in Denver about a year earlier, a couple of months before our daughter was born. Between the two attractions, I preferred Omega Mart. Both locations offered a fully immersive art experience that combines comedy, commentary, story-telling, and mystery in a visually stunning soundscape. And I think both would be enjoyable for children. But for me, the humor and commentary struck a chord in Las Vegas that didn’t quite come together at the other location. I’m sure it also helped that, on the second time around, I wasn’t seven-months pregnant, and I wasn’t as worried about Covid-19. 

In Las Vegas, this stop was also doable in the restroom category. The gender-neutral restroom near the stairwell on the second floor provided a spot for me to pump in private while my husband assisted. While there was no public lactation space for breastfeeding, I was able to use the single-stall, gender-neutral restroom without too much trouble. In order to pump on the go, I used my Medela Pump in Style breast pump, which comes with a battery pack, tote bag, and mini-cooler.

Because we were using this space as a stand-in for a family restroom, the lack of a diaper changing table threw us for a loop. We ended up improvising and used our Skip Hop changing pad and some blankets. Looking back, I wish we had checked the other restrooms.

A follow-up inquiry with Meow Wolf confirmed there are changing stations in both the men’s and women’s restrooms on the first and second level within the exhibit. This aligns with a relatively new law in Nevada that requires new buildings to have at least one changing table accessible to men and women. I’m all for this update to state policy. It’s always frustrating to find changing stations in the women’s restroom but not the men’s.

This is just one example of the humor you’ll run into at Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart in Las Vegas. It earned a chuckle from me.

The other important note at Meow Wolf is that strollers aren’t permitted inside— you’ll understand why when you arrive and start exploring. My husband carried our daughter in our Infantino Flip 4-in-1 Convertible Baby Carrier, and he was able to access most of the exhibit without any trouble. I use a backpack-style diaper bag from Target, and that made a big difference, as well. I was able to carry everything our daughter needed on my back throughout the experience. 

In terms of timing on a feeding schedule, Meow Wolf is very doable. We spent about 2.5 hours there, including drive time. Depending on your plans throughout the day, you could easily fit this stop between hotel feedings. For us, this wasn’t an option, because we had a packed schedule both before and after. The amenities at Omega Mart made it easier for us to hop from place to place throughout the day.

This is actually a photo from Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station in Denver, but it’s still a great example of what to expect at either Meow Wolf exhibit.

Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart is located in an entertainment district near the Strip known as Area 15 (it’s worth noting this area has its own restrooms that we didn’t explore). The drive time is minimal, depending on the location of your hotel. While you’re at Area 15, if you can spare an extra half hour, grab a treat at Conduit Cafe, or check out the Rocket Fizz candy store. Like Omega Mart, all of Area 15 offers a visually stunning escape from the norm, although parts of it are more oriented toward nightlife.

Overall, Omega Mart accomplishes something rare. It has excitement to offer for babies, children, teenagers, parents, and grandparents alike. Don’t make the mistake of envisioning Meow Wolf as a typical art museum that your baby might be too young to appreciate. Add it to your list, and get lost in wonder together. 

Discover this Baby-Friendly Hike Just West of the Las Vegas Strip

More family restrooms, more lovely views!


Family Restrooms: Yes (1)
Diaper Changing Stations: Yes (several)
Lactation Space: None
Stroller-Friendly: Partially
Overall Child-Friendly: Yes
Time Spent: 4-5 hours

Who knew there was so much natural beauty just beyond the bright, city lights of Las Vegas? Although Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area comes in at # 2 in my ranking of baby-friendly spots in Las Vegas, in terms of enjoyment alone, it was my number one. If you want to escape the traffic and crowds of the Las Vegas Strip for a day, hiking here is a great option, with or without kids.

This stop is just a 25-minute drive from the Strip, but it feels like the middle of nowhere in the best possible way. Here, you’ll find family-friendly amenities, manageable hikes, gorgeous photo opportunities, and a breath of fresh air. There are scenic views in every direction, and — wonder of wonders — there’s a family restroom outside the visitor center to help you and baby get on your way.

As I’ve noted in past posts, my husband and I had trouble locating family-friendly amenities for our 10-month-old daughter throughout our visit to Las Vegas in May of 2023. We never did find any public lactation spaces, and we hope this eventually changes. The restroom at Red Rock Canyon was certainly not an ideal place to pump, and I wouldn’t recommend breastfeeding there. That said, it helped make our visit possible.

We appreciated the option to enjoy Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area via the scenic driving loop and a couple short hikes!

We found this restroom near the visitor center parking lot when we pulled in. It’s an outdoor facility, but with that in mind, it was clean and tidy during our visit. It definitely went above and beyond what I typically expect from a park. There’s a changing table, sink, and toilet. It was a bit snug, but there was room for all three of us and our fairly large, Evenflo Pivot Xpand Stroller.

I reached out to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area after we returned and confirmed there are also changing tables in the men’s and women’s restrooms in the visitor center parking lot and in front of the visitor center. I was glad to hear these weren’t exclusive to the women’s restrooms. We run into this a lot, and it slows us down — especially when we’re hoping my husband can change a diaper while I’m pumping.

In the family restroom, I pumped on my feet at the sink while my husband changed our daughter’s diaper. With trips like this one in mind, I made a point of picking out a breast pump that would be portable and travel-friendly. The Medela Pump in Style, which my insurance covered, comes with a battery pack, tote bag, and mini-cooler. So, it works well on the road. Using the family restroom together, my husband helped me pack up the milk I pumped and rinse my supplies before stowing them away to be properly sanitized back at our hotel.

From there, the three of us set out with our extended family on a scenic drive around the park, stopping here and there to absorb the expansive views and take pictures. My husband and I took turns stepping out to look around, while the other stayed behind in the car with our daughter. This wasn’t an ideal arrangement, but considering the heat, the periodic breaks in the air-conditioning were actually welcome. As I recall, most, or all, of the viewpoints were at least partially stroller-friendly, in case you prefer spending more time at any one stop.

When we reached the Willow Spring Loop, we stopped for a hike all together, followed by another short hike at Petroglyph Wall. These hikes were just the right length for us, but they were not well-suited to a stroller. There are paved trails in the park, but we opted to use our Infantino Flip 4-In-1 Convertible Baby Carrier instead. This allowed all three of us to get into the thick of it and experience the landscape. For more information about trail accessibility, you can check out Red Rock Canyon’s trail guide.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a great spot to carry baby in a forward-facing carrier, allowing them to explore all the new sights and sounds.

My husband wore the baby carrier on the first leg of our hike, and I carried our daughter on the second. We’ve accumulated two Infantino carriers, sort of by accident, which means we keep one adjusted to my husband’s size, and one sized for me. However, if you just have one carrier, we find it’s not difficult to quickly adjust the straps. The carrier worked well in this context and allowed our daughter to visually explore the unfamiliar landscape. We kept the hiking brief — about an hour total between the two trails — and none of us got too worn out. Don’t forget sunscreen for everyone and a sun hat for baby.

One other important note: This park required timed reservations in advance when we visited in May of 2023, and the scenic drive is not a full loop. This means you’ll exit at a different spot than where you entered. Without realizing this, we planned to use the family restroom to pump and change our daughter’s diaper both before and after our visit to the park, assuming the route would loop us right back. When the scenic drive unexpectedly spat us out onto the highway, we circled back to the entrance and asked for permission to re-enter and use the restroom. The ranger let us back in without any trouble, but the confusion caught us off guard. 

Depending on your breastfeeding/pumping schedule, I think it’s possible to visit for a short hike between feedings and avoid this sort of complication. But this is less feasible if you plan to stop frequently to see the sights and take pictures, as we did.

I ordered the BBQ Veggie Burger and Umami Fries at Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, and they were amazing!

We stopped at Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar on our way back to the Strip and gave our daughter a bottle at our table. This worked well for us. The food was amazing — one of my favorite meals on the trip — and very vegetarian-friendly. 

All-in-all, I view Red Rock Canyon as a must-see oasis just beyond the Las Vegas Strip. As long as you come prepared, you won’t regret taking the time to get away.

How to Visit Hoover Dam with a Baby — and Love Every Dam Moment!

Family restrooms and mountain views. What’s not to love?

Family Restrooms: Yes
Diaper Changing Stations: Yes
Lactation Space: None
Stroller-Friendly: Yes
Overall Child-Friendly: Yes 
Time Spent: 3-4 hours

I won’t lie: I didn’t expect to enjoy Hoover Dam. When my husband, our daughter, and I joined my extended family last spring on a trip to Las Vegas, it was my husband who advocated for this stop. I was skeptical. I don’t find engineering particularly intriguing, I’m afraid of heights, and I prefer green, rolling mountains to the desert any day. Despite all that, the Dam wound up at the #1 spot in my ranking of baby-friendly spots in Las Vegas!

What changed my mind? In short: the persuasive majesty of the landscape and the family-friendly amenities that helped us care for our daughter, who was 10 months old at the time. It’s hard to appreciate golden mountain views such as these until you’re there in person, and I found myself pleasantly surprised. They were stunning, even for a forest girl like me. Just as stunning? The surprise we found on the first floor of the visitor center when we arrived — a family restroom!

We were caught off guard because, throughout our visit to Las Vegas, we were repeatedly confounded by elusive amenities to help us pump breastmilk and change diapers. Actual lactation spaces are nearly impossible to find along the Las Vegas Strip, although they’re the ideal space to breastfeed or pump — sanitary, private, and usually well-equipped. Family restrooms are more widely available, if less ideal, but they can be tough to track down.

I would love to see policymakers in Las Vegas and Nevada taking continued action to increase and improve amenities for families. Nevada did pass a law in 2017 requiring most new buildings to be equipped with one or more diaper-changing stations in restrooms for men and women, and this is a great start.

In the case of Hoover Dam, the family restroom was easy to locate, and it worked for us. If you’ve traveled with a baby or toddler, you know how important family restrooms are. They’re private sanctuaries where both partners can change a diaper, clean up a mess, and maybe even sneak in a quick pee. The best family restrooms include ample space to roll a stroller in and out, as well as a diaper changing table. During our travels in Nevada, we were always relieved to encounter family restrooms that also offered a clean space to pump, since I was exclusively pumping for our daughter.

In most of these categories, the indoor restroom at Hoover Dam was just what we needed. It was clean and pleasant, with enough space for a stroller, and it offered a changing table, sink, and toilet. Unfortunately, there was no purse hook. I find these especially helpful now that the number of bags I carry with me has doubled — sometimes tripled. There also wasn’t a separate space to pump, so I wound up pumping on my feet near the sink, which worked ok in a pinch.

Just me, being goofy and eating taffy from the cafeteria next to the Hoover Dam gift shop.

A quick aside to talk equipment: Before my daughter was born, pumping on the go was already on my mind. I wanted a pump that would be travel-friendly. I ended up choosing the Medela Pump in Style, one of two options that my insurance would cover. The Pump in Style was my first choice because of its portability, allowing me to pump without plugging into an electrical outlet. It also came with a custom icepack, cooler bag for bottles, and a larger travel bag.

All these features came in handy in the family restroom at Hoover Dam. My husband helped me stow our daughter’s milk in the cooler bag, rinse my pump parts (we would sanitize them at our hotel), and get everything put away, so we could get back to enjoying our trip.

This restroom is located on the entry level at the Hoover Dam Visitor Center. If you pay for basic admission, without the tour, Dam staff will likely guide you upstairs right away. At this point, we were directed to the family restroom. I believe this is the only one on property, and I’ve reached out to Hoover Dam to confirm that. I’ll update this post if I hear back.

After I pumped, we strolled through the visitor center and stepped out to see the view from the observation deck. My vertigo took over and compelled me to steer the stroller as far from the ledge as possible, but in all fairness, the space was safe and very family-friendly. For older children, it’s an educational stop that would engage a variety of age groups. Before we took off, we grabbed a tasty, affordable lunch (a vegetarian-friendly grilled cheese) and some saltwater taffy at the cafeteria. 

Timeframe is always important to consider on a breastfeeding or pumping schedule, and this stop stretched our limits. That said, after pumping on site, we were able to see everything we wanted to see and drive back to our hotel near the Strip before I needed to pump again. The drive to the Dam was about 40 minutes. We did the most basic tour, and we did skip a few scenic views to make it work. If you want to spend longer, I would recommend coming prepared to pump twice.

Overall, the Dam was surprisingly enjoyable and more lovely than any photo could convey. If you’re planning a trip to Vegas with a baby, or with children of any age, I would definitely recommend adding it to the list.