permanently(?) disabled 7th Gen iPad

I just got this new iPad. I set it up, but in entering my passcode I see that it's been disabled. My husband thinks he did it by entering our old passcode to unlock this newer one--he didn't ask me if I had kept the same code as before. I've been on line and tried to get my iPad into recovery mode, but it keeps telling me to it is disabled and I need to connect to iTunes, which I have with my laptop. But I don't know how that helps me or what to do--help!