Advise for Disney with an 8 month old

[401Disney]

Hi everyone! My wife and I just had a baby this February and are considering doing a quick 4 day trip in October. This will be our first trip with a child and I was hoping you guys had any suggestions or tips on how to have a successful trip with an 8 month old. We know it's going to be a different kind of trip then what we're normally used to and more of a stop and smell the roses type trip. Any info you guys could pass my way would be awesome!

 

[StirlingSilver83]

When we took our son at 8 months we made sure he took an afternoon nap back in the hotel after lunch everyday. I was paranoid to let him stay in the FL Heat too long. Also you can't bring your stroller into lines so make sure you have some sort of baby carrier or something to carry the baby through the line. Also make note of the baby centers. They were a good resource for us and had things we needed when we needed them. Also I carried around a ton of disposable stuff so we didn't have to worry about dishes and silverware and stuff bc at 8 months they are starting baby food. I had little throw away tupperware with lids and throw away spoons and stuff that we carried around. That way we used them and through them out. Kept things neat and clean. I think I got them off of Amazon. Also honestly table service meals are your friend. Its hard to do quick service stuff with a baby. Have a great trip! And congrats on the new baby!

 

[atykay]

Last Februray we did our first Disney trip and my youngest was 7 months. It was myself (single mom), 5 year old son, infant son, and my mom. Having an infant is no big deal really. At that age, they're just along for the ride. Definitely bring a stroller and a baby carrier. You will need both. Weather was perfect in February- I kept him in in those lightweight 2 piece outfits from Carters with long sleeves and pants and also a jacket because it was cold early morning. October is warmer though so you need to plan accordingly. And bring an extra change of clothes just in case. I also bought an oversize baby beach hat on Amazon to protect his head and face from the sun. I packed those baby food squeeze packets and disposable bibs and spoons for eating whenever he wanted. He was also breast feeding at the time so when he was hungry I just sat down and fed him and my mom went on with my older son. The bathrooms had changing tables. The only Baby Care Center I used was at Hollywood Studios. They had a back room to nurse privately and microwaves and what not. People were constantly coming in and out though so it does get busy in there. Nobody was in the back room nursing though so it was nice and private and relaxing. My baby was very easy going and didn't need a set schedule. He just napped in the stroller with no problem. We did Magic Kingdom rope drop to close without a break and both kids did fine.

Also, I kept things organized in ziploc bags and when he had a blowout or diaper leak, I put the dirty clothes in a ziploc bag as well.

 

[ArielSRL]

Our last trip in 2012, my son was 9.5 months old. One - I made sure to get an appointment at the Harmony Barber shop for his first hair cut. Two - we did not do the dining plan or really make many plans at all. We let him dictate our schedule. We probably didn't accomplish a whole lot in terms of rides and such (it was mid July) but we soaked up the atmosphere and did what we could. It was a little different back then because there was no FP+ so we probably didn't even book our trip until a month or two out. We brought our jogging stroller, took in a cooler, used the baby care centers A LOT! Did lots of inside attractions and CS meals.

 

[Kmpcfp]

Ditto baby carrier. And reclining stroller for naps (and easy to change wet diapers without having to put baby on germy baby changing table).

Baby food in the pouches will be your best friend. My kids were able to be spoon free and just slurp out of the pouch at that age. And you can throw Cheerios on the tray to keep them busy... And use a sippy cup "leash" And a few toys with the plastic clips to connect to stroller.

I can't comment on bottles/formula as I nurse, that may take some planning if you do.

Make sure to use a comfortable baby carrier. I recommend Ergo or atleast the kind that puts more weight on hips rather than shoulders.

 

[love4wdw]

My fam took my niece for her first trip at 7 months, my nephew at 4 months for his first trip, and we will be taking my newest niece for her first trip in a month and she will be 10 months. I will say they are super easy at these ages. I agree on the baby carrier -- we didn't have one, but each time have had 5 adults to swap out the babies. I have to say we have plenty of pictures of sleeping babies in strollers, on shoulders, and laying in booths at restaurants; we never really took them back to the hotel for naps. We used rider swap when needed. My sister had everything delivered (food, formula, etc) from diapers.com and that made things a breeze. May or may not have changed a diaper while in line for PoC and GMR (whoops). Do what you have to do. You know your baby best! Also, due to a mishap, we've used Kingdom Strollers and they were amazing as well. Honestly they're much more difficult when they're 3, able to walk and talk, and able to throw a bigger fit if something doesn't go their way. I think you'll be just fine! Good luck!

 

[poppinspenguins]

8 months is easier than toddler!

Baby carrier is key. Bring the stroller...but you might be able to park it alot. You can wear the baby carrier on a lot of the atteactions.

If the baby is nursed...American adventure is a great nap and nursing spot !

We have never needed to go back to the hotel...my kids have always easily slept in the carrier or stroller. And we drive, so if my kid feel asleep in the car on the way back to hotel, he or she would wake up getting out of car so that idea has always been useless to us. I know it works for a lot of people...but don't just do it because lots of people recommend it. Some kids are different.

 

[zemra406]

Both my kids were about 8 months for their first trips. If you are nursing dark rides are your friend. Baby care centers also excellent. At that age my girls also loved riding the busses (first time not in a car seat). Second the table service meals to sit and relax. And also no need to splurge on character meals at that age. There is so much else that they can look at and take in.

 

[lbuzz52]

i agree- the stroller and baby carrier were both big helps. we also asked counter service restaurants for hot water- they will give you a cup full of the water they used for hot tea. its hot enough to give a good rinse to anything not disposable- or to mix with powdered formula if you are using that. that was so much easier and lighter than premade formula/ cooler.

 

[kohlby]

We actually have been with an 8 month old and had a few with-baby trips. For that trip, our child was picky about where she slept. We were glad we had a stroller with full recline. Otherwise, she was in the sling the entire time. The sling can be used as a seatbelt in a chair during meals too. Our other baby trips - with a 2 month old once and an 11 month old a different time, had the baby not using the stroller at all. (But, we had a 3 year old both trips so the stroller wasn't wasted).