am I crazy? bringing 3-4-5 mth baby and 7 year old son w/special needs

[3DisneyNUTS]

Hey guys I haven't posted in a while because we have NOTHING planned NOTHING! Which is a first for us.

I am pregnant and going through some pretty intense treatment so what happened to Chris doesn't happen to this baby. Chris stroked in utero from Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia. So to prevent this baby from having low platelets and stroking I have infusions of IVIG twice a week for 7 hours each time plus I am on prednisone, benedryl and tylenol for the side effects.

ANYWAY when this is all said and done in June I want to plan an Oct trip. Chris has been begging and we usually go somewhere every six months. It will be over a year since our last Universal trip by then and 2 years since our last Disneyland trip. We have not been to THE WORLD in 3 years YIKES!!!!!!

So to decompress from all the stress of this medical condition and hopefully the treatment works and we have a healthy baby in June I want to immediately start planning the trip when we get home from the hospital.

Here is my dilemma. Jim (dh) thinks I am insane for wanting to travel with a young baby. I think that it would be easier than we think since I will be breastfeeding and the baby is really portable at that age. Basically they eat, poop, sleep till they are 4 months and then after that are still easy but more interactive. Then he is worried because DS who will be 8 is dev delayed with epilepsy. BUT has been to Disney over 8 times already. Loves it there and is pretty well behaved in Disney since he is in heaven. We own DVC so we can get a 1 BR we will have a full kitchen and I think it would be a great way to get away from all the stress we have hear and celebrate the new baby's arrival.

So lets hear it honest opinions of people who have traveled with infants. Am I nuts?

Oh and if for some reason you know someone with NAIT pm me I started a support group 6 years ago because we are a rare bunch and we have over 300 members now

Steph

 

[podsnel]

I do not think you are nuts at all!!! The easiest trip we ever had to WDW was with DS3 and DS5months (now they are DS13, DS10 & have DS8, too!). DS13 has autism, and at that point (at 3) had just been diagnosed. Anyway, you are correct about it being easy with the baby- DS 5months just layed in a stroller for naps, or rode in the sling- he was great! I could breastfeed him easily, it was never an issue. And all the "mommy" type characters, like Mary Poppins and Minnie Mouse were ALL OVER the baby- I have the SWEETEST memories & photos of those very precious moments!! (Unfortunately they are not digital, so I can't share them with you since I don't have a scanner- sorry!). Stay healthy!!

 

[Figment1964]

We traveled to WDW 3 different times with babies in tow. Our 1st ds was 6-7 weeks old, the next time our 2nd ds was 5m, then 10m old. Except for having to stop frequently to feed and change them, it really wasn't a problem to have tiny ones with us.

 

[HopperFan]

Baby #3 went on her first visit to WDW at 4 mos (she was born in June so it was October) along with her 4 year old typical brother and 9 year old special brother. It was very easy to do and I'd do it again. She returned at 10 mos and 14 mos and.........now my baby is almost 15 and heading to see the Mouse with her track team on Thursday.

I probably would not take a baby younger than 4 mos old to WDW and really wouldn't if it meant in the summer heat......October/November would be perfect !

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Are both parents going? I don't think I'd do that age spread with just one parent simply because I think most 7 year olds would want to ride things the baby can't go on, which could lead to stress and melt downs.

But if you have another adult? Yeah, sure! You could do a relaxed trip, mornings at the park, afternoons relaxing at the villa or the pool while baby gets a good nap (at that age they'll probably nap in the stroller too), maybe back for more fun or maybe not. That's my style of travelling anyway.

Sending you lots of good wishes for a healthy rest of the pregnancy and an uneventful delivery!

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

Thanks you guys this helps a lot. We normally don't do summer months unless we are invited by someone because Chris has epilepsy. So his meds have bad issues with the sun. When we go during the summer we spend the day at the pool and do parks later or really early or not at all some days. So aside from it being perfect weather for Chris I am happy it would be great for the baby too YAY!!! I just have to convince hubby of it. Today was an insane day for me medically and I was dreaming of a trip big time today.

 

[brenalexacamp]

go-if you could get someone to stay with the baby, I think you may be less stressd but go-7 yr old son can do rides with one of you-and it is nice to go to disney they make you feel "normal".

You'll go back-don't get caught up in having to do EVERYTHING.

You'llbe back

 

[scottsod]

we did it when our son was 7 with cp in a wc and the new baby was 4 month old if the baby is an easy baby then its great he was much easier at 4mth then at 2 yo when we went back with a new baby he was easy then 2

2 tips the stroller we used had a cover that was mesh type keeps out bugs and sun 2nd tip snap on fan for stroller works great keeps em cool and gives em somthing to stare at

scott

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

go-if you could get someone to stay with the baby, I think you may be less stressd but go-7 yr old son can do rides with one of you-and it is nice to go to disney they make you feel "normal".

You'll go back-don't get caught up in having to do EVERYTHING.

You'llbe back

No we won't leave the baby home I want it to be a family trip and show DS that things are still normal for him. BUT we also never do commando we are completely in take it as it goes mode. We have even been in a park for one ride and left. Some of my friends get shocked how we 'waste' our tickets. As long as we have fun it is all good in my book. I can't have too much of an agenda on vacation normal life is too structured. Vacation for us is the opposite.

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

great idea on the fan I never thought of that and the bug screen too! Thanks