Any Tips on WDW with an Infant?

[Dolizza]

My DH and I have been to Disney many times. Usually with our older daughters. This year we have a recent addition born 4/19. She will be 3 months old the day we get there. Does anyone have any tips/advice on WDW with an infant. We'll be driving down and she will be nursing. Any thoughts would help!


50 Days Left!

 

[prplcrzy]

I myself will be taking a 2.5 month old in October. I have seen several posts saying that taking an infant is much easier than a toddler since they will be sleeping alot of the time and can do that anywhere.
I have also seen a number of posts saying how great the Baby Centers are. There is one in each park and they they have rocking chairs and high chairs for feeding. They also have an area for siblings to play in until you're ready to leave. They also have diapers, wipes, etc... in case you need them (for a fee...).
The only thing that will be difficult will be trying to keep them out of the sun. Since sunscreeen can't be used until they are 6 months old, that will probably be the biggest challenge.
Enjoy your trip!!!

 

[Ali]

Originally posted by prplcrzy [/b]

The only thing that will be difficult will be trying to keep them out of the sun. Since sunscreeen can't be used until they are 6 months old, that will probably be the biggest challenge.
Enjoy your trip!!! [/B]

The newest Parents magazine says the six month rule doesn't apply any more - just don't apply sunscreen to their entire bodies, and use a physical blocker like zinc oxide not a Parsol based product which goes into the skin and can cause a reaction. I am going to the Magic/Animal Kingdoms tomorrow with my 11 week old son and I have some Baby blanket sunscreen I will use on him if there are any parts in the sun. I plan to keep him out of the sun as much as possible and not stay out in the heat after noon.

 

[honeymom]

Just check with your pediatrician re:sunscreen. What mine had told me was that they didn't want you to use it on under 6 month old, because they didn't want babies that young in the sun too much. That being said, he said it was better to use it if you have to be in the sun.

My daughter was under 6 months old my first summer with her. I had a great canopy on the stroller, a hat on her head, sun glasses and one of those sun blockers that you attach to the stroller, looked for shady spots when I needed to take her out of the stroller.

I took my daughter to Disney at 11 months old and I can attest to how great the baby centers were. I think they even gave away diapers at one of them (the other might of sold them). Plus, they had formula, baby food, etc. And while some people might be bothered paying Disney prices for this stuff - it was great not to have to lug it around all day. Plus, they had air conditioning, rocking chairs galore for feeding and were just the most comfortable place to relax in the parks outside of a hotel room.

 

[Gillian]

Do you have a soft front carrier like a baby bjorn or a sling? You wouldn't have to move a sleeping baby to stand on lines. My son liked that better than his stroller at 3 months. It can get kind of warm for the person carrying the baby though.

I wish they had baby care centers at baseball games! Try nursing there!

 

[challada]

Just got back from trip with 1 yo and 6 yo and can say DEFINITELY go to babycenters as they are whole family retreats in the heat of the day (nice changing tables too). Also, though this is a Disney board, I'd recommend doing Universal one or two days as they have actual babyswap rooms on most all rides that are airconditioned, have tvs and some have toys for toddlers. ENJOY!

 

[wdisneyaholic]

The baby care centers are great!!! the are really cool inside. Nice way to just get out of the sun and relax. Take your baby in there nuse him and let him fall asleep while you relax in the rocker.

My pediatrician just told me that the 6 month rule does not apply to babies any more. He said to use 50+ like water babies or banna boat. I have almost 7 month old twins, we will be doing outdoor stuff this summer and I will be using the sunscreen.

I used the spray/fan water bottle and hung the bottle close to the inside of the stroller while my baby was sleeping to blow some air around him.

Just make sure you try to keep him out of direct sunlight.

 

[Dolizza]

Thanks for all these great tips! Keep them coming. Luckily we will be staying onsite and plan on taking plenty of breaks.

 

[classicpooh4]

When we went our youngest daughter had just turned 3mths old, they get really hot, just make sure you can find some shade was in a while, it won't be too bad, we had fun!! It was a really fun time! We had at that time a 3year old and a 3mth old!! It was a blast!! I'd do it all over again!! inkbounc inkbounc inkbounc

 

[jother]

We are leaving tomorrow!!! inkbounc ...I've spent careful consideration in the past months trying to plan for a great trip with our 6month old, from investigating and buying a good stroller for wdw to carefully packing every little thing baby may need. I'll be sure to come back and post my "review" of traveling to wdw w/ baby...I have a feeling I'll here more complaining from the 10 & 11 yr old

 

[DVCajun]

We went with our then 7 week old last month and it was great! We took our own stroller. I made sure to take him out frequently because it can get warm down in the little cocoon created by the stroller. There are a surprising number of air-conditioned spots all around the MK, MGM and Epcot. We didn't do AK-- not deliberately, although it might be a good idea to skip it with an infant because there aren't very many air conditioned retreats there. We tried to time our bottles with something like a sit down show or in one case the behind the scenes tour of the artist studios at MGM. It worked great. There is even an air conditioned room at MGM where you can meet Mickey! The other characters were outside.

It's really quite easy to enjoy yourself with an infant. It was my favorite trip so far-- probably because I enjoy showing off my baby so much!!

 

[mirlow]

My daughter will be 6mths when we go. My biggest concern is getting around the parks with her. We are taking our stroller, but we aren't sure what to do with her while we are waiting and riding the rides. We are going in July so it will be incredibly hot. I don't know if we should take turns holding her while we are in line or buy a baby carrier? It seems like a baby carrier would be easier waiting in line and riding the rides, but won't that be a lot of getting in and out of plus it's got to be hot (although my husband said he wouldn't mind because he loves that heat )The other thing I'm concerned about is spending all that money on a carrier and her getting to big to use it. She's all ready 15lbs.

 

[DVCajun]

We used the time waiting in line to give our baby a break from his stroller.

I think I would be more concerned about your baby overheating in a baby carrier than your husband. They're wrapped up like a little pea in a pod-- not a lot of circulation in there! And their little systems are so sensitive to the heat. Just a thought.

 

[Gillian]

I just read about a baby carrier that had mesh panels to keep the baby cooler. I will see if I can find the info again and post it. Mine goes up to 35 pounds, I think. I used it in Florida in March, and we had some hot days. With the baby facing forward, a lot of him is outside the carrier. He didn't get too hot.

 

[LizPR]

We took our 3 month old to WDW in May and had a great time. The best thing that I did was to buy a stroller frame that my car seat snapped onto (I think it was called Snap and Go). It was great for times that we were standing in line or wanted to see a show when she was already asleep. We just popped the car seat off the frame and away we went without disturbing her nap. It was also really handy having the car seat for her to sit in at restaurants.

Her pediatrician told me to start putting sunscreen on her a few weeks before the trip and to start by doing just one arm, then both arms, working up to full coverage. If your baby is allergic to sunscreen, you don't want to find out while you are on vacation. I was amazed that she didn't seem to get any sun, I figured even with 50 SPF she might get a little pink.

Be sure to take extra clothes to the parks in case the baby has a really messy diaper. My daughter pooped all over her car seat during breakfast with Cinderella. What a mess! I had to wash the car seat cover in the bathroom with hand soap and put it outside to dry.

Also, I took a couple of flat cloth diapers with me that came in really handy to shade the baby while she was sleeping or to wet and drape over her to keep her cool.

 

[LKS]

Since you are not always going to be near the baby center, be aware that there are many dark rides and shows where you can nurse. I sat in the middle of my family - back row is good too - and am quite sure that no one else even knew. We took our own stroller back then (1997) as, at that time, the ones you could rent were not suitable for an infant.