Baby staying home with grandma!

[MandM-Mom]

We have a May trip planned and it will be our first family vacation to disney. We have traveled with our children and gone many places but have been reluctant to take the Disney plunge. Since we knew once we start we would be addicted. I think the world would be too much for our DD who is 13 months old. We are thinking about having her stay with grandma so that we can take our DD who is 4 by herself. I feel awful about it, but DD who is 13mths does not walk and does not like to sit too long in a stroller. We feel it might be more torture than fun for her at this age. Is that awful to leave one home and bring the other? We know we will come back again because we take annual family vacations, but I feel like an awful person for leaving her home!!!!!!!!!

 

[Zoesmama03]

Well you could always bring a sling to carry her in but I know how the back gets after a couple hours wearing a baby is.

If you are sure she will not enjoy it maybe go and leave her. It is a tough call for anyone.

 

[mareed]

Our first Disney trip with our kids was when the youngest was 13 months and the older was just over 4. We went to Disneyland and it was wonderful! I will say that my 13 month old had been walking for about 1 1/2 months and he was quite content to stay in his stroller for most of the time. We just carried him in lines. We did have a double stroller. We preferred Disneyland for our first "trial" trip becaue the scale is just so much smaller. It was also nice to be where it was not hot because I would not have wanted to carry the baby in the heat.

Having said all that, I'd probably recommend leaving the baby with Grandma. A non-walking baby who doesn't like the stroller in the heat in WDW in May doesn't sound great to me. You're right to think that you might get addicted. We did! I've taken each of my DS's on a trip on their own when they were 5 or 6. Perhaps you could plan a solo trip with you younger one when they're 4 and your older one is in school.

 

[momx2]

We left our youngest at home on our first disney trip. She was only 6 months old and I had been on bedrest for almost all of my pregnancy, so it was special time for me, DD-3 then, and DH. We had the greatest time and have been back several times. We did take youngest on our next trip when she was 14 months. But she was content to ride in the stroller and it was a great trip, but don't ask me about the trip right after she turned 2 She was a handful, to say the least.

There will be some who will tell you that you need to bring her and some will say leave her. I say do whatever works for your family and have a great trip!

 

[jeast]

Don't feel guilty. Your little one will have more fun at Grandma's and it will be some special time for your older one, who probably needs it after putting up with a baby.

I am bringing my barely two year old and am feeling guilty about having to accomodate her needs when I want my 5 year old to really enjoy his first trip to Disney. she won't be able to handle too much and it will probably hinder his fun.

We plan on going when she is five, too. Just to give her the magic when she still believes in magic.

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

You shouldn't feel guilty doing what you think is right for your child, only you know what she can handle. But make sure you are REALLY okay with your choice first. We took my 3y.o. and 5 month old in Nov and are going in May when the baby will be 11 months old. I thought about leaving him home but I know seeing all those other babies would just make me miss him and feel guilty that I wouldn't have the best time even if it's more work.
Have a safe and happy in May!

 

[NeedaVacation03]

I really wanted to leave my dd, who will be 16mth when we go. My other kids range in age from 5-11 and I thought it would be easier on everyone if she stayed with grandma. But my DH ( who is not into Disney like I am) said "
Ohana means family---nobody gets left behind." Now what can I say to that, when Disney shows come back to haunt me? I had to agree and we had a family meeting and four votes for her to come beats out one vote for her to stay. So we are bringing her along. Lucky for me my DH is not really into rides and stuff so they can entertain each other
Good luck with whatever you decide. I dont think there is a right or wrong answer, just follow your own instinct. Have a good time.

 

[Jules123]

Our first Disney vacation is in June and we have decided to leave our baby, who will turn 1 later that month, at home. Our other two sons are ages 4 and 10 and I think I will have my hands full with my them. It will be so hot when we go and I think the baby would be miserable. I have pangs of guilt but I reassure myself that we will go again when he is old enough to know what is going on.

 

[MNmom]

Do not feel bad about leaving your little one at home. I am sure it will be a great time for your DD(4). Just this past Aug. I took my DD(7) alone and left my DS(4) and DD(11) at home!!! We had a very special time. Think of it as her special big girl trip!!!

 

[swincha]

I am a mom of 4 children 5 to 17 years old. Go have a good time. Children her age do not understand time differences and how long you are gone. Great time for you to spend one on one time with your other child. Grandma gets to spend time with her grandchild. Its a win win situation. Enjoy yourself!!!!!

 

[swincha]

But my DH ( who is not into Disney like I am) said "
Ohana means family---nobody gets left behind."

then i would say to dh since you feel so strongly about this you can have all the child care duties for the youngest one betcha thats not part of his plan(i'm sure he helps) but really leaving the youngest behind when they will not get anything out of it is a great idea

 

[nygrl]

i am so happy to see so many people on this thread agreeing that it is no big deal to leave the baby home!!! we have left my ds home since he was 6 months old with grandma of course. when he was 2 we took him and it was a nightmare so next year guess where he was. at grandmas and very happy to be there!!dont feel guilty... go have a great time with your older child... we took my older ds when he was five just after his brother was born and it was a very special trip for him..

 

[Loops]

Don't feel guilty. We went on a 5 night cruise last April with our then 5 year old and left our then 18 month old twins home with their grandma's. They don't have a clue about time and I'm sure grandma will keep your little one occupied.

Have fun and spend some quality time with your 4 year old.

 

[robinb]

I am always on the side of taking all your children to WDW. I think you will miss her terribly everytime you see another baby her age. My DD went at 4 months, 8 months and 13 months (and so on, we have annual passes). At least once per trip I had a mother come up to get some "baby time" since her husband/family/friends convinced her to leave her baby behind.

With so many things to see at WDW you might be surprised at how well she stays in her stroller and (Warning!!! Insert extra guilt here) do you really want to miss her first steps while she's at Grandma's? Wouldn't it be a great WDW memory to see it happen there?

I don't think she will be "scarred for life" by being left behind. At 13 months, she'll probably have a fine time with Grandma. I also don't think you would be a terrible parent for doing it. But ... I think your whole family will have a better time with her there. My favorite DD/character pictures are from when she was a baby.

 

[NJDisneymom]

We were begged by both grandma's to leave our then 5 month old home for our last Disney trip and I would not have even considered it. I know he would have been fine at home, but we were going on a family vacation and I wanted my family there with me, end of discussion. I was very surprised at how easy it was to have him with us, I'd even say it was easier than being home with him for a week!!

But don't feel guilty for choosing to leave the baby home. I don't blame people one bit for leaving a baby home, it just wasn't the right decision for us. I am sure many think we are nuts for bringing a baby who "won't even remember he was there". Well, he may not REMEMBER being there but in anticipation for this trip he has seen videos and pictures and he KNOWS he was there. That was important to me.

Enjoy your trip!!!

 

[TJA]

Take my opinion for all it's worth because we don't have children of different ages -- we have twins. We took our twins to WDW when they were 7 mos old, 13 mos old, and 18 mos old. Out of those 3 trips, 13 mos old is our favorite so far. Our twins were just learning to walk that trip, so we had so much fun holding their tiny hands and walking in some quiet areas, looking at all the animation Disney has to offer. Character meals were priceless -- the looks on babies' faces of that age make quite wonderful memories. BUT, having said that, I simply don't know what it's like to have older children along too. Your situation is completely different than mine is. But I just wanted to reassure you that 13 mos old really isn't too young to enjoy the sites and sounds at WDW. But you need to do what is right for your particular family and situation.

Enjoy!

 

[ArRzrbk]

I have two boys age 1 and age 3 (both just had their birthdays - 3 year old at Disney World), and we just got back from a trip with both of them plus Gram. My advice to you...

1.) Whatever decision you make is the right one. Parents do the best they can, and you are trying to figure out what is best here.

2.) Consider bringing Grandma. We took Gram with us, and that worked out beautifully! She had planned to basically just stay in the room with the baby (we had a Villa at the BCV with a fully kitchen and washer and dryer - not sure what your room is like), so it would have been like she was at home. But she actually ended up at the park with us each day and kept up really well.

3.) Don't underestimate your little one's ability to adapt. Our son was in his stroller for hours and made it just fine. And we haven't been out to restaurants more than an handful of times since DS #1 was born, and both of them did great in the restaurants and with the characters!

4.) Children are everywhere, so the stress you feel at Disney when your little one breaks down is much, much less! There are kids breaking down everywhere in all situations. You won't be alone, and most likely, no one will give you second thought.

5.) You will still be able to enjoy rides with your four year old with your little one there. We took our baby on rides (Haunted Mansion) and into shows (Little Mermaid), and he did fine. And Disney allows rider switches, so you could ride with your four year old while your husband holds the baby, then you can switch without getting back in line! That's another way to make it work.

I am very glad we took our one year old with us on our first trip "home" as DVC members. Do whatever you feel is best, and that will be the right decision. Good luck, and if you do decide to take the baby, I am happy to give you some hints and tips to make your trip easier.

3.)

 

[meandtheguys2]

But my DH ( who is not into Disney like I am) said "
Ohana means family---nobody gets left behind."

then i would say to dh since you feel so strongly about this you can have all the child care duties for the youngest one betcha thats not part of his plan(i'm sure he helps) but really leaving the youngest behind when they will not get anything out of it is a great idea

Wow! My husband is happy helping care for his kids. Sorry your family has such issues. That must be really hard. I can't imagine having such resentment about caring for my children.

I wouldn't leave mine behind. Family vacations (in our family) are for the whole family, even if they aren't convenient. Your little one will be fine with grandma, for sure. We have always just brought grandma along with us.

 

[Tinky]

Ouch.... Thats kind of a strong statement. I dont think she meant that her husband showed resentment for taking care of his kids.....

Wow! My husband is happy helping care for his kids. Sorry your family has such issues. That must be really hard. I can't imagine having such resentment about caring for my children.

 

[lclark0621]

We took DS on his first trip when he was 9 months old. He loved it. He did not walk then & absolutly hated a stroller. So I bought a hip carrier (He was to big for a sling) & we all had a great time.

Personally I could not imagine going to Disney World without my DS. If DH & I have another child we will take that one as well. If we all can't go to Disney World, none of us go. I could not imagine taking a family vacation without all of my family.

Taking a baby to Disney is not as hard as you think. In fact for us it was a breeze.