Bringing an 8 month old to WDW

[TDS533]

Not only did we bring a 9 mo. old to WDW, but it was during Hurricane Francis. We had a great time. Nobody there only missed 1 day in the parks, and lots of attention from the characters! Yes, there will be those who say "why take a baby they won't remember it". But, you will. you will remember the first encounter with a character, the first parade they were enamered with, the general happiness they will experience each day. I wouldn't trade that trip for anything. Our son is now 10 and has been 13 times. He is a true WDW veteran, but we always seem to find things we haven't done. And to think it all happened with that trip everyone told us was stupid to take him on because he was too little. So, i would say definately go and enjoy each expression and watch the magic happen to your 8 mo. old, it is simply magical.

 

[Muskrat191]

We went to WDW last November when our daughters were 2.5 years and 7.5 months. We rented a nice double stroller, but the baby spent most of her time in a Boba 3G carrier. She would nap easily in the carrier, and could be worn in lines and onto most rides. The carrier was extremely comfortable for her and me, and she still got a good view of what was going on even though she was facing in.

We did stay offsite so the girls could have a separate bedroom from us. With the early bedtime of a baby, we didn't want to have to sit quietly in the dark until it was our bedtime. (We couldn't afford any of the onsite options that would give the girls their own room.)

My daughter was still refusing a bottle at that point, so I breastfed all over the parks. By that time, I didn't bother with a cover up. No one ever said anything to me (and I didn't particularly notice any dirty looks from anyone, but I'm not the most observant person).

We did use the baby centers for changing if we were nearby (nicer facilities than the bathrooms), and there were rooms in the AK and EP baby centers where we could give our baby some "floor time" to crawl around.

My other recommendation is baby food in the soft containers (I'm not sure what they are called). I didn't use commercial baby food at home, but while travelling (especially on the plane), I could squirt the food directly in my daughter's mouth from the package. Obviously, any leftovers can't be saved, but it was the easiest way to feed her on the plane.

 

[lauraleh]

I'm obviously in the minority and will most certainly get hammered by this post, however I am entitled to an opinion, so here it goes. First off, this does not apply to everyone and hopefully you agree that some parents think their baby is a personal trophy. They bring him or her along so they can get everyone's attention about how adorable their "precious little angel" is. Newsflash, not everybody cares nor should they. They don't take their baby for the baby's enjoyment, they take it for their own. In doing so, they're completely unaware and ignorant of how their baby might be an inconvenience to others. From the plane, to the next door room, waiting in lines, on the rides themselves, restaurants, etc.. Maybe it's not bothering you, but for others who paid good money to enjoy these experiences at Disney, a screaming baby will most certainly ruin the atmosphere for most. I obviously 100% get WDW is catered towards kids and families, that being said, good parents should be able control their toddlers so the above annoyances are prevented. Babies are the other hand can't exactly be told what to do. I just don't see the reason to take a baby to WDW, just my personal opinion, I respect everyone else's but wanted to add a perspective from the other side.

Lolololol! And you aren't a parent?! Color me shocked! Newsflash: I pay for WDW just like you. I can almost promise my baby will be better behaved than some 3 or 4 year olds when it comes to screaming and tantrums. I hope you enjoy those experiences.

Also, I live in Texas. Should I not go outside 9 months out of the year? Because it certainly is hot here. Disney does not own the market of heat and humidity.

 

[lauraleh]

OP, We are taking my son in September at 9 months. My daughter has been 3 times so far (4 months, 10 months and 22 months). I loved each age with her! Seeing these things through her eyes was the best and I can't wait to do it again at 3 this year!

I breastfed my daughter multiple places in the park. I haven't really thought about food this time around but we do Baby Led Weaning so he will probably be eating a lot of what I eat. I'll bring along a few pouches and some fruit as well. I baby wear a lot so he will probably be in the Ergo most of the time and I'll put my daughter in the stroller.

My ultimate advice is just be prepared to take it easier. It's ok if you don't see everything or ride everything. Enjoy seeing your baby light up when they see Pooh or Mickey! It truly is special.

 

[prudence64]

If you are a brand new expecting parent, get the travel insurance. Honestly, until you experience how you handle having a baby and until you know your baby's temperament it's hard to judge whether it's a good idea for you or not. I've known some babies who are a joy to travel with and some whose parents would would do anything to avoid getting out of a home routine. But, definitely plan it and see what you feel like once you get to know your baby and your comfort level.

 

[tinkerbesh]

Not only did we bring a 9 mo. old to WDW, but it was during Hurricane Francis. We had a great time. Nobody there only missed 1 day in the parks, and lots of attention from the characters! Yes, there will be those who say "why take a baby they won't remember it". But, you will. you will remember the first encounter with a character, the first parade they were enamered with, the general happiness they will experience each day. I wouldn't trade that trip for anything. Our son is now 10 and has been 13 times. He is a true WDW veteran, but we always seem to find things we haven't done. And to think it all happened with that trip everyone told us was stupid to take him on because he was too little. So, i would say definately go and enjoy each expression and watch the magic happen to your 8 mo. old, it is simply magical.

How magical & beautiful! And how cool to hear that he is such a veteran now.

There are so many firsts that happen with children, and the ones that happen at Disney are a magical set. I will never forget DS's first encounter with characters either- Louie & Baloo. Or his first rides in Magic Kingdom. Or even his first ride on a Disney bus (which he loved).

We have learned so much more about him on this trip, and many things that we wouldn't have been able to know had we not come here. I don't know how he understands character gender differences, but he seems to prefer all the girls. He also is enamored with little girls of all ages. (We laugh because we aren't raising him to be any kind of "ladies man" by any means, but he seems to be turning into one all on his own.) We've learned that he loves riding on the bus. And when we came here we knew he loved ceiling fans, but we had no idea how much that would translate into loving all rides that have anything spinning on them -- he is teaching us to notice different kinds of things on all the rides we thought we knew so well...

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Not to offend anyone on here, but just my opinion, babies that young should not be at Disney. Crowds, heat, noise, I'm not a parent, but that can't be healthy for a child that young. They obviously won't remember any of it, I feel it's an extreme waste of money for the parents since obviously the trip itself won't be the priority. Obviously to each their own, but I know sometimes I accidentally bump into or elbow somebody in front/behind me in line, god forbid it's a baby....

I'm obviously in the minority and will most certainly get hammered by this post, however I am entitled to an opinion, so here it goes. First off, this does not apply to everyone and hopefully you agree that some parents think their baby is a personal trophy. They bring him or her along so they can get everyone's attention about how adorable their "precious little angel" is. Newsflash, not everybody cares nor should they. They don't take their baby for the baby's enjoyment, they take it for their own. In doing so, they're completely unaware and ignorant of how their baby might be an inconvenience to others. From the plane, to the next door room, waiting in lines, on the rides themselves, restaurants, etc.. Maybe it's not bothering you, but for others who paid good money to enjoy these experiences at Disney, a screaming baby will most certainly ruin the atmosphere for most. I obviously 100% get WDW is catered towards kids and families, that being said, good parents should be able control their toddlers so the above annoyances are prevented. Babies are the other hand can't exactly be told what to do. I just don't see the reason to take a baby to WDW, just my personal opinion, I respect everyone else's but wanted to add a perspective from the other side.

What a complete load of hooey.
I took my babies to Disney World because if I hadn't I wouldn't have been able to go to Disney World for 10 years. I take my babies to Disney World because I'm a parent and I have 5 children and just because one is a baby, shouldn't mean everyone else stays home. Just for the record, most parents of a baby are too tired to give a rip what you think about their personal trophy.

 

[Mikie]

We did WDW with my 3rd child when he was 5 mos (planned the trip before we knew we'd have a 5th family member!)

If this is your first child, double ditto the trip insurance (shop around to see what they cover ) in case you find it's not a good idea for your family once your little one is here and you learn each other's groove.

Find the baby care centers in each park - very nicely appointed, cool, and QUIET - lots of overstimulation at WDW and a break can be essential! Also, if you breast feed, or even bottle feeding I guess, 8 mos is a very nosy age! Your child might not eat/nap well with a lot of activity around

Learn to know and love the slow/dark rides for another kind of break.

Most babies will nap in strollers, but not all. Be sure to bring or rent one that reclines so they get a better nap.

If you fly (&need to conserve luggage space ) you can ship a box of diapers and baby food to yourself at the hotel - no need to juggle it at airport and those things get used up while there - nothing to lug or ship home

I vaguely remember bringing ear plugs for the little guy - maybe check with your pediatrician if they're ok to use and desirable - I know their hearing is delicate, but I can't recall specific very loud attractions - just an overwhelming noisiness all the time at WDW.

I loved using a baby sling carrier (even though we also had the stroller for all the gear!) comfort for the baby & can keep it on during the gentle rides.

Bring a white noise machine for the hotel room (babies r us sells small battery operated ones) - helps dull the background noises of other guests, who will likely be keeping later hours than you!

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

I'm obviously in the minority and will most certainly get hammered by this post, however I am entitled to an opinion, so here it goes. First off, this does not apply to everyone and hopefully you agree that some parents think their baby is a personal trophy. They bring him or her along so they can get everyone's attention about how adorable their "precious little angel" is. Newsflash, not everybody cares nor should they. They don't take their baby for the baby's enjoyment, they take it for their own. In doing so, they're completely unaware and ignorant of how their baby might be an inconvenience to others. From the plane, to the next door room, waiting in lines, on the rides themselves, restaurants, etc.. Maybe it's not bothering you, but for others who paid good money to enjoy these experiences at Disney, a screaming baby will most certainly ruin the atmosphere for most. I obviously 100% get WDW is catered towards kids and families, that being said, good parents should be able control their toddlers so the above annoyances are prevented. Babies are the other hand can't exactly be told what to do. I just don't see the reason to take a baby to WDW, just my personal opinion, I respect everyone else's but wanted to add a perspective from the other side.

I wouldn't take an eight month old to Disney.......but I don't see anything wrong with it. Just because you have a baby doesn't mean you can't have a life and have to stay at home all the time......besides- not all babies cry. I have seen a ton of babies at Disney and none of them were crying. I have seen a number temper tantrums from big kids though.....I guess parents shouldn't bring their children to Disney either so they won't "inconvenience" you!!

 

[Spunky946]

We took dd at 9 months when ds was 4. That trip was a lot easier in some ways then when they were older.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I posted this like 3 weeks ago but didn't really get a response but have any of you ever brought an 8 month old or around that age to WDW? If so how was your trip? Any tips or advice? Thanks

I brought Dd when she was 8 months...we were there in march. If you are going when it will be hot, frogg toggs are a baby's best friend for keeping cool. We used aveeno baby sunscreen and ca baby sunscreen stick (for her face). She also had a UV protected Sun hat.

Baby legs cool are a great way to keep legs covered, for Sun, but breathable/not too hot. They also have the added benefit of UV protection.

A beco Gemini carrier was great for us to have. It made it so easy to carry Dd in.lines! We parked the stroller in a land, put her in the carrier, did things in that land and didn't move the stroller til we moved on to the next land. If you are going when it is hot, you can use the frogg toggs I mentioned between you and baby to help keep you both cool. We also used it to take her through thr airport...I wore her through security and still had hands free to help with our carryons and such.

Absolutely consider renting a city mini from a company down there. We own a city mini, but didn't want to have it in the airport, so we rented one there. Absolutely worth it to not worry about our stroller getting stolen or having to deal with it in the airport.

Speaking of airport...best thing we did was get Dd her own seat and brought her car seat. She had a bottle on take off and landing to prevent her ears popping, then slept for the entire flight. We had planned the flight for naptime so she would be inclined to sleep. It was so nice to have that time to just relax and sleep/read/ whatever!

Hth!

 

[Angel Ariel]

Not to offend anyone on here, but just my opinion, babies that young should not be at Disney. Crowds, heat, noise, I'm not a parent, but that can't be healthy for a child that young. They obviously won't remember any of it, I feel it's an extreme waste of money for the parents since obviously the trip itself won't be the priority. Obviously to each their own, but I know sometimes I accidentally bump into or elbow somebody in front/behind me in line, god forbid it's a baby....

Crowds and noise don't harm.babies. some babies may not like them, but that is totally baby personality dependent, not a health issue. As for the heat, yes, you have to make sure the baby is cool. The same has to be said when taking a baby out in the heat anywhere, whether it is at home for a walk, or at Disney. There are ways to manage heat appropriately and keep baby just fine.

Personally, we went in march...we had planned for it to be hot, but it ended up being colder than expected...mid 50s in the mornings, with winds. Instead of worrying about keeping her cool, she was in.layers and blankets to keep her warm. She did just fine.

The trip wasn't for her. Dh and I wanted to go with my family, as it was my nephews' first trip. They were 3 and 6 at the time. Dd came because she goes where we go...we weren't leaving her behind at 8 months, and we weren't going to miss out on our nephews' first trip because some people like you would judge that she's too young. She did just fine, and was perfectly healthy.

 

[crazymomof4]

I'm obviously in the minority and will most certainly get hammered by this post, however I am entitled to an opinion, so here it goes. First off, this does not apply to everyone and hopefully you agree that some parents think their baby is a personal trophy. They bring him or her along so they can get everyone's attention about how adorable their "precious little angel" is. Newsflash, not everybody cares nor should they. They don't take their baby for the baby's enjoyment, they take it for their own. In doing so, they're completely unaware and ignorant of how their baby might be an inconvenience to others. From the plane, to the next door room, waiting in lines, on the rides themselves, restaurants, etc.. Maybe it's not bothering you, but for others who paid good money to enjoy these experiences at Disney, a screaming baby will most certainly ruin the atmosphere for most. I obviously 100% get WDW is catered towards kids and families, that being said, good parents should be able control their toddlers so the above annoyances are prevented. Babies are the other hand can't exactly be told what to do. I just don't see the reason to take a baby to WDW, just my personal opinion, I respect everyone else's but wanted to add a perspective from the other side.

I had to laugh at the above in bold! I just had to respond with a "FLIP-SIDE" experience. When we took our 1st born at age 7mo he attracted so much attention in WDW that I actually became annoyed. I am quite embarrassed now, to admit my reaction, and if I did it over now would simply relish the attention, knowing how quickly my babies grow up! Our 1st born son, looked like the Gerber Baby and had a winning smile (still does!). He was a happy baby and loved when people coo'ed at him. Everywhere we went people were drawn to him. About halfway into that 1990 wdw vacation (when he was 7mo) I said to my husband, "If one more person tells me how cute he is and asks, 'what's his name, how old is he?'... I'm going to scream! I want to put a bag over his head for the rest of the trip!" Yes, I'm shaking my head at my response... but wanted to let you know from this recollection, that many persons obviously disagree with you and DO enjoy seeing babies at WDW.
That being said, it's not simply the presence of babies that cause disturbance of others, it's inconsiderate parents. It IS up to parents to make sure their babies/toddlers do NOT disturb those around them. That goes for ANY public place, not just WDW. I was one of those parents that always took my fussy baby/toddler out of a restaurant, church, movie theater or what ever, until they quieted down (for however long that took). Did it inconvenience me? yes, but I always felt that my decision to bring my child should not take away from other's enjoyment of the venue. It is disturbing to me now, having had 4 kids myself, that some parents allow a baby/toddler to fuss on and on loudly and the parent seems to take the attitude, "if it doesn't bother me, it shouldn't bother others either"
BUT let's remember........ rude people are rude people, whether they are parents or childless. There is a lot of rude and inconsiderate behavior I've witnessed at WDW that has nothing to do with a baby/toddler. So, instead of saying, "babies shouldn't be brought to wdw" more accurately, it should be said, "rudeness is upsetting at WDW". I think we can all agree on that!

 

[Angel Ariel]

We are going in mid December so I'm not too worried about the heat. Thanks for all the responses. I'm new to this whole parenting thing so 1 more question, will the baby nap in the stroller while we walk around or will that be an issue?

Totally up to baby...our Dd did sleep in the stroller, so we didn't take mid day breaks. Something that may help them nap in a stroller is taking some chip clips and clipping a blanket along the front of the stroller, from the sunshade. It blocked all the visual distractions for Dd and allowed her to fall asleep.

This is another reason why the city minis are great strollers - the full recline is awesome for napping!

Definitely bring blankets and such to wrap the baby in while in the stroller...it can get cold just sitting in there. A baby carrier would be especially helpful in colder weather as it will help.keep baby warm very well

 

[Angel Ariel]

In doing so, they're completely unaware and ignorant of how their baby might be an inconvenience to others. From the plane, to the next door room, waiting in lines, on the rides themselves, restaurants, etc.. Maybe it's not bothering you, but for others who paid good money to enjoy these experiences at Disney, a screaming baby will most certainly ruin the atmosphere for most.

You honestly don't think a screaming baby affects the parents too? I can tell you without hesitation that I'm the *first* person it bothers if my daughter starts crying.

A baby being present, though, does not automatically equal screaming. As I said earlier, Dd slept throughout the flight. Most of the plane didn't know she was there til we disembarked and I heard comments of how good she was.

Did Dd cry occasionally at night? Yep, but not for very short spurts..its not like parents *want* to be awakened in the middle of the night either, so we quickly mitigate the crying because we need sleep too!

Waiting in.lines...not sure what the problem is here. Babies have no concept of waiting like toddlers do, so waiting itself doesnt bother them. DD loves looking at people's faces, so lines were great fun for her. No crying or screaming.

Rides..there were 1 or 2 attracrions we ended up leaving early (turtle talk was one), and we did so quickly. The same could be said for a 3 year old being there for the first time...there's no way to know what a child will or wont like before they ever experience it. Parents just need to be prepared to.leave if they can. We were, and did.

Restaurants...Dd has always lovedd them...again the people watching and faces. She went out with us regularly at home at 8 months and was not a screamer, so why shouldn't we take her out?

Bottom line is babies, and their parents, houldbt have to be shut away in their house for a year or two because some other people may take issue eith them being there. I'm Dd's parent, I know what she can and can't handle...its our decision to make, not anyone else's. We are always courteous of others' experience as well, but I'm not going to lock myself in my house until some magical predetermined age that its suddenly ok to take her out.

 

[MickeyOCD]

I brought my DD when she was 6.5 mths old & my son was 7 mths old. We obviously had a good time or else we wouldn't have done it again with DS. Just have a good stroller with shade, bug net, & rain bonnet. They both were able to nap in the stroller so that's when we shopped or ate. Both trips were more leisurely as we couldn't be on a set schedule. But we really enjoyed these trips. I loved my child's "1st picture with Mickey" etc. these are moments that I treasure as their parent. Yes, they don't remember it, but I do and it's a memory that I treasure!

 

[SillySallySews]

In July 2011 we took a 7 month old. She wore light clothing and a floppy hat to keep the sun off her. With all the AC on the rides, in the shops, and restaurants she never got overheated. We carried her in a Baby Bjorn and left the stroller behind. Not dealing with a stroller was fantastic! That trip was one of our best ever and I would not hesitate to take a baby back to Disney. They love babies there!

 

[skylizard]

I'm obviously in the minority and will most certainly get hammered by this post, however I am entitled to an opinion, so here it goes. First off, this does not apply to everyone and hopefully you agree that some parents think their baby is a personal trophy. They bring him or her along so they can get everyone's attention about how adorable their "precious little angel" is. Newsflash, not everybody cares nor should they. They don't take their baby for the baby's enjoyment, they take it for their own. In doing so, they're completely unaware and ignorant of how their baby might be an inconvenience to others. From the plane, to the next door room, waiting in lines, on the rides themselves, restaurants, etc.. Maybe it's not bothering you, but for others who paid good money to enjoy these experiences at Disney, a screaming baby will most certainly ruin the atmosphere for most. I obviously 100% get WDW is catered towards kids and families, that being said, good parents should be able control their toddlers so the above annoyances are prevented. Babies are the other hand can't exactly be told what to do. I just don't see the reason to take a baby to WDW, just my personal opinion, I respect everyone else's but wanted to add a perspective from the other side.

I'm not even a parent but I found your post to be ridiculous. Parents take their babies out so that they can get outside and enjoy themselves. So should a parent of a baby just stay indoors and never do anything to socialize or have fun? No family vacations until the baby is how old? 2? 3? If and when I do have a child, I would have no qualms whatsoever about taking him/her to Disney as a baby. I've seen better behaved babies than little kids in the parks.

 

[Cals dad]

We are AP holders and have been taking our son since he was 9 months old. He has had so much fun every time. There are plenty of rides that will amuse and stimulate them. He may not remember it, but his mom and I sure do, plus we have pictures that he enjoys looking at. He doesn't remember playing with his baby toys, but we don't consider that a waste because he had fun with them. Going to Disney was the same. Now that is is turning 4 this month, he is finally getting big enough to go on bigger rides and remembering his trips. We'd make great use of the baby care centers, and would find a nice shaded area to sit and people watch while he napped in the middle of the day. If going in the summer, just make sure you keep them out of direct sun, and keep them hydrated. They can handle the heat. Remember, they are less than a year from being in a 98.6 degree oven.

 

[Cals dad]

Besides, how could anyone think taking this little guy to experience this would be a waste of time of money?