Bringing an Infant--Thinking? Questions?

[texaslady22]

We are new foster parents. We just had a little girl (3 years old) for a week and it was an awesome experience! We hear rumors that an infant might be next for a long-term placement (maybe 6 months to a year)

We have a trip booked in May for our 7, 4, and turning-2 year old. We figured that if we had a foster placement, we'd just get respite for those days. However, if we get a newborn baby straight from the hospital this week, should we consider taking it with us if the bios allow? Can we have 2 children under 3 in a value room? I know we'd then need formula, bottles, and all that nonsense. It seems like so much work and, truthfully, a 6 months old doesn't know the difference. He WOULD know if he's being left with strangers, though!

What do you think?

 

[MSSANDRA]

You can not have two under 3 in a value room. sorry. I think a infant would be easy to add on to a reservation at the last minute if you choose to do so and have a room big enough. If the state allows and you need and get the bio permission (it's different in every state) taking him might be pretty easy. If you have him from birth and have never used respite care before the trip, it might be pretty hard. Maybe a family member or friend he knows could keep him or her. That's pretty easy to do here in our county.

 

[3Gsandme]

There is no way I'd bring a newborn baby to a theme park. No. Way. None.

 

[DCbride]

I think you are asking to bring a then 5 month old, right? We took DD to a theme park vacation at 5 months but we did not have any other kids with us and mostly used the trip to go some place warm for a week and didn't really do rides.

 

[North of Mouse]

There is no way I'd bring a newborn baby to a theme park. No. Way. None.

Strongly agree! Too much risk for me to take.

 

[doxnal]

We just went in mid-Nov and left our 7 month old with my mom. The statement "I'm so glad we left her" was made at least 3/4s of the days we were gone. It would've thoroughly complicated matters to bring a child that young. At 6 months+, I wouldn't expect many special health considerations are necessary, but the logistics of enjoying a Disney vacation definitely become problematic, especially if you have other children to satisfy (which we did: DD2 and DS3).

 

[angelmom27]

I can't leave my babies behind they go where ever I go. We are going in May for our annual trip and our youngest will be 6 months at the time. We wouldn't have a good time knowing we left her behind. And if money works out me and My DD will be using our last two days and baby sister will be coming too. She just turned 2 wks. Her sister is happy that she is coming too even if she knows we won't be able to do any height restricted rides.

I have taken all ages and its not bad at all very easy.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We are new foster parents. We just had a little girl (3 years old) for a week and it was an awesome experience! We hear rumors that an infant might be next for a long-term placement (maybe 6 months to a year)

We have a trip booked in May for our 7, 4, and turning-2 year old. We figured that if we had a foster placement, we'd just get respite for those days. However, if we get a newborn baby straight from the hospital this week, should we consider taking it with us if the bios allow? Can we have 2 children under 3 in a value room? I know we'd then need formula, bottles, and all that nonsense. It seems like so much work and, truthfully, a 6 months old doesn't know the difference. He WOULD know if he's being left with strangers, though!

What do you think?

Even with two under the age of three, you would be a family of five plus one. So value rooms and some deluxe and moderates would be out. You would need a family suite in a value.

 

[brockash]

We are new foster parents. We just had a little girl (3 years old) for a week and it was an awesome experience! We hear rumors that an infant might be next for a long-term placement (maybe 6 months to a year)

We have a trip booked in May for our 7, 4, and turning-2 year old. We figured that if we had a foster placement, we'd just get respite for those days. However, if we get a newborn baby straight from the hospital this week, should we consider taking it with us if the bios allow? Can we have 2 children under 3 in a value room? I know we'd then need formula, bottles, and all that nonsense. It seems like so much work and, truthfully, a 6 months old doesn't know the difference. He WOULD know if he's being left with strangers, though!

What do you think?

We go on family reunionish type trips to Disney every year for a week over Labor Day. We've had a 3 month old once and I brought my dd when she was 4 months once. It's really not a problem. Yes, it's hot and yet it'd be easier without bringing a baby, but I can't imagine anyone in our family not bringing a child due to age. We were just prepared and careful and had no issues either time. I'll say that in many ways it was much easier bringing my dd at 4 months than at 1 1/2 & 2/1/2 mainly just due to mobility etc., but every time is different, unique and fun. We also have always had older kids in the group too...my ds for example is almost 6 yrs. older than dd.

 

[angelmom27]

Even with two under the age of three, you would be a family of five plus one. So value rooms and some deluxe and moderates would be out. You would need a family suite in a value.

I'm confused on how they would be a family of five plus one.
You have mom, dad, a 7 yr old and a 4 yr old then they have the 2 yr old and possibly an infant under 1. So that's 2 under 3. Shouldn't they be allowed to stay in a value or any other room since it would be a family of 4 plus 2.

 

[scrapquitler]

I'm confused on how they would be a family of five plus one. You have mom, dad, a 7 yr old and a 4 yr old then they have the 2 yr old and possibly an infant under 1. So that's 2 under 3. Shouldn't they be allowed to stay in a value or any other room since it would be a family of 4 plus 2.

No because if I understand correctly, you are only allowed four plus one child/infant under three years of age. So the infant exception can only be used once over room.

 

[angelmom27]

No because if I understand correctly, you are only allowed four plus one child/infant under three years of age. So the infant exception can only be used once over room.

Oh ok thanks. I didn't know that.

 

[DSNY4ever]

There is no way I'd bring a newborn baby to a theme park. No. Way. None.

I think the baby would be a newborn NOW, but would be 6 months when they went on the trip. At least that is what I understood.

I think it is wonderful what you are doing, and you will have your hands full, but you will have fun. They will probably just eat and sleep the whole time, but they can sit in your laps on so many rides and will probably love the parades and stuff. Good luck!

 

[pigletgirl]

I don't think I could pull off bringing an infant to Disney. Too many challenges and logistics. DD won't go till she's at least 3.

 

[crayon3448]

We went when my DD was just turning 5 months. Very easy trip (although we did not have any other children)- mostly we wore her in a carrier and she went where we took her. It was great!

 

[Crystal824]

I think the 6 mo. old will be easier to handle than the 2 year old. We took our DD at 9 mo. and again at 20 mo. The first trip was much easier even dealing with formula and baby food.

 

[lorenni]

If you're not a baby wearer yet I would seriously consider an ergo for that trip.

 

[Berlioz70]

I'm local and my baby is now nearly 5 months - she's been to Disney several times, first park trip was at 10 days. Traveling with a baby is fairy easy, she falls asleep when she's tired as has no problems sleeping in her stroller. The longest we've stayed in the parks is 6-7 hours, she usually gets over stimulated about the 6 hour mark.

Riding attractions has been hit or miss, she made it half way through Pirate and Small World then started crying. She made it the whole way through GMR no problems.

If it helps - here was my trip report for MNSSHP (it indicates her feeding and nap times), she was 2.5 months at this point:

2013 MNSSHP REPORT

 

[SweetMissy]

Awesome for you being foster parents! My parents did foster care when I was growing up, it's a great thing to do. I remember they couldn't even take the kids out of the county without permission from the social worker. Every state is probably different and this was 20 or so years ago....OMG 20 years, lol. Hubby and I are considering being foster parents. I'm not into leaving kids at home, I know some here do that on occasion....leaving the baby/toddler home to take the older ones. I could never do that. Our son was 4 months old for our trip last year and he was super easy! However, if I were to have a 6 month old foster child, I wouldn't bring him/her. Vacations are a special time to be shared with my own kids....a 6 month old will not remember. A 5 year old foster kid, ok....but a baby, no.

 

[Gracie09]

Awesome for you being foster parents! My parents did foster care when I was growing up, it's a great thing to do. I remember they couldn't even take the kids out of the county without permission from the social worker. Every state is probably different and this was 20 or so years ago....OMG 20 years, lol. Hubby and I are considering being foster parents. I'm not into leaving kids at home, I know some here do that on occasion....leaving the baby/toddler home to take the older ones. I could never do that. Our son was 4 months old for our trip last year and he was super easy! However, if I were to have a 6 month old foster child, I wouldn't bring him/her. Vacations are a special time to be shared with my own kids....a 6 month old will not remember. A 5 year old foster kid, ok....but a baby, no.

When your a foster parent your foster kids are your kids. We treat our foster kids as our own and that includes vacations. Twenty years ago the foster care system was a very different system. Getting permission to travel is relatively easy.