Cancel or Go (newborn + toddler)?

[alicia080979]

I need advice, tips, thoughts, etc. on our upcoming trip. Dh & I are new foster parents hoping to adopt and we moved our Nov trip up to Sept. 25-Oct.5. In the end of July we got our little guy who will be 18 months old during the trip. We were starting to get everything all set and felt pretty comfortable with our decision to go and take him then last Friday we got a 2 day old little girl who came straight from the hospital to us. Now we don't know what to do. Are we completely crazy to take a 5week old to Disney World? Oh and we would be driving the 14-16 hours from Cincinnati, OH.

Where would she sleep (We are in POR with DH, myself, DS and my mother)? We were already going to rent a crib for our little guy but I am almost positive 2 cribs won't fit. Would she be okay in a bassinet at 5-6 weeks? What kind of rides can she go on? I know there are a lot of rides with no height restrictions but are they really okay for a baby that small (i.e Pirates, TSM, Dumbo, Peter Pan, etc.)? We hate to move our trip back to next year because we don't never know how long our little guy will be with us (looking like January at least) and we don't want to go in Nov/Dec bc the baby will just be starting to lose her antibodies and I am afraid of her getting sick.

It wouldn't be the end of the world if our little guy couldn't go but now I am just not sure what to do. We are buying a a City Select Stroller with the car seat adapter so I can use it for both kids and I was planning on renting a regular City Mini so I didn't have to worry about mine being stolen but I don't even know if you can rent those.

I probably have more questions but this morning is the first time I have had enough time to sit down and ask the Dis! DH & I went from no kids in July to a 17 month old boy and a week old little girl. Life has been crazy...in a good way...and I could use any advice you have.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

of the rides you mentioned I would be worried about TSM as it is jerky on the turns for younger one. it will be a different trip with 2 young ones. at POR are you in a room for 5 people? it will be a tight fit but if bassinet would fit on pulldown it could be done. if you go take lots of pics of both kids and iwould make a picurebook for each to look at as they get older. have a grandson would went as a 4month old and loves to show hisbook and tell a the story of that trip. he is now 8 years old. make sure you count the little one on any ressies if you want some place to put carseat or a baby highchair.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You can be in a room for 4 because they will exclude one infant from occupancy counts (but not both).

 

[AmyB2006]

Are you kidding? That's the best time to take them. All they do is sleep and eat. LOL

I think as long as you go into it prepared for travelling with a 5 week old, allow ample time for breaks/diaper changes etc., you'll be fine.

 

[Sheilby]

I need advice, tips, thoughts, etc. on our upcoming trip. Dh & I are new foster parents hoping to adopt and we moved our Nov trip up to Sept. 25-Oct.5. In the end of July we got our little guy who will be 18 months old during the trip. We were starting to get everything all set and felt pretty comfortable with our decision to go and take him then last Friday we got a 2 day old little girl who came straight from the hospital to us. Now we don't know what to do. Are we completely crazy to take a 5week old to Disney World? Oh and we would be driving the 14-16 hours from Cincinnati, OH.

Where would she sleep (We are in POR with DH, myself, DS and my mother)? We were already going to rent a crib for our little guy but I am almost positive 2 cribs won't fit. Would she be okay in a bassinet at 5-6 weeks? What kind of rides can she go on? I know there are a lot of rides with no height restrictions but are they really okay for a baby that small (i.e Pirates, TSM, Dumbo, Peter Pan, etc.)? We hate to move our trip back to next year because we don't never know how long our little guy will be with us (looking like January at least) and we don't want to go in Nov/Dec bc the baby will just be starting to lose her antibodies and I am afraid of her getting sick.

It wouldn't be the end of the world if our little guy couldn't go but now I am just not sure what to do. We are buying a a City Select Stroller with the car seat adapter so I can use it for both kids and I was planning on renting a regular City Mini so I didn't have to worry about mine being stolen but I don't even know if you can rent those.

I probably have more questions but this morning is the first time I have had enough time to sit down and ask the Dis! DH & I went from no kids in July to a 17 month old boy and a week old little girl. Life has been crazy...in a good way...and I could use any advice you have.

Wow, Congrats new mommy! How exciting. I'm adopted too and so I can definitively say that adopted kids rock!

Personally I would move it back to November. You aren't going on a plane and your newest addition isn't going to be being man handled by the crowds, she will be safely tucked in her stroller so I wouldn't worry about her antibodies wearing off (which can last up to 6 months BTW and aren't a magic bullet anyway). Plus, she will at least have her 2 month old inoculations by them.

I'm not sure about the rides, I never went with kids that young, but I'm sure someone will chime in. As for sleeping, a bassinet should be fine. She will still be only 3 months old, they are quite portable at that age.

Congratulations again and best wishes.

 

[ghtx]

Normally I say go. I'm a big fan of taking babies to WDW. I've been twice with a three-month-old, and both times there were older kids along as well.

However, we are DVC and stay at one- or two-bedroom condos, so we have more room to put the baby to nap. Also, my wife usually stays with the baby at the resort for most of the day while I take the older kid(s) to the parks.

It is your call. If you go you will have a great time (but there will be times when you are stressed out, like on any trip). If you cancel it's not the end of the world. You can always go later (and hopefully you will, many more times).

Congrats on the new baby!

 

[Jenny-momof3]

While I'm all for traveling with them young...5-6 weeks is a bit too young for me for 2 reasons. 1. The heat will be pretty intense for one that young that time of year. And 2. She won't have had her 8 week shots yet.

With my 4th we went down when he was 9 weeks old. He had his shots and it was end of March so weather was mid 70's. We drive from Dayton...so just a little further than you.

I would think you would be much better off doing end of Nov/Dec. Weather will be much better and she will have had her shots. I don't worry so much about the natural antibiodies...as my exclusively breastfed babies got strep, ear infections you name it before they were even 6 weeks old!

 

[Maggie Lizer]

I think 5 weeks is really young. They might only eat and sleep at that age, but mine did not sleep through the night until he was 7 or 8 weeks (which meant very tired parents from being awakened in the middle of the night and at the crack of dawn), and having to stop driving every 2.5 or 3 hours for a bottle could make a 14 road trip excruciatingly long (each bottle and burp session could take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, it is so unpredictable). He wasn't predictable enough, IMHO, for a trip longer than out to the mall or the park until he was about 2.5 months.

Good luck with whatever you decide, and congrats on your new bundles of joy!

 

[tarak]

First off, congrats! And the you for fostering. Foster parents a made of strong stuff (a good friend has fostered twice - she adopted her son four years ago, her other little one went back to mom in June).

I would move the trip to November if you can. I would be very worried about taking a baby to Disney without having received a booster for pertussis. There was an outbreak at our elementary school when my youngest was three months old. The only reason I didn't panic was she'd gotten that first booster. The only concern I'd have with travelling at that age is the drive. Depending on how many rear seats you have, feeding the baby on the road could be tricky. Is there enough space in the back for two kids and an adult who can feed the baby? They are so easy to travel with at that age (at least my experience). But I've only flown with young ones, never driven longer than about 3 hours with one.

As for rides, I agree I'd skip TSM, and probably Buzz Space Ranger spin because those rides are pretty jerky. But I think POTC should be totally fine.

 

[wdiosa]

If anyone can do it, you can! Other people have brought up some things I never thought about though. If her sleeping schedule is any different in a month then you might have some long days and nights during your trip. Since cancelling now or in a month doesn't really matter, I say wait a little longer and see how things are going then.

 

[Disney Diva Mom]

Congratulations!! I don't know if this was mentioned or not above - but something else to consider is restaurants. I brought my youngest at four months and had no problem except when it came to some TS meals. Very few restaurants have infant highchairs. I have heard reports of some but the only one I can say for sure as of last year is Chef Mickey's. otherwise you will need to lug an infant carrier with you.

As a mom of a adopted miracle, I know you may never want to put them down, but trust me - you will need to eat occasionally in the park.

Best of luck and hope you have a very quick and uncomplicated "Gotcha Day"!!!

 

[melissafox18]

First, you and DH are amazing to be foster parents. There needs to be more people like you in the world!

I've got a 5 month old daughter right now (she was our first) and I don't think I would have been ready to take her to Disney at 5-6 weeks. I'm sure I was overly cautious as a new mom, but our pediatrician said no major contact with the outside world (grocery store, Target trips, etc.) until 8 weeks due to the risk of getting sick/fever before 2 months. Between that and the heat, I would want to risk it. My DD was and still is the type of baby that gets overstimulated very easily and gets fussy with too much noise or lights or even too many faces. I would have been exhausted trying to keep her calm and don't think I would have had much fun!

 

[epsmith921]

If you do choose to go and skip bringing the city select, you can rent a city mini double and it can handle a car seat adaptor or fully recline for infants. Just wanted to let you know there's a rental option out there for you.

Congratulations!!!

 

[Tigger1221]

When DD was that little she slept in a Fisher-Price Rock n Play. It's very portable and she loved it. We took it to WDW and it was great. My moms neighbor borrowed it for the weekend for her grandchild and the mom took it home to try a few more days bc she loved it.

We bottle fed and drove (about 9 hours). On the way down we drive overnight but on the way back shes awake. It added a few hours (takes about 12) to the trip but she did great. We never took her that young but I probably would if given the chance. Someone in front of us seeing mickey had a 10 day old baby. DD will be going on her 4th trip in Oct. at 16 months old. She naps in her stroller so we don't go back to the room for naps. I would rent a double city mini. We have a city mini and DD rode it very young. i would just use the stroller, they get very hot in the carseat. Or look into babywearing and get a good carrier like a beco or ergo. I took her on everything. I can't spin on Buzz so just turn the car to shoot things and I've ridden TSM enough to know when to brace myself with her. My mom was terrified she was going to bounce out in the Pooh ride and was very worried before the trip. I had to tell her many times that wouldn't happen and it didn't. DD enjoys the parks. I honestly think your DS is going to be more of a handful than DD. If he's anything like DD she likes to go-go. I know everyone says there kid loves Small world and DD liked it at first but near the end she wants down and out, same thing on the safari. We still ride them but they aren't her favorites.

 

[jimmysmom74]

Congrats new mommy!!!

However, I will say I think you should postpone the trip. Beginning a new life with not one, but two new babies is an adventure in itself. The next few months should be about establishing a good routine and bonding with your new awesome family. Your trip will go so much smoother if you give yourself some time to learn both your individual children's needs. Also 5 week old babies are very fragile. You also mentioned the baby came from the hospital, so I don't know if that means their are health issues. i am a nurse, and I would say consult your pediatrician prior to planning a trip, a newborn cannot get a flu shot until 6 mos. PP already mentioned pertussis. Make sure immunization are update.

Again Congratulations, and WDW will be here when you are ready!!!

 

[KatieCharlotte]

First, thank you for being foster parents. You are truly heroes.
I would recommend waiting a couple months, only because, based on my own experiences, it's more likely that she'll be sleeping enough at night for you to feel human. But I understand that you want to take the toddler while you can.

Parents with multiple children have to take babies of all ages out into the germ-infested world, so don't stress about that unless she was premature or has particular health issues. We hosted a birthday party when my youngest was two weeks and flew her across the country at five months.

Ours were a little older when we drove that far, but you may find the newborn to be a lot easier than the eighteen month old to keep happy in the car. Feed them both while driving unless the newborn needs an immediate burping to be comfortable. Try to get a lot of driving done while both are asleep. Bring LOTS to entertain the toddler.

You might consider a comfortable way to carry the baby, like a moby wrap. Most kiddie rides would be fine for a healthy one month old, but I agree that TSMM can be jerky. I think the other rides you mentioned would be fine, just hold her close to you.

A basinet would be fine. Mine slept in one from birth until three months, when my (top of the growth chart) babies hit the fifteen pound weight limit. I would recommend letting the eighteen month old share your bed if there just isn't space for two cribs, but I'm guessing that's against the rules for foster parents.

 

[alicia080979]

Thanks for all the replies. We are definitely on a new adventure, DD came from the hospital as a 2 day old but she is perfectly healthy. I am heading to her first appt in an hour so of course I will run everything by the Dr before we decide anything. We are already past our 45 day cancellation so I can cancel whenever and will just "move" the trip to another date so we don't lose our money if we decide to wait. Lots to think about over the next couple of weeks for sure. So far she is sleeping 4 hours at night so I feel good but not sure how everyone else in the room would feel, lol.

 

[alicia080979]

Double Post

 

[GovieMom]

...our pediatrician said no major contact with the outside world (grocery store, Target trips, etc.) until 8 weeks due to the risk of getting sick/fever before 2 months.

Absolutely! We found that out in the worst way, when we took our then 4-week old daughter to the mall. The next day she came down with spinal meningitis! Thank God it was the viral kind and not bacterial, but it took 5 terrifying days with her in the hospital before finding that out. Listen to your doctors people, and keep your infants protected until at least 2 months of age!

 

[AmyB2006]

Absolutely! We found that out in the worst way, when we took our then 4-week old daughter to the mall. The next day she came down with spinal meningitis! Thank God it was the viral kind and not bacterial, but it took 5 terrifying days with her in the hospital before finding that out. Listen to your doctors people, and keep your infants protected until at least 2 months of age!

Every doctor is different too. My doctor never gave me such instructions. LOL

That's terrible that happened to you.

I would definitely take precautions if you go, OP. Like no one touches or holds her except family. Keep her protected in a body carrier or covered stroller. You will be outside walking around most of the time, so fresh air.

I would never not go anywhere for 2 months though. That's just me.