Disney infant advice

[DVCRSheridan]

Just looking for some advice/thoughts on what you all have found to be "too young" for Disney World. (Granted, I understand this can often vary by baby). My wife and I will potentially be in Florida at families in August and our baby will only be approximately 2-3 months old at the time. We're debating whether or not we'd wanna do a couple days at WDW during this time. We've heard so many varying opinions on what is or isn't "too young" though. Just looking to get some 1st hand experiences from you all. Thank you, greatly appreciated!

 

[kohlby]

We did a trip with a 2 month old baby. We were there during a heat wave over Memorial Day weekend. I'd expect August would be at least that hot so make sure to plan in plenty of air conditioning breaks. The 2 month old was pretty easy. She hung out in a lightweight sling all day. The biggest issue was me drinking enough. When I start nursing, I need an excessive amount of drinks and was still in that phase at that time. Add in the heat, and it was tough. So, my advice is to make sure to have plenty to drink. My baby was still in the constant pooping stage at that age - over 6 times a day. So, plan for that if your baby is still in it. (Three weeks later though, baby was in the skipping weeks between poops phase. Both are normal). We had a barely 3 year old with us that trip too and that was a LOT more work.

Has baby been born yet? If not, also consider recovery time for your wife. I would have not been able to manage 2 months after my third child medically.

 

[DVCRSheridan]

We did a trip with a 2 month old baby. We were there during a heat wave over Memorial Day weekend. I'd expect August would be at least that hot so make sure to plan in plenty of air conditioning breaks. The 2 month old was pretty easy. She hung out in a lightweight sling all day. The biggest issue was me drinking enough. When I start nursing, I need an excessive amount of drinks and was still in that phase at that time. Add in the heat, and it was tough. So, my advice is to make sure to have plenty to drink. My baby was still in the constant pooping stage at that age - over 6 times a day. So, plan for that if your baby is still in it. (Three weeks later though, baby was in the skipping weeks between poops phase. Both are normal). We had a barely 3 year old with us that trip too and that was a LOT more work.

Has baby been born yet? If not, also consider recovery time for your wife. I would have not been able to manage 2 months after my third child medically.

Baby is not born yet, he's due the 1st week of June. We're definitely not planning anything soon. We wanna see how the baby is 1st and just as importantly how my wife is. If we did decide to go, it would be a spur of the moment kind of thing most likely. We'd drive around 18 hours for us, so this is another concern) to my parents', who are about an hour outside of WDW, and then decide from there if we wanted to incorporate a few days at WDW as well. There's honestly so many factors that we just don't know yet, but we wanted kinda feel out some people who have had experience with infants thus young at WDW and see how it was for them.

 

[margot31]

If this is your first baby-----personally I wouldn't do it. But that is just me. I was still trying to get in the swing of having a baby at 2 months let alone being sleep deprived. We recently came back when my youngest was 6 months and basically sleeping through the night other than needing a paci fix cause she couldn't find hers. That was pleasurable.

Also to consider is the weather. August is HORRIBLE when it comes to being hot. You want to keep baby comfortable and it is harder to do that when outside all day. Even when the baby is shaded its still hot.

Now if you leave baby with gma and gpa for a day I would so GO FOR IT!!!!!

 

[Mousemommy1]

We have taken our kids as young as 3 months. They have all been great trips. I don't believe you can be "too young".

 

[GrnMtnMan]

We took our daughter on an overseas family vacation when she was 3 months old. I was against it when it was being planned, but my MIL was right and it was a good time to travel (in-laws were ex-pats and were accustomed to travelling with infants).

At 3 months the baby is still pretty immobile and sleeps nearly 20 hours a day. I think it would be a bigger hassle to travel when they are starting to crawl and become more mobile.

My only concern in your plan is August….its just so hot. It can even be too hot in October.

 

[DVCRSheridan]

Yea we're well aware of the August heat as that's when we travel most every since my wife is a teacher. It can be a lot for adults, let alone babies so we definitely get that ..the plus for us would be that we travel to WDW so much that we'd have zero pressure to spend all day in the parks. Most days would be spent relaxing and maybe some park time as it cools off slightly and isn't that midday sun.

 

[kboo]

We've flown long distance with both girls starting when they were around 6-7 weeks, and YDD's first trip to WDW was when she was 3 months old. They did great! ODD flew and traveled internationally from about 6-7 weeks until she was 3 months because DH was traveling for work; we were in Europe and Brazil.

For the first trip to WDW, it was a breeze. I would definitely say to go! I'm not trying to be snarky to the people who are saying not to go, but - for us, with ODD, the fear of taking a trip with such a tiny baby was much much worse than actually doing it. We went to Europe and then Brazil, and the hardest part was getting her passport. We were mostly in hotels and it was nice not to have to clean up after myself all the time, not to have to figure out food shopping and cooking, etc. Our kids were EBF, so there was no need to pumps or bottles or anything else. We had to travel with ODD because my husband was traveling for work, and it would have been a lot easier to go with him than stay home (and it was a wonderful experience, overall). We realized, after having done it, that it's easier to travel with a newborn than a 1-5 yo. So we actually made it a point to travel more with YDD because it was a nice break and the baby is so portable.

OP, I would actually have more trepidation about driving 18 hours, since at that age you'd need to stop every 3 hours or so to nurse the baby and they poop a LOT (ODD was a once a week pooper then; YDD would poop at least 2-3x a day and usually once was a blowout. When we went to WDW we always brought and usually used the extra-set-in-case-of-blowout clothes.) Also, as 1st time parents, if you are driving you will probably bring too much gear, because you can. If you fly, you're limited in what you can bring and then you realize that you really don't need that much stuff with a baby. Seriously, it felt freeing to leave a lot of that behind when we traveled.

Having BTDT, and since you'd probably make a game time decision anyway, I think you have a solid plan in place and would really enjoy it!

 

[DVCRSheridan]

We've flown long distance with both girls starting when they were around 6-7 weeks, and YDD's first trip to WDW was when she was 3 months old. They did great! ODD flew and traveled internationally from about 6-7 weeks until she was 3 months because DH was traveling for work; we were in Europe and Brazil.

For the first trip to WDW, it was a breeze. I would definitely say to go! I'm not trying to be snarky to the people who are saying not to go, but - for us, with ODD, the fear of taking a trip with such a tiny baby was much much worse than actually doing it. We went to Europe and then Brazil, and the hardest part was getting her passport. We were mostly in hotels and it was nice not to have to clean up after myself all the time, not to have to figure out food shopping and cooking, etc. Our kids were EBF, so there was no need to pumps or bottles or anything else. We had to travel with ODD because my husband was traveling for work, and it would have been a lot easier to go with him than stay home (and it was a wonderful experience, overall). We realized, after having done it, that it's easier to travel with a newborn than a 1-5 yo. So we actually made it a point to travel more with YDD because it was a nice break and the baby is so portable.

OP, I would actually have more trepidation about driving 18 hours, since at that age you'd need to stop every 3 hours or so to nurse the baby and they poop a LOT (ODD was a once a week pooper then; YDD would poop at least 2-3x a day and usually once was a blowout. When we went to WDW we always brought and usually used the extra-set-in-case-of-blowout clothes.) Also, as 1st time parents, if you are driving you will probably bring too much gear, because you can. If you fly, you're limited in what you can bring and then you realize that you really don't need that much stuff with a baby. Seriously, it felt freeing to leave a lot of that behind when we traveled.

Having BTDT, and since you'd probably make a game time decision anyway, I think you have a solid plan in place and would really enjoy it!

We've actually heard from several people that flying would be fine. My wife is just afraid that she'll be a ball of nerves flying with the baby at that age. We also don't wanna be "those people" with the screaming baby all flight long (only approx. 2.5 hrs) lol The point you make about bringing so much is funny because that was actually a huge selling point to us lol (1st time parents). Your point absolutely makes sense though. If we did end up driving we'd likely stretch it over 2-3 days rather than rush straight through (partially cuz of how tired we'll be at that point also).

It seems like the main takeaway from all of this is basically, it's doable and just depends on the baby itself and where my wife is in the recovery process.

 

[kboo]

We've actually heard from several people that flying would be fine. My wife is just afraid that she'll be a ball of nerves flying with the baby at that age. We also don't wanna be "those people" with the screaming baby all flight long (only approx. 2.5 hrs) lol The point you make about bringing so much is funny because that was actually a huge selling point to us lol (1st time parents). Your point absolutely makes sense though. If we did end up driving we'd likely stretch it over 2-3 days rather than rush straight through (partially cuz of how tired we'll be at that point also).

It seems like the main takeaway from all of this is basically, it's doable and just depends on the baby itself and where my wife is in the recovery process.

LOL at the idea of bringing so much stuff. If you do drive, you'll have to send us a picture of your packed car, and then at the end of the trip tell us what you could have done without.

I had a colicky baby and a c-section with my first, and probably wouldn't have tried to travel (internationally)(for 6 weeks) except the thought of staying home without my DH's help for 6 weeks sounded even worse. I did work hard to do what I could as far as a healthy c-section recovery, but traveling forced me to get out with the baby for hours at a time and the baby slept great in the stroller or in the baby carrier. She was actually a lot less colicky when we were traveling. I did more than I thought I could, and that really helped my 2nd maternity leave - I got out more, did more, we traveled more.

The flights were easy peasy - she nursed and slept the whole time. It really was starting around 9mo that it became harder to fly with her. But at that age, they're really easy to travel with.

 

[margot31]

We've actually heard from several people that flying would be fine. My wife is just afraid that she'll be a ball of nerves flying with the baby at that age. We also don't wanna be "those people" with the screaming baby all flight long (only approx. 2.5 hrs) lol The point you make about bringing so much is funny because that was actually a huge selling point to us lol (1st time parents). Your point absolutely makes sense though. If we did end up driving we'd likely stretch it over 2-3 days rather than rush straight through (partially cuz of how tired we'll be at that point also).

It seems like the main takeaway from all of this is basically, it's doable and just depends on the baby itself and where my wife is in the recovery process.

One thing to help baby when flying is feed them during take off and landing. Helps equalize their ears since they can't "pop" them like us adults.

Also having a good carrier for baby is the biggest life saver for us. My 6 month old would also nap in that. Even if it was for a 20 min or something it was great. Paid off for that trip. There was just a conversation for a local mom group in FL of a brand that is breathable. So helps keep baby cool.

 

[kboo]

Baby stuff we took when flying internationally:
baby carrier (boba or the like)
umbrella stroller with an infant support cushion
diapers
clothes
baby "nest" with sides that you could put the baby in on the bed so they wouldn't fall out and we wouldn't roll on them. We barely used this with our first, and not at all with our 2nd.

 

[hskaggs11]

Helpful tip for your wife is she has to have a C-section: Be sure to take the pain pills that are offered, and take them as often as suggested. Don't wait until you start to feel pain to start taking the medicine. Also, get up and walk as soon as you are allowed to, even if its down the hallway and back or around your room in the hospital. Take it super easy getting up out of chairs and beds, but also try to change your seating often to get exercise. My baby was in the NICU which was on a different floor of the hospital, so as soon as they let me, I was up and visiting with him, and alternating between standing over his incubator watching him sleep and sitting down doing skin-to-skin. I only went back to my room to eat and take my medicine. by day 2, I wasn't even using the wheelchair to make the long walk down the hallway to the elevator. I really believe that this exercise (and my fear of pain which kept me adhered to my pain pill schedule) is what allowed me to have an almost pain-free recovery. By the time my little guy was ready to come home (17 days later) I was already driving every day to see him, and had no issues lifting him and the carseat. I was dying to get him out of the house, and was taking him to Target and the mall and out to eat by the time he was 4weeks old.

 

[kohlby]

I agree that the driving is what I'd be concerned about. 18 hours of driving is likely far more with a baby. Some babies nurse even more than every 3 hours. And then there's the extra pooping! When we went with a 2 month old, our drive down went well. We did it in just about 8 hours. We could do it in 7.5 without kids so we made excellent time. However, on the way back, our 8 hour drive was 15 hours! It was terrible. There was some traffic but baby had a reaction to dairy (in my breastmilk) and was miserable. That was not a fun drive. I have flown with babies too and it has gone well. Just be warned that the change in cabin pressure when the plane goes up at the start seems to make them poop more in my experience. Then you're stuck with the seatbelt light on hoping the diaper won't leak until it goes off.

As far as recovery, it's a good think you are waiting. I followed all the advice and none of my recoveries from c-sections were fast. I walked as soon as I could and took the pain meds - though the pain meds seemed to do nothing. With babies 1 and 2, there was a huge difference in what I could handle between 6 and 8 weeks though, so I'm guessing going at 2-3 months would mean most could handle it. I had complication with my third making it impossible for me to even go up one single step until 6 weeks after baby was born. Luckily, all three of my babies were very healthy so I didn't have to stress over them. Another plus to waiting - some babies hate the car and some love it. Two out of my three hated it. (The one who didn't hate it was the one who went at 2 months old for the first time). My eldest screamed bloody murder on even 10 minute drives until well into toddlerhood. My third did much better - but we still had to split that 8 hour drive into two days in order to do the trip when we he was 11 months).

 

[Missmilphie]

We flew when dd was 5 months - all totally fine - and I don't think it would have been much different at 3 months travel wise except i'd have been too exhausted as she was waking lots in the night still at 3 months but sleeping 12 hours at 5 months.

Totally depends on the baby and how you're all feeling.

Only thing I would say if you drive is the advice (at least here in the U.K.) is not to drive more than a couple of hours without stopping as the car seat position isn't good for babies to sleep in for long periods (something about their heads can drop down and partially block their airways). So your 18 hr drive could get even longer.

 

[snowwhite84]

If this is your first baby-----personally I wouldn't do it. But that is just me. I was still trying to get in the swing of having a baby at 2 months let alone being sleep deprived. We recently came back when my youngest was 6 months and basically sleeping through the night other than needing a paci fix cause she couldn't find hers. That was pleasurable.

Also to consider is the weather. August is HORRIBLE when it comes to being hot. You want to keep baby comfortable and it is harder to do that when outside all day. Even when the baby is shaded its still hot.

Now if you leave baby with gma and gpa for a day I would so GO FOR IT!!!!!

THIS! I think a seasoned parent going with a newborn is different than a first time parent. My baby is five months right now (our first) and we are planning her first trip for Sept. At the two month mark, there is NO WAY I could have handled Disney. It is such a huge adjustment going from not being a parent to being a parent. At two months I was still trying to figure out how to do things like get a shower or make a meal.

I've seen threads like this on here in the past, and I've noticed that the people who say going with a newborn is fine are often parents who went with a newborn that was not their first child.

 

[KrazeeK120]

THIS! I think a seasoned parent going with a newborn is different than a first time parent. My baby is five months right now (our first) and we are planning her first trip for Sept. At the two month mark, there is NO WAY I could have handled Disney. It is such a huge adjustment going from not being a parent to being a parent. At two months I was still trying to figure out how to do things like get a shower or make a meal.

I've seen threads like this on here in the past, and I've noticed that the people who say going with a newborn is fine are often parents who went with a newborn that was not their first child.

This x100. I think a lot of people (women in particular) underestimate the toll being a new parent takes on your mind and body, even if you bounce back quickly from childbirth and have a baby who sleeps relatively well. I know I was totally unprepared and I was fortunate enough to fall into both of those categories. We took our 18 month old son on his first trip a few weeks ago. We had an amazingly wonderful time, but I questioned myself several times in the planning stages, wondering if we should wait even longer.

Also, not to scare anyone, but something to think about. Apparently my son has pretty bad asthma. We have to use a nebulizer nearly every time he gets a cold. He picked up some respiratory illness in Disney (not shocking, really). He was on a steroid all last week and ended up admitted to the hospital Sunday night for a day. If he were a normal kid, I'm sure he would have cleared the virus fine, but it really kicked up his asthma and we ended up in trouble. We do have a different treatment plan for him now, so hopefully this won't happen again. My point is that you don't know exactly how your child will respond to germs...you may not know about an underlying condition until they become ill. Again, I'm not trying to be scary or tell you what to do. I'm just saying what happened to us. Fortunately, my son is a big strong kid and is now totally back to normal.

 

[snowwhite84]

This x100. I think a lot of people (women in particular) underestimate the toll being a new parent takes on your mind and body, even if you bounce back quickly from childbirth and have a baby who sleeps relatively well. I know I was totally unprepared and I was fortunate enough to fall into both of those categories. We took our 18 month old son on his first trip a few weeks ago. We had an amazingly wonderful time, but I questioned myself several times in the planning stages, wondering if we should wait even longer.

Also, not to scare anyone, but something to think about. Apparently my son has pretty bad asthma. We have to use a nebulizer nearly every time he gets a cold. He picked up some respiratory illness in Disney (not shocking, really). He was on a steroid all last week and ended up admitted to the hospital Sunday night for a day. If he were a normal kid, I'm sure he would have cleared the virus fine, but it really kicked up his asthma and we ended up in trouble. We do have a different treatment plan for him now, so hopefully this won't happen again. My point is that you don't know exactly how your child will respond to germs...you may not know about an underlying condition until they become ill. Again, I'm not trying to be scary or tell you what to do. I'm just saying what happened to us. Fortunately, my son is a big strong kid and is now totally back to normal.

Glad your little one is okay!

I didn't mean to scare OP either, just giving my perspective. We are typically big travelers, and we are actually taking our little one on her first overnight trip next weekend. Just a quick train trip to Philly with one overnight stay in a hotel. It is a practice run for us, as we have her first flight and beach vacation planned four weeks later, and then Disney. She will be a little girl that travels a lot, but Disney is a whole other animal!

OP, I think it is smart to take a wait and see approach. All parents and babies will be different, but for us we needed a wide berth of adjustment time before Disney!

 

[dorospin]

We took a 6 week old in September because we were already in Orlando for something else. I wouldn't do it again. You really have to play it by ear and not have any hard plans - be prepared to stay in the room if the baby is too hot, over stimulated etc. We experienced a diaper blow out in the middle of magic kingdom.. flexibility is key.

 

[jvz82]

We took my daughter at 2 months old. She's my second child, my oldest had just turned 2. Personally, I thought it was amazing. I breastfed so it was easy just to nurse on rides or during air conditioned shows. I wore her in a wrap, which did get hot but we took breaks so we didn't get over heated. If I was sleep deprived, I don't remember it. I'm usually on a Disney high when I'm there so I don't need much sleep. Bringing her at 2 months old was a thousand times easier than bringing a 2 year old, lol.