Disney vacation with a 6 week old?

[we*love*disney]

We have been planning our first Disney vacation for DD in December since before I found out I was pregnant and now we will have a roughly 6 week old as well. Is this completely doable or are we out of our mind? What tips and advice would you give us? Oh, one set of grandparetns will be with us too to help out!

 

[we*love*disney]

anyone??

 

[02AggieGirl]

Ok well, while I've never taken a baby that young (the youngest I've ever taken a baby was 6 months), I'd say it's doable as long as you are up to it! Remember that there's a lot of walking involved! I would definitely take a break in the middle of the day for a nap. And just know that you will have to be very flexible because you may have to stop to feed your little one a lot But with grandparents there to help, it's doable. HTH some!

Jo

 

[02AggieGirl]

Wanted to add that it can get very cold at DW in Dec. We went in 07 and a cold front came thru while we where there, and the high was only in the 30s--granted, it was just for the one day, but still some thing to think about with your baby. When we got there, it was warm and muggy, then the cold front hit and it was so cold and then the rest of the week was lovely weather with highs in the upper 60s.

 

[woodkins]

I would check with your pediatrician first. If I remember correctly I was advised not to take my baby into crowded public places that early as they are not immunized yet and can pick up illnesses very easily, a common cold that a normal person may have can become a major disaster for a newborn.

 

[EthansMom]

I wouldn't do it.

I took DD when she was 11 mos. old. She picked up pink eye and was miserable. The Dr. at the clinic said they see a LOT of WDW guests with pink eye.

Honestly, there are A LOT of illnesses going around at that time of year and most folks DON'T stay home from their trip if they've got a cold or even a case of the flu. And you just can't avoid getting coughed or sneezed on when you're in confined areas with others (airplane, queuing areas, etc..).

Also, you may deliver as far as two or three weeks past your due date, meaning your baby would be 3 or 4 weeks old for the trip.

If I were you, I'd reschedule the trip for next May or so when Baby is older and has a little better immune system.

Congratulations and Good Luck!

 

[sritter78]

We leave next week and our DS will be 6 weeks.I will let you know how it goes.

 

[XYSRUS]

I'm sure tons of people have done it successfully, but I would vote no. Babies have immature immune systems, thermoregulation systems, and are just getting used to being here. And how can you be sure you are going to be ok, physically and emotionally? Just food for thought.

 

[msmama]

Every time someone asks a similar question I say the same thing...

Forget about the baby for a second, will YOU be able to handle the Disney walking at 6 weeks post partum?

There's no way I would have been able to do it. I ended up with a rough labor, and eventual c-section and I was still healing at 6 weeks. I was barely allowed to do stairs.

 

[Bibbidi]

6 months, probably...6 weeks....no. I would try to reschedule. As others have said, if you deliver later than planned, your baby might be younger than 6 weeks. You'll be feeding often, etc and it won't always be convenient. I am also a germophobe, so that side of it with a newborn would worry me too much. I think for your own personal enjoyment and comfort, as well as your new baby's, I would try to postpone the trip.

 

[dis-happy]

I went Thanksgiving week with a 7 week old and it wasn't bad at all. The worst part personally was being sleep deprived, the baby did great. We stay DVC and normally I do some cooking but for that trip we went with the DDP to make things easy.

Some other notes: I brought a full size stroller that had full recline..baby spent most of the time happily laying in there. Bring a rain shield, it can do double duty as a wind buffer if it's really a cold day (make sure you keep the vents open though). I enjoyed the Baby Centers for nursing and downtime. My LandsEnd diaper bag was great for organizing everything and it hung from the back of the stroller the whole time---easy access all day long.

Congratulations and good luck with the trip planning!

 

[wishtdream]

BTDT my DD was 7 weeks old I had a scheduled c-section, the pediatrician gave his blessing. It was a great trip. My advice - get trip insurance just In case something happens before you leave that makes you need to cancel. Get a sling and learn how to use it before you go. And plan to take lots of pictures. I have some great ones that I always post to these threads right after I read about all the doom and gloom.

 

[we*love*disney]

We leave next week and our DS will be 6 weeks.I will let you know how it goes.

Yes PLEASE let me know how it goes!!


Thank you everyone else for all the responses. The trip insurance sounds like something we should look into. I just can't decide what we should do?

 

[we*love*disney]

LOVE your pictures wishtdream!!

 

[a1tinkfans]

Well anything is Doable.

But personally, I think I would forgo the trip....the help of grandparents is great, but I would be more concerned about the season....
of COLDs, FLUs VIRUSES
which are more prevalent in the winter months and with so many people and sniffles and all, to me....I would wait.
Dec is far enough away to make alternative plans and save Disney for a time when your littlest is a bit older to both enjoy the trip and avoid un-necessary risks with health....


Best of Luck in your decision!! Its a tough one!

 

[a1tinkfans]

BTDT my DD was 7 weeks old I had a scheduled c-section, the pediatrician gave his blessing. It was a great trip. My advice - get trip insurance just In case something happens before you leave that makes you need to cancel. Get a sling and learn how to use it before you go. And plan to take lots of pictures. I have some great ones that I always post to these threads right after I read about all the doom and gloom.

Your PIX are BEYOND adorable!!!!!

 

[wishtdream]

Your PIX are BEYOND adorable!!!!!

Thank you.

 

[*BTMRR*]

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

The thought of colic (or even just lots of middle of the night feedings) in a hotel room would be enough to make me want to postpone until age 3 months which is when sleeping and crying settled way down. I would worry about germs too.

For sure you'll at least want trip insurance. If the baby is a preemie, even by just a few weeks, you'll have to think especially hard about germs in RSV season.

 

[abouley]

Not that I would say definitely don't go but.....I think you'd all have a lot more fun if you postponed the trip even just 3-4 months! Maybe go in May? I took my DD to DL at a little over 5 months and it was a great trip! She was able to easily ride all the rides that didn't have height restrictions. She loved looking around on rides like small world and she was so easy to tote around in a sling. She slept in the sling and we just kept riding rides. She could sit in a highchair while we ate our meals and pick at some cheerios! Also, nursing was much more stabilized at that point and quicker. I just remember the 45 minute long nursing sessions at 6 weeks followed by another feeding less than 2 hours after that one ended. If you are nursing, you will spend a lot more time in baby care centers or sitting and nursing while your older child enjoys the rides with dad. For an older baby, you can nurse on the rides, but when they're that young they wouldn't be done during the length of a ride most likely. And, like someone said, if you have middle of the night crying fits, that means none of you are getting any sleep.

If you are close and you go often, I would say all of this is no big deal. But, if you are flying and this is a once every 4 or 5 years kind of trip, I'd wait. I would also be concerned with germs on the plane but not so much at WDW because the baby isn't touching things and you can keep them pretty close to you and covered when in the stroller. You just have to be careful washing your hands.

Whatever you decide, I hope you have a great time!
Alison

 

[we*love*disney]

Thanks again for all of the responses. My biggest thing is that we are getting 5 day park hooper passes for a total of $125(military deal) and the deal expires right before the end of the year. By putting the trip off we are going to have to spend a lot more (around $650 more) on tickets next time we went so this is what's really making the decision hard for me.