Disney with a 3 week old?

[WDWMagicGirlie]

Does anyone have any tips for traveling to Disney with a 3 week old? Using stroller or wrap...what to wear...etc.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Carnie]

At 3 weeks old, the baby has very little immunity to anything.

The happiest place on earth is also the host to tens of thousands of people, some of whom have various contagious diseases that a newborn could easily succumb to and DIE.

This combined with heat, noise, distractions and lack of schedule are a recipe for disaster.

If this is your baby, I STONGLY advise you to sit this one out. There are many, many more opportunities to enjoy WDW later on. Don't risk such a tiny person's well being just for a vacation.

 

[Jenny-momof3]

Wow...you are one very brave woman to take a 3 week old to Disney! The youngest I've done was 10 weeks with my 4th baby...last spring break. My ped. said absolutely no long out of state traveling til the first big series of shots at 8 weeks. I wore him in a Beco Butterfly 2 the whole trip. He was a super super easy baby so he did great. But a few days got in the mid 80's and he couldn't handle the heat. So I had to head back to the resort while the others stayed in the parks. Not sure when you're planning your trip...but make sure you factor in the temps. Newborns do NOT do well with the heat!!

I don't believe you can fly with an infant that young so you'll need to drive. Barring any issues like reflux,etc. you should just have to stop every 2 hours to feed and change. Baby will probably sleep a ton at that point. That's also a point where they have a big growth spurt so going much longer than 2 hours without feeding will equal a very unhappy baby!

Is this your first baby? I only ask because there is just no way I could have done Disney 3 weeks after my first! I had a rough delivery, felt terrible, sleep deprived, and trying to get through each day was tough enough! I couldn't have done it with my 2nd either....going from 1 to 2 kicked my a$$! But if this is your 3rd, 4th,etc...then go for it! I easily could've done Disney with my 3rd and 4th babies at 3 weeks...but ped. strongly discouraged it!

 

[imthatgirl]

My advice would be ...don't, but it looks like you are leaving soon so that advice is useless.
It appears if you are leaving in 35 days you haven't had the child yet? What if the child is a little late? Or what if there are complications? If you had a C section would YOU even be able to go?

I'd be very worried about the whole thing.

One thing I will add is if you do go, I would advise against wearing the baby in that kind of heat. Most likely the week you are going it will be high 80s(at best) to mid 90s. I wouldn't wear a baby(especially a newborn) for more then 15 minutes in that kind of heat.

 

[Hoodie]

Buy trip insurance because I doubt you'll want to go!

Depending on delivery, you may not be able to go either. After my c-section I wasn't allowed to really do much until 6 weeks and believe me, I didn't want to do much! I certainly couldn't walk enough for Disney.

 

[juliebean]

Congrats, but I have to agree with the pp's. Babies that young cannot regulate their body temp well, and they will be exposed to germs from thousands of people. Not to mention, even if you have a regular delivery - and 1/3 of deliveries are c-sections - your body needs time to recover.

Sorry, I'd sit this one out at home. If you feel you can't I'd be very careful to not get the baby overheated, wash your hands as often as possible and keep people from touching the baby.

Keep in mind - people post on here all the time that they are in DW and their child has a fever...with a newborn you need to go straight to the ER, things can go badly very quickly and there is no time to waste wondering if you should get your ped's advice first.

 

[Hoodie]

My advice would be ...don't, but it looks like you are leaving soon so that advice is useless.
It appears if you are leaving in 35 days you haven't had the child yet? What if the child is a little late? Or what if there are complications? If you had a C section would YOU even be able to go?

I'd be very worried about the whole thing.

One thing I will add is if you do go, I would advise against wearing the baby in that kind of heat. Most likely the week you are going it will be high 80s(at best) to mid 90s. I wouldn't wear a baby(especially a newborn) for more then 15 minutes in that kind of heat.

I'd second all of this - and remember, a 3 week old shouldn't have sunscreen put on her and can dehydrate very quickly.

 

[Nancyg56]

My advice to this would be do not go. If your baby got sick you would not be near your pediatrician. Just not worth it to me.

 

[WDWMagicGirlie]

I am sorry...I should have explained more...we really don't have a choice. We are adopting and we have to fly to pick him up...we already had the trip planned, paid for, etc., and my older children would be very disappointed. We had no idea that our adoption would happen to fall right before our trip...

I checked with my pediatrician and they said it was fine...just to keep him covered, etc.

I was just looking for some tips for traveling/Disney with a newborn.

Thank you!

 

[tms295psu]

Don't do it...

I am all for taking little kids (even infants) to Disney but I think 3 weeks is too young. Like previous posters... there are way to many people and their GERMS.

My son (now 3 months old) ended up hospitalized for 3 days when he started running a fever at 10 days old.

I did not take him out (except 1 afternoon to have newborn photos taken) and limited all our visitors... Still he managed to pick something up.

A trip to the ER, numerous blood tests, urine cath, SPINAL TAP, chest xrays, Antibotics and a $12,000 bill for our insurance company. They sent us home saying he must have been exposed to a cold virus, but in a small infant even a common cold can become life threatening so they do not take a fever lightly in a child under 6 weeks old.

If you do, please DO NOT BE SHY ABOUT TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO TOUCH OR GET TO CLOSE TO YOUR KID. My MIL thinks I am a mean, insensitive person because I will out right tell people not to touch my kids (why do strangers feel it is okay is beyond me). Mean, insensitive, or outright B-(female dog), they are my children and its my responsiblity to keep them safe (and healthy). And carry TONS of hand sanitizer.

 

[juliebean]

Congrats - the timing is tough, but I think your older kids would understand if you waited a couple of months. We have several friends that have adopted, and honestly several of the babies have been medically fragile because of in utero or infection issues after delivery. Again - congrats

 

[GinnyEmma]

I'd look for another ped. There is nothing to indicate that this would be a good idea for a newborn. Especially one that has already experienced some trauma. I'd be telling my kids we could go in three months.

 

[dragonfly08]

I could barely walk at 3 weeks PP with my first. And had I not been induced at exactly 40 weeks for medical reasons related to DDs heart rate, she wouldn't even have been born "on time" to begin with.

I was running 2.5-3 miles by 3 weeks PP with #2, so *I* was fine (and it just goes to show you how different deliveries can be) but neither of my kids would have been ready for long days at Disney, with the possible germs and all, at that age. YMMV, of course, but I'm with the PPs that this isn't necessarily the best idea.

ETA: I just read your follow up, so now I know that you won't have any physical limitations. I'd still be wary of taking a 3 week old to Disney since the baby won't be vaccinated yet. Yes, the older kids would be disappointed but that's an unfortunate part of life. That said, if you do still go, keep the baby covered (sunscreen isn't recommended at that age, as you know from your older children). A carrier might be helpful but I'd absolutely have a stroller as well because the baby could easily overheat spending too much time snuggled up against you since s/he can't regulate body temperature well. Keep the baby hydrated, dress in loose clothing and use layers, discourage anyone from getting too close to minimize the risk of illness. Congratulations on your adoption!

 

[imthatgirl]

I am sorry...I should have explained more...we really don't have a choice. We are adopting and we have to fly to pick him up...we already had the trip planned, paid for, etc., and my older children would be very disappointed. We had no idea that our adoption would happen to fall right before our trip...

I checked with my pediatrician and they said it was fine...just to keep him covered, etc.

I was just looking for some tips for traveling/Disney with a newborn.

Thank you!

You're pediatrician said this? The child isn't even born yet. I would have severe reservations, you have no idea how this child's birth will go.

I would postpone the trip. There is nothing more important then the safety of your child, not a WDW vacation nor the desires of older children.

 

[Carnie]

I am sorry...I should have explained more...we really don't have a choice. We are adopting and we have to fly to pick him up...we already had the trip planned, paid for, etc., and my older children would be very disappointed. We had no idea that our adoption would happen to fall right before our trip...

I checked with my pediatrician and they said it was fine...just to keep him covered, etc.

I was just looking for some tips for traveling/Disney with a newborn.

Thank you!

So what? Have DH take the older kids if it's that much of an issue. This baby needs quiet time to acclimate and rest. When do you plan on bonding with this child? While spinning around on Dumbo?

Dragging this baby along on this trip is selfish. What is best for the BABY right now is most important.

 

[Jenny-momof3]

So your trip is in a month or so? The heat is pretty intense by that point down there. I can't imagine that would be safe for a 3 week old.

We cancelled our June trip last year after seeing how mid 80's was rough on my 10 week old on our late March spring break trip. He would've been 5 months old at that point so maybe able to deal with it a little better...but I wasn't willing to take the risk. Were my kids dissapointed...sure! But they understood why and knew that we would be back again. Your kids will understand too.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Congratulations on the adoption of your precious son! I formed my family through adoption too and it's an amazing way to become a family!!!

I'm really sorry but I have to chime in with the rest that this time I would spend my vacay in the room with baby and have daddy take the older children to the park. I know you want to be there but baby must be priority #1.

 

[WDWMagicGirlie]

Thank you all for your advice. Of course, the baby is priority #1...we will see as the weeks unfold...we may just have a Disney party at home.

Thanks again!

 

[adventure_woman]

Well...if you do plan to go, I would bring a stretchy wrap to wrap baby in. I LOVED mine, and I have worn her in the heat. The one I have is a Lovey Duds, you can buy the bamboo one which is supposed to be a little bit better in heat. BTW - there is NO WAY I would go w/o babywearing....baby will want to be close to you and that way too you don't have to worry about sunscreen (just throw a hat on) and people won't touch baby.

http://www.loveyduds.com/

You can also try this thing - I haven't yet but I think I am going to on my trip in August.

FROGG TOGG TOGGS CHILLY PAD COOLING TOWEL FROG TOG
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320637111058&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[carebee21]

As mentioned, I would be concerned with all of the germs and heat. I would also be concerned because it looks like you're planning to travel during Easter week, so it's going to be crowded. If you wear the baby, you never know when people aren't paying attention and will run into you. And with the baby being so small, that would concern me.

Also, if the baby is only going to be three weeks old when you travel, what happens if the baby is late? If it's two weeks late, the baby is only going to be one week old when you go.....