Disney with a 3 week old?
- Thread starter WDWMagicGirlie
- Start date
Jessica527
Dreaming Disney Every Minute :)
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Of course it is your decision. But I really recommend a no go on this one. This is going to be more stressful then it is worth. Stress on the baby and stress on you taking care of him/her.
I really recommend staying home for this one. Or... you could do a resort vacation? Have some time to yourself to relax around the resort.
But you know yourself, your body, and your baby.
Bring:
Stroller
Baby Sun Screen (Not always recommended for newborns, ask doctor first)
Hats for baby
Lots of formula, its an on the go kinda trip
If you go, have fun. If not, take the opportunity to keep planning for next trip
I really recommend staying home for this one. Or... you could do a resort vacation? Have some time to yourself to relax around the resort.
But you know yourself, your body, and your baby.
Bring:
Stroller
Baby Sun Screen (Not always recommended for newborns, ask doctor first)
Hats for baby
Lots of formula, its an on the go kinda trip
If you go, have fun. If not, take the opportunity to keep planning for next trip
jake&samsmom
Jordan's Mom too!
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2007
- Messages
- 852
What I brought in our diaper bag for my 10 month old's first visit to WDW last month:
Stroller rain cover with side vents (from babies r us). It's a real lifesaver!
Buckets of hand sanitizer. Or wet ones wipes. Or both.
Formula dispenser and around 6 to 8 baby bottles pre-filled with purified water. Per day.
10 diapers and one ziplock full of wipes per day.
Baby butt cream.
Pacifier and an extra pacifier.
2 to 3 bibs. Per day.
Two to thee burp cloths.
Light blanket.
Heavy blanket for evenings.
Two to three extra sets of clothes, socks, hat. Each set ziplocked individually for easy changing. Make sure you pack for the weather. Bring long sleeved or short sleeved clothing as appropriate.
Diaper changing pad (usually comes with the diaper bag).
Infant Tylenol.
Infant gas drops (Mylicon?).
Stroller fan (did not use in Feb, but you might need).
Off spray --- DO NOT spray ON the baby. Spray on the exterior of stroller. It helps keeps the bugs away. Let stroller dry and smell dissipate before putting baby in.
Small compact umbrella.
Baby safe sunscreen.
For the hotel:
Baby lotion.
Baby wash.
Baby Pajamas.
Etc:
Let people know not to touch your baby. I know babies are a magnet for touchy people, but please tell them not to get too close to the baby's face, and not to touch, please.
Avoid the Disney buses. If you can, rent a car to get around Disney in to avoid the enclosed crowd. True, the parks will be crowded, but at least most of the time, it'll be in the open air.
If a parent is willing to sacrifice, spend more time with baby in room. Let the other parent enjoy the early mornings and late evenings with the older kids. The parent with the baby can catch up later in the day.
Most importantly:
Enjoy your trip. Bond.
Stroller rain cover with side vents (from babies r us). It's a real lifesaver!
Buckets of hand sanitizer. Or wet ones wipes. Or both.
Formula dispenser and around 6 to 8 baby bottles pre-filled with purified water. Per day.
10 diapers and one ziplock full of wipes per day.
Baby butt cream.
Pacifier and an extra pacifier.
2 to 3 bibs. Per day.
Two to thee burp cloths.
Light blanket.
Heavy blanket for evenings.
Two to three extra sets of clothes, socks, hat. Each set ziplocked individually for easy changing. Make sure you pack for the weather. Bring long sleeved or short sleeved clothing as appropriate.
Diaper changing pad (usually comes with the diaper bag).
Infant Tylenol.
Infant gas drops (Mylicon?).
Stroller fan (did not use in Feb, but you might need).
Off spray --- DO NOT spray ON the baby. Spray on the exterior of stroller. It helps keeps the bugs away. Let stroller dry and smell dissipate before putting baby in.
Small compact umbrella.
Baby safe sunscreen.
For the hotel:
Baby lotion.
Baby wash.
Baby Pajamas.
Etc:
Let people know not to touch your baby. I know babies are a magnet for touchy people, but please tell them not to get too close to the baby's face, and not to touch, please.
Avoid the Disney buses. If you can, rent a car to get around Disney in to avoid the enclosed crowd. True, the parks will be crowded, but at least most of the time, it'll be in the open air.
If a parent is willing to sacrifice, spend more time with baby in room. Let the other parent enjoy the early mornings and late evenings with the older kids. The parent with the baby can catch up later in the day.
Most importantly:
Enjoy your trip. Bond.
justhat
<font color=teal>DC DISer<br><font color=red>pick
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2002
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- 7,449
Normally I am not one to say "stay home" with an infant. In fact, we would have gone to WDW with my 3rd at 2 weeks old last year, but I ended up with an emergency c-section, so my husband didn't think I'd want to make the drive and instead he called my mom to stay for a week, his mom for a week, and his sister for a week. Well, there was a blizzard and turns out his sister couldn't get a flight in, so instead, the 5 of us were snowed in at home, it was too late to get to WDW (as my husband had to be back at work the following week, so with a 2 day drive roundtrip, wouldn't have happened), and we were all stir-crazy and annoyed. So we drove to my mom in NJ instead! 
Anyway, here's my point. My cousin just had her 3rd baby on March 2nd. He was a full term induction, sent home with mom on the 4th, healthy and happy. On the 6th, my cousin noticed that the baby was starting to breathe funny, like he was out of breath. They took him to urgent care where she was told "Your baby is too sick to be treated here, we're taking him via ambulance to a medical center with a specialized PICU 1.5 hours away." Once they were there, she found out her baby was born with 2 congenital heart defects and would need immediate surgery. BUT, since this was undiagnosed for days (and not visible on the prenatal ultrasounds), his lower organs had been deprived of oxygen and he was in liver and kidney failure, and his intestines has slowed down as well. For 48 hours they didn't know if he'd survive at all. He was on a ventilator, more medications than you could imagine, was under sedation to keep him calm and his heartrate low, couldn't be held or touched by his parents, etc. 10 days after he was brought to the hospital, he was healthy enough for surgery and underwent a 10 hour open heart surgery which, thankfully, repaired both of his defects. That was over a week ago and he is still in the PICU, just got off the ventilator yesterday, heart is working perfectly, but he's still on tons of meds and has a nasal cannula in. He is 3 weeks old today.
Based on his sad, sad little story, I would say plan to stay home and let your husband take your older kids. You never know what the baby might be born with, what issues could develop after birth. My 3rd had severe reflux and at 3 weeks old spent her days and nights SCREAMING cause we had no idea she was in such pain. It wasn't until her 1 month check up that we diagnosed the reflux, and not until 6 weeks old that we got the med dose correct, and determined dairy and nut allergies, that the screaming died down a bit. And my husband is a physician yet even he had no idea what to do!
I am sure dad can handle your older ones on his own, they'll have fun, and a break from the baby stuff, and you'll get time home to bond with the little one without the others demanding your time and attention.
In fact, that was our plan after my c-section, my husband was going to drive to WDW with the older kids while I stayed with his sister at our house. But with the snow he couldn't leave when he wanted to, then when his sister couldn't get on a flight he felt badly leaving me home alone at a couple of weeks post-op, so we all stayed home. The kids never knew of our plan so they weren't disappointed.
Anyway, here's my point. My cousin just had her 3rd baby on March 2nd. He was a full term induction, sent home with mom on the 4th, healthy and happy. On the 6th, my cousin noticed that the baby was starting to breathe funny, like he was out of breath. They took him to urgent care where she was told "Your baby is too sick to be treated here, we're taking him via ambulance to a medical center with a specialized PICU 1.5 hours away." Once they were there, she found out her baby was born with 2 congenital heart defects and would need immediate surgery. BUT, since this was undiagnosed for days (and not visible on the prenatal ultrasounds), his lower organs had been deprived of oxygen and he was in liver and kidney failure, and his intestines has slowed down as well. For 48 hours they didn't know if he'd survive at all. He was on a ventilator, more medications than you could imagine, was under sedation to keep him calm and his heartrate low, couldn't be held or touched by his parents, etc. 10 days after he was brought to the hospital, he was healthy enough for surgery and underwent a 10 hour open heart surgery which, thankfully, repaired both of his defects. That was over a week ago and he is still in the PICU, just got off the ventilator yesterday, heart is working perfectly, but he's still on tons of meds and has a nasal cannula in. He is 3 weeks old today.
Based on his sad, sad little story, I would say plan to stay home and let your husband take your older kids. You never know what the baby might be born with, what issues could develop after birth. My 3rd had severe reflux and at 3 weeks old spent her days and nights SCREAMING cause we had no idea she was in such pain. It wasn't until her 1 month check up that we diagnosed the reflux, and not until 6 weeks old that we got the med dose correct, and determined dairy and nut allergies, that the screaming died down a bit. And my husband is a physician yet even he had no idea what to do!
I am sure dad can handle your older ones on his own, they'll have fun, and a break from the baby stuff, and you'll get time home to bond with the little one without the others demanding your time and attention.
In fact, that was our plan after my c-section, my husband was going to drive to WDW with the older kids while I stayed with his sister at our house. But with the snow he couldn't leave when he wanted to, then when his sister couldn't get on a flight he felt badly leaving me home alone at a couple of weeks post-op, so we all stayed home. The kids never knew of our plan so they weren't disappointed.
It is sadly, extremely common for neonates (birth to 3 weeks) to return to the hospital. Babies actually have very little immunity, particularly if they are not being nursed.
I also keep thinking of my friends bringing home their adopted infant daughter from China and literally having to go straight from the plane to the hospital because she wasn't completely healthy when they got her from the ophanage and she developed a fever on the trip home.
There are also people from all over the world in DW, a good percentage of those people carry TB unknowingly - just as one example. It doesn't even have to be someone touching the baby. CM with a virus moves stroller, mom goes and gets stroller and has those germs on her hands now. I nursed my kids and worried less about these things as a result, but anytime you have a neonate with a fever it's going to mean a hospital stay, so it is best to do what is necessary to keep a neonate healthy. Going where there are thousands of people from all different places is not helpful.
Yes, everything will probably be fine, and I truly think the OP is well meaning and just trying to keep her older children happy. But, this baby isn't even born yet, and things happen. I too am shocked that a peditrician would say it's okay.
And, to those up running around after a c-section, don't! I did the same thing after my second, and totally regretted it when I had the third. I had a lot more adhesions and scar tissue than normal and recovery from the third was AWFUL.
I also keep thinking of my friends bringing home their adopted infant daughter from China and literally having to go straight from the plane to the hospital because she wasn't completely healthy when they got her from the ophanage and she developed a fever on the trip home.
There are also people from all over the world in DW, a good percentage of those people carry TB unknowingly - just as one example. It doesn't even have to be someone touching the baby. CM with a virus moves stroller, mom goes and gets stroller and has those germs on her hands now. I nursed my kids and worried less about these things as a result, but anytime you have a neonate with a fever it's going to mean a hospital stay, so it is best to do what is necessary to keep a neonate healthy. Going where there are thousands of people from all different places is not helpful.
Yes, everything will probably be fine, and I truly think the OP is well meaning and just trying to keep her older children happy. But, this baby isn't even born yet, and things happen. I too am shocked that a peditrician would say it's okay.
And, to those up running around after a c-section, don't! I did the same thing after my second, and totally regretted it when I had the third. I had a lot more adhesions and scar tissue than normal and recovery from the third was AWFUL.
GinnyEmma
DIS Veteran
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- Nov 29, 2010
- Messages
- 2,151
Of course it is your decision. But I really recommend a no go on this one. This is going to be more stressful then it is worth. Stress on the baby and stress on you taking care of him/her.
I really recommend staying home for this one. Or... you could do a resort vacation? Have some time to yourself to relax around the resort.
But you know yourself, your body, and your baby.
It has nothing to do with her body and she doesn't know her baby. That is the issue.
When my son was about 3 weeks old we went to Vancouver, BC. We drove but we also did the aquarium there. It was a nice trip and my son did not get sick or die from the trip and being around people.
No one really knows what will happen but I have never been one to stay home for weeks with my kids. My youngest was at Target the day we were released from the hospital (her grandma worked there). She was never sick as a baby just fussy from time to time (what we get for nicknaming her Eeyore).
OP - just take breaks and give yourself one on one time with the baby and the other kids.
No one really knows what will happen but I have never been one to stay home for weeks with my kids. My youngest was at Target the day we were released from the hospital (her grandma worked there). She was never sick as a baby just fussy from time to time (what we get for nicknaming her Eeyore).
OP - just take breaks and give yourself one on one time with the baby and the other kids.
GinnyEmma
DIS Veteran
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Lol, I am thinking the Vancouver aquarium is a bit less populated than wdw.
This is a child who has been in stress in utero. Good bm or bad bm there is stess in the process. No the baby is not likely to drop dead (God forbid). There is a serious concern for illness just to visit a theme park? What the crap? Why would that baby's health is less important than dole whips?
This is a child who has been in stress in utero. Good bm or bad bm there is stess in the process. No the baby is not likely to drop dead (God forbid). There is a serious concern for illness just to visit a theme park? What the crap? Why would that baby's health is less important than dole whips?
MistressMerryweather
DIS Veteran
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- Apr 14, 2010
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I don't understand why people are telling the OP to STAY HOME? It is *not* an option to just "sit this one out". The OP has to go pick up her adopted baby and she will need to stay in the area to do what she needs to do in regards to that adoption. If the baby has problems, the baby has problems. The OP will need to be where she needs to be to take of picking up her new baby. I am quite sure someone will not be waiting for her at the airport with her baby so that she can turn around and go right home to "take cover" and bond. The OP can bond with her baby where ever she is. I'm quite sure she doesn't intend on going commando at parks for days with a newborn.
Mouse House Mama
Luckiest Mommy in the World!!!
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It is always an option to cancel a vacation. While I would never take a newborn to WDW even if I was adopting I wanted to reiterate that the OP should plan on canceling just in case something with the adoption itself goes awry. The BM could be lying about many things, the baby could God forbid have issues, the child could come late, they may have to stay in the area of the birth for longer than planned etc. etc. etc. You never know. No birth is a perfect science. That is what she really needs to prepare for.
I also believe that WDW will always be there. No need to take a baby to the world's biggest peetree dish. You don't have to stay locked in your home but taking an infant that little to one of the most crowded places in the world is certainly upping the chances of sickness. Why not get the baby home first and then see how it goes? YMMV.
justhat
<font color=teal>DC DISer<br><font color=red>pick
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Did she say she's adopting in Orlando? I didn't get that impression. It seemed that these were separate events.
GinnyEmma
DIS Veteran
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Exactly. Staying in a nice quiet hotel is one thing. Taking the poor little disoriented thing, taken from whomever he has bonded with, and jumping into the overstimulation, germs and crowds at a theme would be smart in what universe?
Heck around here there is a thead every other day about "my Ds just came down with typhoid and we leave Friday! Do you think he will be up to the trip?"
What makes anyone think this is the best thing for. the. baby?
I've known too many people who worked so hard, prayed so hard, and had to deal with false hope (which I pray the op does not have to deal with) to understand why anyone would not do everything in their human power to take care of and cherish such an incredible gift.
Even now, if someone handed me a little guy (and I have never been through this need or process) I would not waste my first precious days with him stuffing him in a pack. I would be making eye contact, touching, sniffing (ok, a bit weird, lol) talking and loving on him. Not standing in line for an autograph.
Heck around here there is a thead every other day about "my Ds just came down with typhoid and we leave Friday! Do you think he will be up to the trip?"
What makes anyone think this is the best thing for. the. baby?
I've known too many people who worked so hard, prayed so hard, and had to deal with false hope (which I pray the op does not have to deal with) to understand why anyone would not do everything in their human power to take care of and cherish such an incredible gift.
Even now, if someone handed me a little guy (and I have never been through this need or process) I would not waste my first precious days with him stuffing him in a pack. I would be making eye contact, touching, sniffing (ok, a bit weird, lol) talking and loving on him. Not standing in line for an autograph.
MistressMerryweather
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I assumed(which is never a good idea LOL) that she was flying to pick him up in the Orlando area because I can't even conceive of flying to pick up a 3 week old adopted infant, then flying back out again to DW for a vacation.
I mean, if you are already in the area and need to be there...but if that's not the case, then I *do* think it's crazy nuts and irresponsible.
WDWMagicGirlie
Mouseketeer
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Just an update....the adoption has fallen through, so everyone can breathe a sigh of relief...
MistressMerryweather
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Just an update....the adoption has fallen through, so everyone can breathe a sigh of relief...
Oh hon.
I'm so sorry. That is heartbreaking. 
MomtoAlexnWilliam
DIS Veteran
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Just an update....the adoption has fallen through, so everyone can breathe a sigh of relief...
I am so so so so sorry!!!
tigger51276
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Ohh that is just awful. I'm am so sorry, I can't imagine the feeling. Hopefully this won't put a damper on your vacation with your family and best of luck next time!Just an update....the adoption has fallen through, so everyone can breathe a sigh of relief...
Sugardimples
DIS Veteran
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So sorry to hear that the adoption has fallen through.
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