Disney with a baby

[Tara1988]

I can't bear to postpone our trip anymore. We cancelled our trip this year for reasons I now find ridiculous. So we decided to wait until next year late summer/early fall. And now I found out I'm pregnant. I really don't want to push it back again, but I'm just not sure how it will work with a 3 month old (hopefully girl), and my boys will be almost 6 and almost 2. Originally, we were going to stay at AoA, but since we're outnumbered now, I thought it would be a good idea to have some help. Our nanny offered to come along, but she has 3 kids of her own who have never been, and although she said she would come without them, I wouldn't feel right leaving them out. Would we be better off staying on site and trying to handle it on our own, or renting a house and bringing help. (grandparents might be an option too, but we aren't ready to announce the pregnancy to family)

 

[littleblackegg]

I'm so confused. Why would you need to bring your nanny and her family with you on your family's vacation? Child care professionals don't expect to bring their families along when traveling with an employer. All those people sounds stressful, especially with a new little one. Perhaps you could hire a nanny in Orlando if the grandparents can't come. That time of year is very hot, and you will want plenty of rest and privacy. I'd stay close for naps and pool access. Keep it simple.

 

[Tara1988]

I'm so confused. Why would you need to bring your nanny and her family with you on your family's vacation? Child care professionals don't expect to bring their families along when traveling with an employer. All those people sounds stressful, especially with a new little one. Perhaps you could hire a nanny in Orlando if the grandparents can't come. That time of year is very hot, and you will want plenty of rest and privacy. I'd stay close for naps and pool access. Keep it simple.

We actually talked about taking our kids at the same time since they are friends, but she isn't sure they can afford it. I'm used to going in big groups, I've been going with my extended family of at least 10 for years. We've only gone once with just me, my husband and oldest son. The only problem I can see with going with her family, is adults are still very outnumbered, so it would still be hard for me to sneak away with the baby if I needed. But still probably easier than leaving my husband in the park with a 2 and 6 year old. I'm definitely not going to hire someone there, even though I've heard more good stories than horror stories, I couldn't trust a stranger in a strange place with my babies

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

My husband and I take our 5 kids on our own and it's not that bad, we did HS when youngest was 5 weeks and I was nursing and DH was fine with the other 4 (ages 2 - 8). I would try to leave him when he was sitting down somewhere like a show, play area or while they were having a snack. We also used a Baby Bjorn. It was great for holding the baby while pushing a stroller or holding a hand. I have learned that you are usually capable of more than you think, don't go into thinking that you can't handle it and you guys should be fine.

 

[Raenstoirm]

We brought our twins for their first trip at 13 weeks. It was just my husband and I. Your toddler is going to need a nap and wont be able to go on the big kid rides anyway so the baby doesn't change that. Baby wear. You'll be fine.

 

[jvz82]

We went when my daughter was 8 weeks old! We also had a 2 year old at the time. Actually, she was waaaay easier than the 2 year old, lol. I wore her in a wrap and just nursed her when she needed. Otherwise she was content to sleep snuggled into the wrap the whole time and I was able to take her on almost every family ride. We also went to Disney another time when we had a 1 year old, almost 3 year old, and almost 5 year old. Again, the baby was the easiest one to deal with. Invest in a good carrier and you'll be ok!!

Personally I would NOT bring the nanny and nanny's family. The more people you have, the more stressful things get. How is she going to actually help you when she has 3 of her own kids? You're better off just going with your family!

 

[CLR4321]

Small babies are easy at WDW. Bring a baby carrier for sure. At 3 months, most babies will sleep A LOT if you are wearing them around. You can wear them in the carrier on the ride too. If the newborn is the only reason that you are considering bringing the nanny, I'd just do without. Kids Nite out has in-room babysitters that you can hire by the hour if you need. I have heard awesome things about them.

 

[maxiesmom]

I would just go without the nanny. If you bring her and her kids she will not be much if any help to you nanny-wise. She will have her own family to look after.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We brought our 10 yr old, 8 yr old and 3 month old. No nanny. It was really a breeze.

For her to want to bring her own family is pretty unprofessional, IMHO

 

[kohlby]

Our first with-kids trip had a 2 month old and barely 3 year old. We did fine, but there was a learning curve - with the 3 year old. I'm presuming you are talking about going with your partner as well? So, you would have two adults. It is quite do-able with two adults. Our first 3-kids trip had an 11 month old, 3 year old and 6 year old. We did 7 different parks over 8 days. (4 Disney parks, US, IOA, SW). And we did great! I don't have really easy kids either or ones that ever nap in strollers or back in the room either!

However, if you are not talking about going with a partner - just you and three little kids, then I would hire the nanny to come without her kids to help. Otherwise, you can handle it with two adults and it is easier planning things according to your family - not the nanny's. Kids can be wild cards, especially a 2 year old. It's so much easier to plan just for your 3 kids, not needing to add extras in. As for your husband handling two kids if you need to tend to one, he can do it - but there's a better chance that you'll need to plan around the 2 year old than the baby. One thing we did when we had a 6 year old and two littles, was to go back to the room after an early dinner - and then the eldest went back out if he wasn't too tired with hubby, since I was nursing. It got the oldest child some special one-on-one time. Even the eldest just going down to the pool with daddy while the littles go to bed early can be a special big-kid treat.

 

[Baklava]

While it's sweet of you to offer to bring her kids, at the point at which your nanny has her own 3 in the parks she stops being a useful resource.

It is okay to bring the paid employee without her children. It is also okay to choose a different (preferably childless) adult to come along. Is there a cool aunt or someone? Really, I think 2 adults with 3 kids these ages will be fine.

 

[Tara1988]

While it's sweet of you to offer to bring her kids, at the point at which your nanny has her own 3 in the parks she stops being a useful resource.

It is okay to bring the paid employee without her children. It is also okay to choose a different (preferably childless) adult to come along. Is there a cool aunt or someone? Really, I think 2 adults with 3 kids these ages will be fine.

Normally I would agree that 2 adults can handle 3 kids at Disney, but I will be the one riding with the kids on most things. My husband won't ride any 3D rides or anything that spins, he says even big slow circles like dumbo make him nauseous. I'm also considering having my sister and nephew come with us since before I found out about the pregnancy, I was planning on bringing him with us anyway. But she's in law school so it depends on her schedule.

 

[kohlby]

Normally I would agree that 2 adults can handle 3 kids at Disney, but I will be the one riding with the kids on most things. My husband won't ride any 3D rides or anything that spins, he says even big slow circles like dumbo make him nauseous. I'm also considering having my sister and nephew come with us since before I found out about the pregnancy, I was planning on bringing him with us anyway. But she's in law school so it depends on her schedule.

There are very few rides that are for only two people that an almost 2 year old can go on. You could use rider swap in those situations.

 

[kboo]

If DH won't go on many of the rides, then have him get used to wearing the baby as he can do that and manage the 2-year old if you go on the spinning rides with the eldest. You'll be technically outnumbered but the baby can't actually move or do anything so it's sort of like wearing a heavy pack. . FYI we are heading to WDW on a family trip in March - DH will be around for the first half of the trip but then I'll be managing a 3 month old and a 4 year old myself. We will be ok - the baby is the least of my worries. If there's a day we want to do rides with height restrictions so the baby can't go on them, I'll probably hire someone from KNO to stay with the baby in the room for a few hours while I tackle the "big kid" rides with the 4yo. I've used them before - they are excellent.