Don't be put off going to Disney with young baby!

[tinkerpea]

I also really enjoyed taking babies to Disney, my oldest was 4months for 3 wk trip then I took him whn he was 1 for 4 weeks!
Took the twins for the 1st time at 13 months ( that was an experience and a half on the plane lol) they was just toddling and so either slept on the floor of the plane or was walking up and down! Once at Disney though it was truly amazing!

I have loved every trip in a different way when taking my boys, as babies it was wonderful to see the characters interact with them BUT when they was toddlers it was great to see the magic through their eyes and see them interact with the characters themselves

Now the boys are older its great to have them plan the trip with us and be able to ride everything we do!
That being said I can't wait to have another and experience the whole Disney baby stage again especially the swimming and being able to be in warm water in the sun with my little one perfect

 

[janeyb]

I'm glad that this post has reassured some of you. My other 2 daughters were great when we took them at 12 months old for the first time and also great and easy to deal with but I had been a little apprehensive with dd3 as that 6 months months can make a big difference. This little one has been in and out of hospital as well so a little more of a worry.

A few days on and she is still a little star. The biggest thing is keeping her cool without limiting what my 7 & 8 year old girls can do! Yesterday for example when we went to Epcot they really wanted to do Kidcot, where you visit each country to visit each cm to get your passport stamped and a message in each language. Half way around the showcase the baby was so hot even with me darting into all the air on shops etc.

Someone stood next to me looked at the temp on her phone and it was 97°. Thankfully I had bought a new stroller for this trip with a huge hood that almost shades her totally from the sun, it also has a mesh back when she is lying back so she gets a lot more ventilation than the Maclaren I always used for the girls. We also bought a fan/mist sprayer from Wal-Mart which has been a godsend.

The other thing thing that has been great is a huge muslin square to cover the pushchair hood and her totally and to stop the distractions when I need her to sleep. I bought a 'Shade a babe' with me but the huge Muslim square is working better. It also works well over her legs in the evening to stop any bites. I also use a deer free mosquito band around her ankle which I got from jojo maman bebe which is working well whilst she sleeps as we are watching the movies under the stars in the resort in the evening.

She is loving all the pool time as well, playing with her big sisters although I have to do it in short bursts and keep her in the shade the rest of the time but it is working well.

With regards to rides, if there is something I really want to do then my dh takes the girls first then I get a rider swap fastpass, although to be honest after such a hectic and stressful 6 months, I enjoy either mooching around an air conditioned shop or sitting in the shade watching the world go by whilst they are on a ride.

So all still going well and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Yesterday Pluto sat on the floor and put her between his legs. She fell forward and he copied her resting his head in his hands, she was giggling away at him for ages. After seeing my little girl in so much distress for so long it's an amazing feeling to see her so happy and content for the first time.

 

[janeyb]

Sorry that was meant to say 'deet' free band, not 'deer' free!!!

 

[lfortin16]

I'm not sure what to do.
We've been planning this trip to WDW for almost a year.
My DS will be about 12 1/2 months.
My MIL offered to watch him, so my DH and I could concentrate on his 2 DD's and my 2 DD- ages 7, 4, 4, and 2.
As you can see, we will have our hands full!
I'm not sure we could handle the baby, too.
Now my MIL has just backed out of babysitting.
What can we do??

 

[disneyholic family]

DS's first trip to WDW was when he was 6 weeks old

i don't know that he thought much of it at the time, but DD (age 2.5 at that time) was in seventh heaven....it was her second trip to WDW....
(i think her first was when i was pregnant with DS)...

we figured a trip to WDW was a great consolation prize for having to share her parents with DS.....
she got a lot of one on one time with DH on that trip, riding rides with him...

we have great pictures from that trip...DS being held by the big cheese himself....Mickey is sitting down and DS is in his arms....really cute picture..
and tons and tons of character pictures with a very very happy DD!
if i have any of the pictures in photobucket, i'll post them..

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

Don't worry it does get easier to feed and honestly in a few weeks you will so glad when you watch other mums faffing with bottles

Elise....some of us had a baby that point blank refused to breast feed, yes, really! I was helped by many NHS professionals but he still ended up on formula. I did not "faff" with bottles taking my 9 month old to Disneyworld as by then he was on only about 3 bottles a day and mostly solid food (we did baby led weaning), bottles do not have to be made with boiling water, just sterile water and whilst in the air we used formula cartons or cold, bottled water, he was fine.

So please don't put us formula feeding mums down by saying that breastfeeding mums will be glad as they watch us faff with bottles...not true! Breastfeeding is obviously best and most convenient but is not for everyone, I really wish I had been able to feed my son successfully but it was not to be.

Anyway now I have that off my chest, yes taking a young baby to WDW is a walk in the park. do it!

 

[luke]

Elise....some of us had a baby that point blank refused to breast feed, yes, really! I was helped by many NHS professionals but he still ended up on formula. I did not "faff" with bottles taking my 9 month old to Disneyworld as by then he was on only about 3 bottles a day and mostly solid food (we did baby led weaning), bottles do not have to be made with boiling water, just sterile water and whilst in the air we used formula cartons or cold, bottled water, he was fine.

So please don't put us formula feeding mums down by saying that breastfeeding mums will be glad as they watch us faff with bottles...not true! Breastfeeding is obviously best and most convenient but is not for everyone, I really wish I had been able to feed my son successfully but it was not to be.

!

.

Agree with every word

 

[wideeyes]

Elise....some of us had a baby that point blank refused to breast feed, yes, really! I was helped by many NHS professionals but he still ended up on formula. I did not "faff" with bottles taking my 9 month old to Disneyworld as by then he was on only about 3 bottles a day and mostly solid food (we did baby led weaning), bottles do not have to be made with boiling water, just sterile water and whilst in the air we used formula cartons or cold, bottled water, he was fine.

So please don't put us formula feeding mums down by saying that breastfeeding mums will be glad as they watch us faff with bottles...not true! Breastfeeding is obviously best and most convenient but is not for everyone, I really wish I had been able to feed my son successfully but it was not to be.

Anyway now I have that off my chest, yes taking a young baby to WDW is a walk in the park. do it!

mum's breastfeeding often find it hard to feed when out and worry about it. I think the posts were trying to reassure. I think it is horrible that mum's are made to feel they have to go and sit on a toilet floor to feed their baby.

 

[Laurafoster]

mum's breastfeeding often find it hard to feed when out and worry about it. I think the posts were trying to reassure. I think it is horrible that mum's are made to feel they have to go and sit on a toilet floor to feed their baby.

I agree the post was not meant to upset anyone. More to reassure someone else.

I actually find Florida a lot less judgemental - there are plenty of women there doing either. And they are much more helpful

 

[Elise79]

Elise....some of us had a baby that point blank refused to breast feed, yes, really! I was helped by many NHS professionals but he still ended up on formula. I did not "faff" with bottles taking my 9 month old to Disneyworld as by then he was on only about 3 bottles a day and mostly solid food (we did baby led weaning), bottles do not have to be made with boiling water, just sterile water and whilst in the air we used formula cartons or cold, bottled water, he was fine.

So please don't put us formula feeding mums down by saying that breastfeeding mums will be glad as they watch us faff with bottles...not true! Breastfeeding is obviously best and most convenient but is not for everyone, I really wish I had been able to feed my son successfully but it was not to be.

Anyway now I have that off my chest, yes taking a young baby to WDW is a walk in the park. do it!

I was just trying to offer encouragement as I don't believe breastfeeding it encouraged and openly accepted as much as it should be in this country.

I am aware not all mums can feed however if someone is feeding and nervous a little bit of encouragement can help and to know someone who has done it before makes it just that little bit easier.

For what its worth I feel for those that can't feed themselves when they want to - it must be heartbreaking. Not everything with having babies is the way you want it to be - the doctors forced me in to an elective c-section which was and still is my worst nightmare.

 

[flortlebap]

I was just trying to offer encouragement as I don't believe breastfeeding it encouraged and openly accepted as much as it should be in this country.

I am aware not all mums can feed however if someone is feeding and nervous a little bit of encouragement can help and to know someone who has done it before makes it just that little bit easier.

For what its worth I feel for those that can't feed themselves when they want to - it must be heartbreaking. Not everything with having babies is the way you want it to be - the doctors forced me in to an elective c-section which was and still is my worst nightmare.

Great post

In relation to a previous post re being "discreet" whilst feeding - if you wear two vest tops, slide one up and one down, you don't show any flesh at all!

The only issue I found with bottles was on the flight - they may be more relaxed now, but I had to taste the formula before I was allowed to take it on the plane (already made up in bottles)... Not an experience I would care to repeat

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

I was just trying to offer encouragement as I don't believe breastfeeding it encouraged and openly accepted as much as it should be in this country.

I am aware not all mums can feed however if someone is feeding and nervous a little bit of encouragement can help and to know someone who has done it before makes it just that little bit easier.

For what its worth I feel for those that can't feed themselves when they want to - it must be heartbreaking. Not everything with having babies is the way you want it to be - the doctors forced me in to an elective c-section which was and still is my worst nightmare.

Thanks Elise, I appreciate you weren't intending to make anyone feel bad but I always find that any mention of feeding methods will make one party or another feel bad. I tend to steer away from it as a topic! I am just so tired of being judged that I read your post and saw red. Think we should all stop mentioning our views on feeding from now on x

 

[wideeyes]

The reason this subject causes problems is that parents want to do what's best for the child and that is what we are all doing no matter how we feed our babies. I honestly don't want to make any mother feel bad. however I will speak up and offer encouragement to a breastfeeding mum. I don't want bottle fed mum's to feel picked on but feel we should be able to talk about breastfeeding without fear of upsetting people. I don't want anyone to feel bad about this subject though. When I saw the post this morning I honestly felt bad.

 

[luke]

. however I will speak up and offer encouragement to a breastfeeding mum. I don't want bottle fed mum's to feel picked on .

Unlike the midwife who took our antenatal classes...

 

[torsie24]

Wow. Sorry I didn't mean to start a row.

Was literally just stating a fact that I'm not brave enough to feed in public yet. I didn't think I'd said anything to upset anyone or gone anywhere near the breast/bottle debate.

 

[luke]

Wow. Sorry I didn't mean to start a row.

Was literally just stating a fact that I'm not brave enough to feed in public yet. I didn't think I'd said anything to upset anyone or gone anywhere near the breast/bottle debate.

The baby stations are pretty good, barely saw anyone in the feeding section either so privacy is pretty decent there too

 

[janeyb]

Oh my goodness, I am sorry if this post has caused anyone any upset, it was only ever meant to reassure anyone who may have been a little unsure about taking a baby to WDW.

How we feed our children is always a sensitive subject. I breastfed my first two DD's however when my third child was born it was a different matter. What with her having a multitude of digestive intolerance issues I had no choice. My daughter's wellbeing and good health was of far more importance to me than being judged on feeding my baby formula.

I have actually experienced this prejudice having been subjected to being in earshot of people feeling they have the right to label me 'lazy' because I was feeding my baby from a bottle in a restaurant, along with many raised eyebrows along the way. Such a shame that in this day and age people aren't a little more open minded.

Thankfully in the US I didn't come across any such prejudices, everyone seemed to be far more accepting of my feeding preference. I also saw others breastfeeding in public which no one batted an eyelid at.

For what it is worth and to get back onto the original post, my baby continued to consistently amaze us and was an absolute star, there were times when I'd almost forgotten that we had her with us!! My two elder daughters were great with her also and the time they spent bonding with their sibling and vice versa was priceless. She didn't cry a single tear on the flight home either.

She, of course, won't remember the trip, however the memories that we collectively have as a family of her first trip to WDW are amazing. The photo's are fabulous, we even have one of her being held by the pilot in the cockpit! It was a treat for DD2 when she missed her 7th birthday and party as a result of our flight home being cancelled!

 

[crabbie1]

My daughter who is now 10 was bottle fed. Despite the midwife nagging me to breastfeed after having a 48 labour and emergency section. "Breast is best she said!!!. Sorry but its rubbish. After working on neonates with prem babies formula was used and they thrived on it.A happy fed baby whether bottle or breast is better than a crying hungry baby and distressed mother just cus midwives think its best. My midwife had never even had a baby!!! I think its a personal decision and I personally did not want to be on tap 24/7 but admire women that do .
Sorry from a nursing point of view there is no right or wrong way and we saw lots of ladies breastfeeding in wdw. Its what u feel comfortable doing and noone should judge ur decision .
After taking DD at 2 I would rather of taken her at an earlier age. She was a right fidget on the plane but I suppose its a long time to be sat still.

 

[wayneg]

Same as other on the same subject.