Fairly Newborn at WDW???

[chip91]

? for you all.. Some friends of mine (who both work full time and say they don't have time to search for WDW stuff, asked me to I shouldn't complain though, it's Disney and if I can help someone else discover the magic, that's what matters most!)

Anyway, they have a trip planned for early June 07, and had the trip booked before they found out they were expecting a baby. Baby will be about 7-9 weeks at time of travel, depending on when born, should they still go or push the trip out a few months? Not sure how hot it is down there, and will that be too much for that small of a baby?

Mom also plans on nursing and had concerns, but I told her I've read threads here where Mom's nursed no problems at all, and that I would find that information as well. Do all 4 WDW Theme Parks have baby stations or just MK? They also do have a 5 yr old, 1st time trip for entire family, so I'm trying to help them as much as possible with as many tips as possible, I know they are staying on site one of the All Stars I think, planned on using ME & WDW Bus System...

Thanks if anyone can offer insight/tips/or if you took an infant that small, how did it work for you?

Chip

 

[monorailsilver]

All 4 parks have baby stations & private areas to nurse but the one at MGM is the smallest & least private.

But it's not like you can get to the baby stations in a 3 minute walk. The one in MK is the most centrally located.

The one at MGM is at the enterance gate.

The one at AK is on the way to the Safari (don't ask what land it is in since I can't remember).

The one in Epcot is on the edge of Future World & the WS by Mexico.

There are benches all over but it is hot in June & I can tell you that my 7 month old hates to be hot while nursing so we have to be in A/C.

I know people say it is easy to take a baby to WDW but if you are nursing & the kids nurse like mine did/do it can take about 40 min at a time. There are some rides/shows you can nurse on since they are longer but still that is not for me.

If it were me, I'd wait. I had my 3rd in March (an unexpected surprise pregnancy) & we were planning a beach vacation to NC/SC/VA this past summer but I couldn't possibly enjoy it (that is me) knowing that I'd be nursing the entire time (or much of it) while my dh was playing & watching the other 2 in/by the water (they are 5 & 3).

But I will say a newborn is easier to take care of then a 6+ month old or when they start to pay attention (ie demand attention).

OH & I did take my ds (and dd) to Sesame Place when he was around 9 months old & still nursing since he was refusing food. I hated having to plan around nursing him. Again that is me.

Good luck to them.

 

[minkydog]

A 7wk old in June Not my cup of tea. At 7wks post-partum, this mom may not be as back-to-normal as she was the first go round. And if she has a C-Section she definitely won't want to hang out in the parks with a nursing infant all day. Not to mention the fact that the baby has very little immunity to illness at that age, even if they are totally breastfed. Mom will need to be hyper-vigilant about cleanliness. I'd advise them to either go 2months earlier or wait until the weather cools off in late September and the baby has established more of a routine. But that's just me

 

[XYSRUS]

I agree with Minkydog. Your friends should try to reschedule or have dad take the older one. An eight week old would be better off with mom at home...time to establish nursing schedule, time to bond, time to adjust baby's body(immunity, temp. control, temperament). If I HAD to take an infant on this trip (and I wouldn't do it for the world), I would stay in and keep it VERY low key.

 

[NY Disney fan]

The only way I would take a newborn to WDW is if I threw the itinerary out the window and hung out on the grounds of the hotel, soaking up the atmosphere by the pool or on the grass or taking the baby out in the stroller during his naps.


I would definitely have issues with the baby's immune system surronded by a lot of people as well.

 

[chip91]

That is what I was thinking = tell them to wait until fall sometime or early winter, just too many people to be around a newborn, imo!!

Have a Disney Day!

 

[lil mermaid]

I agree with those who say that it is best to wait a few months.

You don't mention if they are flying, but I would never want a baby that young on an airplane. As others have stated, a baby that young has very little immunity to illness.

 

[dsneygirl]

We took our 3 month old with no problems this month and I saw many babies younger than him. Now maybe they were local day visitors but there were certainly lots of young infants.

However I was in no condition to travel at 7 week pp. By 12 weeks I was pretty much back to normal.

 

[MSSANDRA]

No way, Too hot, too crowded and way too many germs for a new born.

 

[macmahony]

We took a baby that little, and it was great, would do it again in a heartbeat. But, we were there in december, not so hot, and not very crowded. Nursing was fine with us, we nursed wherever we were, no problems, if they can't reschedule, they just need to take extra time, we did it, loved it, and would do it again (like I said, it was cooler though), we did have two 90 degree days though, and then some low 70 degree days, the baby was the same through the whole trip. But, it was much easier on me with the sling, and the snugli during the cooler days, the hot days that was hard on me.

 

[LAL77]

Hi there. I went to Disneyland when my daughter was just 5 weeks old. It was a family reunion and certainly not planned that way. Disneyland was very well equipped with baby changing stations in all of the bathrooms, and of course the baby care center. I didn't find it at all convenient to trek to the baby care center whenever my baby wanted to nurse (she was 5 weeks old! I would have been in the baby care center all day!) so I was always able to find a lot of privacy, and I use a baby carrier that allowed me to cover up well (Rockin' Baby Ring Sling).

An exceptional baby carrier is an absolute must for taking a baby that small. You'll need it all day, and for sure on the busses.

Lastly, I found it extremely difficult to do our trip because at 5 weeks old my baby was still waking frequently during the night. So, while the rest of the family woke in the morning ready to go for the day, my husband and I had essentially been up all night. Admittedly, the trip is still an absolute blur for me. If our trip had been only a couple of months later it would have been much more magical!

Good luck!

 

[famofsix]

I know if it was me I would just be too tired to really enjoy myself with a kiddo that young...I'd wait a bit. I am sure they can manage it and I don't think it's a big deal to take little ones out but in terms of making the most of the experience it wouldn't be my first choice.

 

[barbarabini]

i went this year with a11 week old and a 2 year old...after a c-section. plane ride was fine, and going to the parks ok. i took him into the pool .. it was very hot (july. i was very very tired throughout the trip and went to the parks far less frequently than i thought.

I would recommend a deluxe resort, to get room service on nights the baby is not cooperating and at least a choice of dinner in the hotel. the monorail was easier...the car i rented - even better.

it was a hard trip because of frequent wakings and making the bottles in the middle of the night ...another reason for deluxe ... a microwave close by.

all in all it was an ok trip... i think next time i will wait until he is one.

 

[TiggerStac]

We have taken DS at 4 months old and will be bringing our newborn aroudn 7-10 weeks. Have the plane booked, just depends on my csection date. We are really taking the baby down to see my snowbird grandparents. We are taking DS, now 5 with us and will be visiting WDW one day..I couldn't go to Orlando and not go to WDW. I have planned it so I'm still out on my FMLA when we go. It will be my mom, and 2 DS's and myself....leaving hubby at home. I don't think I'd be going down there this early, unless we were going to visit the snowbirds.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

If it weren't for the sweltering heat I would say GO. We took youngest DD to WDW when she was about that old and I have a great picture of Cinderella holding her at the MVMCP.

The weather was MUCH cooler and we took our time. DD nursed and it was easy to pick a long ride or a theater type attraction during nap times or nursing times (discreetly done with a blanket). We used the sling so DD was carried most of the time or rode in the stroller.

The characters at Chef Mickey's LOVED having a baby that little and the restaurant had the high chairs with the infant bucket seats for kids her age.

I would NEVER do that during the summer. The baby will be miserable and will make the rest of the family that way too.

Reschedule for Fall - maybe during Free Dining if they offer it!

 

[tanyaandallie]

I would not want to go to Disney 7 week pp. At 7 weeks I was not 100% recovered with either of my kids. There is not way I would want to be walking tons of miles every day at 7 weeks. I would also not want to expose my 7 week old to all the germs.

I think waiting until fall is a much better idea. By then the babe will be a bit bigger but still pretty easy. We went to dl with my ds when he was 7 mos old. It was a great trip!

 

[MouseFaninQueue]

We took our second to DL at 10weeks in May 2005 and she did great. She was nursing only, and I nursed her anywhere - IASW and PoC were great nursing spots! I had a thin cotton Minnie Mouse x-large receiving blanket I made for the trip which made a great coverup for nursing and also could drape over her in snuggli to keep sun off. Older DD was 3.5 and she had a great time. Having to stop and sit to nurse sometimes worked great and allowed older DD to catch her breath. We did have a stroller that laid completely flat and so she could nap comfortably anywhere. With baby so young, the trip was almost entirely focussed on first child having a great time. And yes I was tired with baby not sleeping through night, but I was having so much fun it didn't bother me.

 

[KristiKelly]

We went last year with our 3 kids, youngest being 11 weeks. It was actually the easiest age, she just hung out in Baby Bjorn or stroller. It was 90°+ everyday and she never even broke a sweat, she loved the warm weather.

As far as germs, babies immunity are still high at that age and they are not going to be in direct contact with anyone other than the family, it is not as though they will be touching water fountains, bathroom doors, etc. like toddlers do.

I was strictly nursing my DD last year and I nursed her in shows, on rides, Baby Care Centers, etc.

Like I said earlier, the heat never bothered DD at all but we went in September and although hot the crowds were low so we were able to get into rides and shows fairly quickly and not standing out in direct heat. She actually cried more when we were inside because it was so cold.

I had a c-section and was not bothered at all by that point. My biggest concern would be if the baby has colic, that could make for a miserable trip.