Feeding baby at Disney World

[mhanback]

My son will be 8 months old when we go in November; what is a typical 8 month old's eating schedule? Assuming he will be on baby food, formula, (table food a little?) ? This is my first baby and I am wondering how and when we will have to stop to feed him. How did you all do this?

Also, if your babies fall asleep in the parks at night, do they still sleep all night in the room? Thanks! This is all new to me!

mhanback

 

[alloyd1170]

I have a newly one year old (and a 4 yr old). My older one snacks a lot and the little one dives in with him. I would suggest bringing snacks along (ie Cheerios, fruit bars though they are smushy, animal crackers, etc) for in the park. The 1 yr old just started ordering off menus last month and is a chow hound. I think it all depends on when they get tired of mushy baby food. Mine wanted to feed herself (the Gerber Graduates plain ravioli is a great choice and can be nuked for 30 secs then drained). I think having an older sibling speeds things along too. Cut up fruit and veggies is another great option-all readily available in restaurants.


As for schedule, the baby will let you know, but I would stick as close as your regular schedule at home as possible. Same goes for sleep. We stay onsite and only went back one time for a rest with the older one when he was little. Find a nice quiet shady spot and sit for awhile. If your child is a heavy sleeper like mine, you can walk around the stores, or take turns riding rides. If you can, move the sunshade on the stroller so that it makes it dark and quiet. Ive found also that with all the new sights, sounds, and smells, even after a long nap my older child was ready for bed and slept through the night. Both my kids are travelers (early on) and are used to being in different places. The little one will experience WDW in a few months. The best advice that I can give is to dont do WDW commando style. Remember you have a little one, though its probably easier at that age since theyre still stroller bound. When the child gets cranky and cant fall asleep in the stroller, head back to the hotel. And most importantly stick to his usual routine as much as possible. It will save you a world of problems when you get back home!

alison

 

[WIDisneyFan]

One other very good thing to find out is the location of the baby care centers at each of the parks. Last summer we were there with our at the time 3 month old son and having a clean cool quiet place away from all the activity for feeding and chainging made things much much easier.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

We took our 8 month old last November. He was still mostly eating baby food but did have his first french fry at Epcot. Most of the times we fed him when we stopped for meals. Once I had to feed him outside of the Living Seas. There was a long line for Crush but he was getting hungry. I used the Baby Station once at Epcot otherwise I changed him in the rest rooms. I brought with us 5 cases of the individual servings of Similac. It made things so easy. I washed the top of the cans before we left each morning. I brought a few bottles with me everyday and filled as needed. We drove so it was possible to bring a lot of formula. I recommend bringing extra formula too. Have a great trip!

 

[Nanu57v]

DD was nearly 9 months during our last trip. I was nursing so feeding was super easy. For baby food we either gave it to her cold or asked for a cup of hot water and dropped the jar right in it to warm it up. She slept and napped right in her stroller, and generally didn't have a problem going to sleep once we got to the resort. She even slept through fireworks. I also brought those banana puffs and sweet potato puffs.

 

[bartleby1]

By 8 months, my kids were eating baby cereal and a jar of fruit for breakfast, a jar of veggies and a jar of fruit for lunch, and cereal and a jar of veggies for dinner. I didn't do meats with any of them (they smelled so nasty I just couldn't bring myself to do it, lol!). Also, they were drinking 3 - 8oz bottles per day. I used the powder formula (easy to transport and carry with you). They sell little containers with three compartments so you can pre-measure out enough for three bottles. Then just bring the baby bottles filled with water. For the baby cereal, I brought little snack size cups with lids (I think first years makes these), and I would pre-measure enough cereal and add a little bit of powdered formula. Then, just add a little bit of water and mix it up when you need it.

My kids were just starting to snack on a little bit of real food around 8 months. Gerber makes alot of snack foods now which dissolve really quick (puffs, wagon wheels, etc).

As far as an eating schedule, whatever works for you! Mine went something like this when they were around 8 mths old:

When baby wakes up: 8oz bottle
Breakfast with us: cereal, fruit
Lunch with us: fruit, veggies
Mid-afternoon: 8 oz bottle
Dinner with us: cereal, veggies
Before bed: 8 oz bottle

Also, when doing a place like disney, especially if you go in the summer, be sure to let your little one have plenty of water available. Most kids are able to use sippy cups by then, but if not, provide water in a bottle even if you don't normally do that at home. You definitely don't want a dehydrated baby!

HTH!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I don't have any kids, but I went on a trip a few years ago with my then 5 month old nephew. Any TS restaurant was willing to heat up the jarred food for us, or to bring us hot water for cereal.

My nephew just did not want to sleep! He would usually take a morning nap before lunch but in the parks, his eyes were wide open. He even stayed up for most of Spectromagic, but fell asleep before the fireworks. He did wake up during the trek out of the park, but went back to sleep in the car and stayed asleep most of the night.

Have a great trip.

 

[mhanback]

Thank you so much!! I guess by then I will have a pretty good routine of what he eats; you all were a great help!