First Trip Post-Baby

[glaserjm]

Hi all! DH and I have been avid Disney fans for years and are DVC owners. We just added a little mousketeer to our family last August and are planning on taking him in March 2017. However, we are also headed down in 4 days for a long weekend without him to run the Princess 1/2 Marathon.

I have two questions:

a) For those of you who have young kids but have left them at home for a trip, how did you handle it? I don't want to regret this trip but I'm already starting to feel sad about leaving him at home (he'll be with my parents who are with him all the time, so no worried about his safety) but I feel like this trip will do DH and I a world of good.

b) LO will be 19 months when we take him...does this seem like a good age? When did you take your LOs for the first time?

 

[powellrj]

I have left kids behind on trips and you and your little one will both be fine. If grandma and grandpa are ok, then you should be ok. It's just a long weekend, so it will be fun for your parents to have alone time with the baby and you to have couple time.

I know this isn't always a popular opinion, but sometimes it's good for a couple to get away for a few days.

 

[Mousemommy1]

DH and I haven't left our kids for a long vacation ever. We have done overnights but that is it. We were getting to the point where our girls were older and we were going to do it, but then we got pregnant with DS, lol, so it won't be happening for awhile.

I think anytime is a great time to take kids to Disney. We waited until our girls were 3 and 5 before taking them, because people kept saying how hard it would be (even though DH and I were seasoned Disney visitors), we always regretted that.

Now, our DS (who is 13 months old) will be going on his 2nd trip to Disney in April (he was 3 months his first time) and the trip was great! I can't wait to see how this one goes.

 

[glaserjm]

I have left kids behind on trips and you and your little one will both be fine. If grandma and grandpa are ok, then you should be ok. It's just a long weekend, so it will be fun for your parents to have alone time with the baby and you to have couple time.

I know this isn't always a popular opinion, but sometimes it's good for a couple to get away for a few days.

I agree. I know he will be fine. He's with grandma every Tuesday and Thursday while I'm at work, has his own room at their house and besides DH and myself, there's nobody I trust more.

I do think we need some time away, the first 6 months of parenthood have been wonderful, but also a whirlwind and we really haven't taken a real moment for ourselves since he arrived! I just have to focus on being present on the trip and having a great time!

 

[buzznina]

We have been going since our 1st DD was 6 months old and there has not been any trip that was a hassle with them. Plus it is great when you do not have to pay for for them(before 3)

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I would say 19 months is likely one of the more difficult ages to take a child to Disney. I've taken my daughter at 14 and 22 months. At 19 months, they are walking, but don't take direction well like "hold my hand" or "be patient while we wait in line" etc. Taking an infant is easier IMO. That said, I totally get taking an adults only trip--don't feel guilty at all!

 

[roseaster]

I won't be helpful, but here goes.

We didn't leave our kids as babies, not because I think that there is anything wrong with it, we just had no one that was willing to keep diapered kids. We have left them when they were older., but they were able to talk on the phone/text, so ther is that.

As for taking a 19 month old, again, I am not helpful, it will depend on the kid. I have 2 that were a breeze at 19ish months. Sat up at tables in a restaurant, napped in the stroller, happy laughing great time. I had 2 that were hit or miss depending on how tired they were, or how hot or over stimulated, or if they got what they wanted or didn't. and 1 had one nightmare. Temper tantrums, wouldn't sit in a stroller or even through a QS meal.

The only advice is can give you is that you will get to know your baby's personality and what he can and cannot handle. Be willing to adapt to it on your trip. We learned not to expect early mornings (I had one that was a witch in the morning) and late nights. We also learned not to stick to a hard and fast schedule because with toddlers they can do a 180 at any minute. I still remember carrying a screaming toddler across Epcot in the rain and onto a bus and back to the room. Screaming all the time.

But I also remember the smiling clapping toddler yelling "Love you Mick Mou!" at the parade.

Just be flexible. Be prepared to switch gears midstream. Go at their pace.

 

[krm222]

I would say 19 months is likely one of the more difficult ages to take a child to Disney. ...At 19 months, they are walking, but don't take direction well like "hold my hand" or "be patient while we wait in line" etc. Taking an infant is easier IMO. That said, I totally get taking an adults only trip--don't feel guilty at all!

This. My son was great at 22 months and my daughter was even better at 9 months. But our friends traveling with their 18 month had to deal with a lot of meltdowns.