has anyone left there baby behind to go to disney

[pweyl36]

Go! have a blast spoiling up "your only child" for a few days!

I have 6 children and regularly leave them for their and my sanity!!!

They always appreciate the "down" time from Mom as much as I appreciate the break.

There are 365 days in a year, how many will you spend away from them otherwise?

really, do what your heart tells you but the 6 month old will never even remember you left him and you will be so excited to see him when you return you will be a better Mom for it!

Don't be quilted into a few more diaper changes and good night kisses,
JUST DO IT!

oh, and yes, to those ready to flame me, just a bit more ammunition <grin> I even left them when I was still nursing (just take the pump!) and they survived just fine.

I couldn't of said better my self,Where in de are from? I live in newark .

 

[rie'smom]

Yes,when DS #2 was 4 months we left him with my mom while we took DS #1 for a week.

 

[las3888]

DH and I went just 3 mos after our first and only DC was born. We have not been able to do so since (he is now almost 2). We were lucky to have my MIL who was willing and able to watching him. She is not not as healthy and we don't really have that many options. It was a nice time for DS to bond with grandma and they seem to have an extra special bond now.

I'm not saying it was extremely easy, but it wasn't all that difficult and there was no trauma. I did appreciate the break.

 

[kileybeth]

oh dear, we may be giving Delaware a devil may care reputation but I do believe the most adaptable population on the earth are children, they have to be, they belong to us! hehe

Bear, De. Born and raised in New Castle.

 

[MinnieGi]

Another Delawarean hear! However I personally could not leave my baby at home for a trip to Disney or any trip. We took both DD and DS when they were babies. They were both breastfed, but even if they weren't I couldn't leave home without them!! Besides I couldn't pass up a baby picture with Mickey and Minnie!!!!!!! We took DS when he was 5 months and DD was 4 and found it very easy to tour the parks with him. We mostly carried him in the Baby Bjorn and he loved all the sights and sounds. We was not eating much table food yet so it was just diapers I had to carry. We love the pictures of all of us together and the smile on his face.

Now I can also see how it would be fun to take just the 6yo with another 6yo friend, its just not something I could personally do.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[maryjl]

I am of the thought that you should never leave a child that young for that amount of time. You are the center of the baby's world and the only security he or she knows. It would be impossible to explain to an infant that young that you are only going to be gone for a few days. Are you nursing ? That is another thing to consider. I would either take him or put the trip off for a year. You would probably be too worried to really enjoy yourself anyway!

 

[chrismom2005]

thanks for all your advice. its a good thing i have a year to decide i'm so on the fence about it my dh says whatever i want to do i hate that answer lol. i'll just wait and see how i feel when the trip gets closer.

 

[snugglepeas]

personally i could never do it, I hate to be away from my DD(7months old) for more than 8 hours I could NEVER go a week.

 

[WDWfor5]

Couldn't do it - we're very much a family that beleives that family vacations include our entire family not just the ones that are the most fun to travel with. good thing for DH since he's often the most likely to be cranky .

Seriously, although I know it would be more fun with just the 6 yr old, I wouldn't do it. Besides, 6 month olds are easy to travel with and they can't run away, they're free and since you have plenty of adults (you, DH and the other girl's parents) you could certainly take turns with DH riding the rides with your DD and the other couple might even be willing to do child swap with you and DH so you can ride together.

Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[SuperSteelerFan]

Personally, I couldn't do it (but I have thought about it). My kids have always gone on vacation with us at every age and probably will until they are adults - I have trouble leaving them behind for a dinner out with just the two of us. However, I know plenty of folks who go off on vacation and leave the kids behind and it doesn't hurt the kids at all to stay at home. Do some serious soul-searching and decide for yourself. It ultimately comes down to what you feel you and your baby will be most comfortable with. Our kids loved Disney at every age, but some kids just don't do well at WDW until they are older. Since the baby travels free-of-charge, you can leave it as a down-to-the-wire decision and see how you feel when you are closer to your trip. Good luck on your decision!

 

[thunderbird1]

Couldn't do it - we're very much a family that beleives that family vacations include our entire family not just the ones that are the most fun to travel with. good thing for DH since he's often the most likely to be cranky

Hey, I didn't know my dh had a twin! Not to hijack the thread or anything, but a few years ago we were on a trip (not WDW) with extended family (several of whom can be rather difficult), and I suggested we adopt a "Survivor" theme for the trip. You know, at the end of each day, we could all vote the person who was the weakest link off the vacation. I thought it would be a good incentive for everyone to behave--my dh thought I was being a little extreme.

Back to the OP--we're in the "take the kids with us" camp. Ours have been to WDW/DL in utero, at 4 months old, 1 year old, 15 months old, etc. The easiest trip we ever had was when ds was 4 months old, and was thrilled to get to ride in the baby sling and nurse on demand all day long. But then, the first night I ever spent away from my dd was when my ds was born (she was 6), so I know I'm an extreme example. My bro and sil, on the other hand, regularly (once a month at least) leave their boys with the grandparents (or each other) for overnight (and longer) trips beginning when they're just a couple weeks old. And you know what? All the kids are happy and healthy. If you regularly leave the baby with another caregiver, and everyone is comfortable with it, you'll probably be fine. If you are not used to leaving the baby with someone else (and s/he is not used to being with someone else), it will probably be very stressful for all of you.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Thank goodness we are a travel together family or they would have sent me packing last week! We were in WDW and I was such a pain! I am pregnant and the morning ( I mean all day) sickness is still in full swing and I also caught a cold. I will be surprised if my kids and dh as well as my Mom who joined us on this trip will ever want to vacation with me again! In answer to the Op's question- we would never leave one of the kids behind. Each kid is fun at every age and we would miss them terribly. If you're comfortable with it then go for it, but we would never do it.

 

[TheDizMom]

I personally don't see a problem with it provided your baby is comfortable with your aunt. If your baby hasn't spent a lot of time with her you could have some issues. I have no problem leaving my kids as long as they are with someone they are comfortable with. Your aunt is very generous to offer and if you think you can do it, it would be a nice trip for your older child to have some parental one on one time. Something that probably hasn't happened much lately with a fairly new baby in the house. If you go for it make sure the baby has all the things that are normally in bed like blankets and stuff to make it feel like home even though it's not.

 

[kjh73]

I'm trying to make the same decision right now. Our oldest will be 6 when we go and our youngest will be 13 months. I'm nursing, but will be done by then, so that won't be a problem. With 5 years between the boys, the oldest will want to go, go, go, but with the baby we will need breaks, and diaper stops as well more scheduled meals. But on the other hand it will be hard to leave the baby. I'm planning on getting him a passport because since I have trouble making decisions it will be a last minute decison of what to do.

 

[mama2ella]

We are leaving our then 8 mo old in March while we take dd for 5 days. Yes it will be hard to leave ds but he will be with his grandparents who spend lots of time with him.

I know I will miss him but I also know that he would not have fun nor get anything out of the trip.

Good luck with your decision

 

[flipflop]

We left our 16 month old triplets home with nana and gramps for a week and went to Disney (pretty sure we wound up on the good end of that deal). No regrets - we knew it would be our last trip there without them (though it now looks like we might be going down for three days without them in the spring) and wanted an adult vacation. We went with two other couples, one of which also has a child the same age and they left him at home as well. Though we missed the kids, it wasn't so tough when we could stop and have a beer at the pub in Epcot or have a 9 pm dinner alone. I don't think it makes you a bad parent to take an adult vacation - important for a marriage to have alone time, which makes you even better parents. We are looking forward to taking the kids there in 2008 on a family trip. Whatever you decide you will certainly have a great trip!

 

[flipflop]

Sorry - somehow missed that you have a 6 year old as well. I doubt your six year old will want to stop for a beer in Epcot! You will still be able to do more sans baby - you should do whatever you are most comfortable with!

 

[youngsbcamper]

We did when we took dd when she was 5 before she started school. We'd always promised her before she started school we'd take her. So....ds was born in April & we went the 1st wk. of Sept. We left ds w/my mom. I didn't really like the idea of not taking my kid w/me. But, when we got there & saw how hot & miserable all those tiny babies were, I knew he was having more fun w/Maw-Maw. That is the ONLY time I've ever left my kid/kids & went on vacation. It wasn't like he really "missed" me at 4 mths. I sure was ready to see him when we got home. It also gave us some great quality time w/dd too!

 

[Redriva]

we are doing this next jan .... our youngest will be just 4 and we decided that having her there would prevent the teens (and us, if i'm honest) from doing a lot of the stuff we would like to cover in this trip ....and we have my sister in law coming with us so it would have been even trickier as the little one doesnt sleep well either ...

it will suck to leave her but she will have a fantastic time with both sets of grandparents and we will bring her back lots of stuff .... and plan a huge trip to take her when she is about 8 ...

angela xx

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It's interesting that the majority of posters here agree that it would be okay to leave the baby. Last time I read a thread here on this same topic, the majority of posters felt that it would be better to bring the baby!