Help! Disney with a 7 month old baby

[lelewala]

Looking for some advice before we travel to Disney with our daughter who'll be just 7 months old. We know the parks really well and will be staying at Saratoga in a one bed apt so hopefully will have plenty of space. We booked this trip when I was pregnant and travelling with a baby seemed as simple as popping her in the sling for the flight - 9 hours from uk. I'm starting to feel very nervous now, please reassure me it will work out ok.

If you have travelled with a baby . . .
What worked well on the plane?
How did you manage naps?
Any experience of babies and jet lag?
Any foods in the park that work well as finger foods?
Any other top tips?

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[Angel Ariel]

What worked well on the plane?

Our DD was 8 months when we took her, but it was only a 2.5 hr flight for us. We timed it pretty well with naptime, and she slept for the majority of the flight.

How did you manage naps?

We rented a City Mini for the parks. It fully reclines, and DD easily fell asleep in it. When it was naptime, I'd give her her bottle and "read" her stories like I do at home and then put her in the stroller. I'd walk fast around the park for a little bit to get her to fall asleep, and then slow once she was asleep. We also clipped a blanket around the front of the stroller to keep DD from keeping herself awake with the scenery distractions. She slept very well this way, so we never went back to the room.

Any experience of babies and jet lag?
Any foods in the park that work well as finger foods?

We were within the same time zone, so we didn't deal with jet lag. DD had also just barely started solids at that point, so we just didn't deal with them during the trip.

Any other top tips?

We didn't use the baby care centers on the last trip (temps were very cool in March, so we didn't need the AC), but I hear they are great if you need a break from the heat.

A carrier of some form would be a great investment for the trip. We had DD in a Beco Gemini and it helped us a lot. We could give her a bottle while walking across the park/standing in line, she stayed in it on rides like Kilimanjaro Safaris, Buzz Lightyear and Spaceship Earth, and she could nap there as well. It also allowed her to turn into my chest and get away from all the stimulation of the parks if she wanted to.

If you rent a stroller, you'll want to bring something to attach/put on it that will help identify it as yours in the park. We printed a little "license plate" that just said C_____ Family with an Ariel image.

And not so much a park tip, but I've been finding that packing checklists are very helpful for me when packing for DD. It helps me make sure I don't forget anything! This trip I'm making a packing checklist for each suitcase as well as 2 for the diaper bag...1 for how to pack the diaper bag for the airport, and 1 for how to pack it for the parks. The added plus to this is that DH can also easily see what has to be packed, so he can be on the same page as I am without a ton of explanation.

 

[SweetMissy]

Our son was 4 months old for our trip last year and he was easy! He was in the carrier 95% of the time. I mastered nursing while he was in the carrier, so no need to stop and sit. Flying with him was easy as well. He wasn't eating solids at that age so no advice on that. Traveling with a baby was much easier than I expected...I worried for nothing, lol. Have fun!

 

[denneg]

We went with DS for the first time when he was 10 months, and will go next fall with an 8 month old. I found it easier than when DS turned 2 and started realizing what he couldn't go on! Not to mention as a baby, he was happy to stay in his stroller or be carried, since he didn't walk yet. We would usually go back to the room for a nap, get out of the heat and give him some freedom to move around, and then have a more comfortable nap.

My tips:

- use the baby care centers as often as possible. It's a nice break for everyone, plus they have real high chairs and changing tables, plus nursing rooms if you need it. You can all relax, the baby can eat, they have movies on and books to read, and the baby can crawl around a little and have some freedom.

- there are plenty of finger food options, just depends what you normally feed her. Fresh fruit, chicken, pastries, pretzels, etc. but even with the options, I would suggest a grocery delivery from someplace like Garden Grocer, you can get bottled water, snacks for everyone, etc. you could also get formula or diapers from them. When we went with DS I had diapers and wipes shipped via Amazon, it was cheaper and I went through almost all of them during the trip!

- bring lots of sunscreen and hats

- if your baby is bothered by heat or noise, get a small fan you can clip to the strollers visor. Helps circulate the air and block noise if the baby is napping.

- for the plane, if the baby has their own seat, it might be worth it to bring a car seat so you don't have to worry about holding her the whole time. Bring favorite small toys, books, snacks, etc. and hope for a nap!

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

We found a baby sling to be much handier than a stroller, although we had (and I recommend) both. Not all kids like slings, though--you can't just introduce it during the trip and expect the baby to like it. But if you have a "sling baby", they're great!

DH wore our son most of the time for walking around, I took him for feedings (he was 6mo, nursing exclusively). We would swap off doing the bigger rides (DH would go while I nursed, I would go while he carried). My little guy would just sleep in the sling, he really didn't use the stroller much at all.

If you're doing solid food, you can get plain vegetables, like peas, and plain fruits that you can mash up. Bananas are your best friend! If you do groceries, Wal-Mart sells individual servings of vegetables--kind of like the little fruit cups, only vegetables--which make a handy baby-sized meals. Of course, you could also get regular baby food if your child is eating it.

I would try to time the flight with bedtime if possible--can you get an overnight flight? We always brought car seats on the plane.

It's different travelling with a baby, but it can be fun, too. They're easily amused by the lights and music around them. Be aware that some children are sensitive to loud noise--consider enjoying the fireworks from a farther out spot. And be prepared to change plans quickly if needed--hopefully, you'll be fine, but understand that you might have to get out of a situation quickly. Here's hoping that you have a placid, agreeable baby--I was not always so blessed!

Another thing we did was, one parent would take the child(ren) back for an early bedtime, while the other would stay later in the park and enjoy more adult rides. DH and I switched off on this. Yeah, it would be more fun to so the rides together, but we felt it was worth it to not have cranky kids. And there is in-room babysitting service available, which might be worth considering for an evening or two.

 

[Cholderby]

I've brought a baby age 6-10 mos four times now. I second the advice above. We've had some lovely meals with sleeping kids next to us in a stroller! The only thing I'd add is to bring a sling for the lines. I use an Elleroo ring sling which folds up compactly when not in use. Often the babies fall to sleep in them. It can even be used as a nursing cover up (I've even nursed while standing in line ). I think they come padded and non. The padding is a good thing and doesn't add to the bulk.

If you do go the sling route, practice a lot before leaving home. If your baby isn't use to being worn it will take some getting used to.

 

[quandrea]

We travelled to the uk when our twins were eight months old. They been to disney at four and ten months too.

So. The plane should be fine. Mine slept a lot and enjoyed the cuddling. I had them wear sleepers so they were comfy. Travel with enough food and nappies to allow for delays. I even got good at using the washroom with a baby in tow.

Jet lag is tough. When they were little the first two or three nights of a trip were trying. Adopt the schedule of the time zone you are in immediately. Exercise good discipline to establish a new routine and brace yourself for mayhem. It settles down in a few days.

Take it slow at the parks. If coming back to the villa for naps works, do it. I find on holiday my two nap better in the car or on a nice walk. Dh and I would grab a coffee and drive around for an hour. It was actually lovely quiet time.

I would get a car. I always loved being able to make a quick getaway

Try to choose quiet restaurants. My dd hated the stimulation of loud restaurants.

Enjoy the pools.