Need some advice - better to take baby at 3 months or 5 months?

[lovewdwfun]

I need some advice here! We go to Disney every year (DVC) and do have experience traveling with babies, but the youngest we've taken is 5 months. This year, we'll be going with DS8, DD6, DS 3.5 (Down syndrome, so delayed and not walking) and a new baby! Because we have DVC, we need to plan in advance, before the baby is born. Due to my works schedule, I have only a few options.

Last week of August (3 months old): We have always been August/September travelers and love the low crowds. We went that week this year. I could use vacation (if needed) to extend my maternity leave so this would be our last hurrah! I really like this idea because I would know for sure I'd get the summer off to spend with the kids and end with a Disney trip (kids start school after Labor Day). My husband is very hesitant about bringing a baby that young, which I get. We had two kids who were angels at that age and another who was colicky and was not.

Late October or early November (5 months): I would need to take the kids out of school and take vacation after maternity leave, which I am hesitant about. It looks like crowds will be around a Level 6 vs Level 2 in August, but the weather would be much easier.


I would love some thoughts and feedback! Thanks!

 

[unrequited23]

Wow, you have a lot of variables to consider. August seems to make the most logistical sense with your maternity leave and the older kids' school schedules. October's benefits seem to be only less humidity and two rounds of vaccines if that is something you choose to do.

I would try to think about which would be more stressful--all of the back to school stuff, taking a trip and heading back to work within a short time OR getting all the make up school work, taking a trip and taking vacation time that close to maternity leave--then do which ever would be easier for you and your family.

Every baby is their own little person and you won't know their temperament until you meet. With my two boys, the hardest was the first 6 weeks, after that the family sort of got into a groove.

 

[tabrizia]

My sister is taking her baby at 3 1/2 months in 2 weeks to Disney. That being said, it is really hard to chose just because there is no way to know how the baby will be, how they will react or if there will be other issues this far out. I'd be really tempted by August, but the whole new baby how will the personality be thing, would give me pause.

 

[DisGin]

I'd be hesitant to take a baby at that age without knowing their disposition. Also, the heat in August is worse. Will you be taking the baby in an bucket type carrier or wearing him/her? Either option is pretty hot. At 5 months, they're still not crawling or getting into things, so there's not another kid to chase around. I know it may be harder work wise, but 5 months may be easier for the family once you're at disney.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We took our DS as 3 months and it was great! That being said, it was in April an a lot less hot than August.

The heat factor would be my only hesitation. We planned all of DS's early trips for April because of weather, but next year (2017) we are planning August again, but he will be 2.5 years old.

 

[quagmire0]

All depends on the baby, but it sounds like your second option could potentially hurt the kids at school and you at work. I'd say 5 months should *usually* be better, but we are on child #4 right now and our 5 month old is STILL not sleeping through the night. He's the slowest of his siblings in that respect and he's learned the art of rolling over but not rolling back. At 3 months, he was probably crabbier and an even worse sleeper, though. But at least a 3 month old is going to have less desire to be mobile than a 5 month old may. But like others have said, it's a total crapshoot with how the baby will be. I would probably take the option that is less impactful to your work and the kids' school.

 

[SweetMissy]

We've gone in April and May and it was too hot, never again. So we wouldn't even consider August. However, we're considering moving to FL, go figure, lol. Anyway, I don't know....I think according to your schedule, August would be the better fit. Would your job allow you to take the time off in November even though you've just had maternity leave? We took #3 when he was 4 months old and we're going in a couple weeks with our soon to be 7 month old. As far as the ages go, I don't think a couple months makes a difference. Good luck deciding!

 

[DisneyCAL]

I would take at 5months. November is way more comfortable temperature-wise which would make it easier on you and the little ones at that age. 5 month old will most likely sleep better than a 3 month old.

 

[Crystal824]

I would go with October and not really due to age. I don't think 3 mo. is too young, but I do think Aug/Sept. is too hot for a baby that young. I had the same dilemma last year. We wanted to take a trip at the end of my maternity leave in Sept. but ultimately opted not to go due to the heat at that time of the year.

 

[kohlby]

I'd pick 5 months due to a couple things - one big thing being the weather.

I did take a baby at 2 months. And other than lots of stops for nursing and diaper changes, it wasn't that hard. However, adding a child into the mix does make it harder to watch the others so keep that in mind. We used a sling when we went at the end of May and did fine - but I wouldn't have wanted any hotter than that - for her or me. (Pregnancy hormones and nursing made me much more sensitive to the heat than usual).

Another big issue is the unknown - if baby doesn't come on the due date, you could be looking at baby being 2.5 months old. Birthing doesn't always go as planned either. Though I was fine to walk around after a c-section with a 2 month old in a sling the entire day after baby #2, there's no way I could have done it with baby #3 due to some complications at the birth causing me pain for much longer, making it very hard to walk.

Since your eldest is only 8 years old, I wouldn't worry about pulling from school as long as your school doesn't have a super strict policy. I'd look into that if you haven't already - as my state is extremely strict even for elem kids.

5 months also gives the entire family time to get into the swing of things. Since it's not just a baby - but a baby and other kids - a little extra time for everyone to adjust could be helpful.

 

[HopperFan]

Been there done that. Have 3, one with Down Syndrome. Started to take #3 at 4 mos but that was in October. She went again at 10 mos, 14 mos and very regularly until she decided to do DCP for a year.

While I felt like 4 mos was doable for a very slow paced short trip where we were only going to do two parks .............. I would not have attempted it in the summer heat. Keeping a baby hydrated and shaded could almost be a full time job and you have 3 other kids, 1 with special needs. Is it doable? Yes. Would I do it? No. I would wait until cooler months for less cranky everyone and less worry about the baby.

 

[puffkin]

I have done 3 months twice....both times we went the last week of my maternity leave. My oldest the trip was in June, my youngest end of September. Both trips were a BREEZE compared to trips with toddlers! 18-21 months were the worst trips EVER.

I would say the 3 month trip only because once you get back to work and in a routine after the maternity leave, I think it will be really hard to throw a vacation in there. It could be a lot more disruptive than you think. Not to mention, at least at my job, it would be highly frowned upon after missing so much time for maternity leave.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I've done a 2 month old in September...the most important thing to remember is light one piece cotton sleep and plays with no feet (and sunscreen the feet or keep them hidden - same for the head and hands - I did sunscreen the head b/c she hated hats) and if you are breastfeeding, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. It was actually a breeze at 2 months (we had a young child, then, too), since she slept so much, ate, and just gazed away...and she didn't try to go anywhere.

I would have backup formula and bottles in case you dehydrate due to heat and can't nurse. I would also recommend a slow schedule for you b/c you will just be getting back to real exercise and exertion, so hubby will have to take on a little more work. Half day park days with some pool time and down time is the way to go with that many young kids and that young a baby...I have gone to a park on purpose at 4pm (waiting out most of the sun and heat), after spending a day by the pool and watching a movie...stayed til 9-10pm fireworks and had very happy parents and very happy children...

 

[EPCOTgrl1]

I took my baby when she was 5 months at the end of October last year. She did really well. It was still warm/hot the entire time we were there. She was alert most of the time and seemed to like it.

 

[Happyjen27]

I felt like my sleep-all-the-time 3 month olds would have been easier than 5 month olds who have more awake time. I would vote 3 months.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I took my first at nearly 4 months, and it was easy. However, we were just a family of 3 and took things really slow. We are going back at the end of Feb and my older daughter is 2 and my newborn will be just shy of 3 months (end of maternity leave trip). I'm hoping for the best! It will be lots of diaper changes and nursing/feeding breaks, but we are expecting that. The cooler Feb weather is great--I don't think I'd want to do it in August/Sept heat. The first week of Sept is our normal trip time, and I just don't think I'd want to take my baby there at that time.

 

[kboo]

We'll be taking DD2 at 3 months in early March! For a lot of the reasons PP mentioned, I would suggest going at 3 months during your leave. I think it would be really hard to go away again so soon after coming back from leave. I don't know what you do, but I always found it challenging to get back into the swing of things and going away so soon after being back - well, I'd have a hard time not trying to be responsive at work to email etc., not to mention wondering what was being said about going on vacation again so soon. (I am also extending my leave an extra week to make a family reunion with my inlaws - if they'd booked it any later in the summer I wouldn't have been able to go.) Also, the added issue of taking the kids out of school - I think it's just more administrative/logistic stress than going at the end of August.

I've also found the heat to be bearable that week (mine and DD1's birthday week!) because the crowds are so low and it's easier to have a mellow vacation. We went in the height of summer when my sister was a baby (older than 3 or 5 months), but my mom made ice cubes out of breast milk for her to suck on and it was fine. We were all sweaty but just stayed hydrated and had a great time. Another thing I have used when DD1 was a baby and we were in hot situations - use a cloth covered ice pack (so it's cool but not too cold!) and tuck it next to baby, or cool wipes repeatedly. And we pretty much stayed inside at the hotel or at the pool from 11-3 or 11-4 those days.

 

[wishtdream]

I took my 6 week old on a 10 day trip in Sept of 2007 for her big sisters 5th birthday. She was the best-behaved kid at Disney. I booked the trip while I was pregnant with my doctors blessing. The heat was not an issue.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

If you are planning on breast feeding that may influence your decision a bit. I know the last few weeks of my maternity leave I was pumping quite a bit, trying to stockpile milk for my return to work. That would be really hard to do at Disney.