Need Urgent Advice...2 month old daughter

[2002Disneybride]

We took DS, now 2 , at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months etc...those early trips were really easy and enjoyable! I love looking at his early interactions with the characters! Our baby #2 due in February will have to wait until he or she is 9 months old-- I can't stand it!

 

[syko]

My dughter was in the MK the day she was released from hospital, 3 days old, after a very complicated C-section, we have a wonderful photo of her being kissed by Princess Aurora, as her name is Briar~Rose Aurora Lillian, my wife used a wheelchair most of the time and we did not think twice about taking her in the park. Some people think that you should wait until a child has had there vaccinations, that is they oppinion, but our daughter had an allergic reaction to her 2 month shots, the doctors are still deciding if she will have the next ones or not, so if you say that children can not go out until they have had there shots she would never go out. I would never tell someone what is wrong or right, its your child and its up to you, all I can say is that we have had no problems,our daughter sleept in her stroller and went on all the rides with no height restriction, the only thing I would recommend is getting a stroller that has a bassinet.

 

[Disney Lover JJ]

I can't thank you all enough for taking the time to write your recos. I'm pretty much convinced it will be ok and that we will have a good time. Now what remains is convincing my wife she will be able to breastfeed in the parks. She is very shy about this as it is, can't imagine her doing it at the parks. We'll see. Any pointers for this?

 

[justhat]

She can always go to the baby care centers where they have nursing rooms so she doesn't have to nurse in "public". Not always the most convenient option, but definitely doable. It's just that at that age you'd have to trek back there every 2 hours or so and that can get annoying. Dark rides and shows worked well for me, but my daughter was a very fast nurser-7 minutes total and she was done. Either way though I think it would work fine. And in preparation, tell her to try nursing at home first. I mean out, not in your house, but before WDW. I had to do it in a restaurant at home before our trip (not planned, but she got hungry cause we were there so long) and my option was to nurse her at the table and eat my meal or go sit on a dirty toilet and have my food get cold. I learned fast what the better choice was and got over that nursing in public fear. And I think the delivery helped get over that too as you're naked in front of so many people giving birth, then everyone's hands are on your breast helping you teach the baby to latch on, etc.

 

[syko]

All you need to do is go to Baby Care, there is one in every park. There thay have a quiet room, where your wife can go and nurse, in AK there are single rooms, MK one room, sorry but i do not know about the others.(My daughter is bottle fed) The staff in Baby care are great, if you need anything just let them know.

 

[ekball]

She can always go to the baby care centers where they have nursing rooms so she doesn't have to nurse in "public". Not always the most convenient option, but definitely doable. It's just that at that age you'd have to trek back there every 2 hours or so and that can get annoying. Dark rides and shows worked well for me, but my daughter was a very fast nurser-7 minutes total and she was done. Either way though I think it would work fine. And in preparation, tell her to try nursing at home first. I mean out, not in your house, but before WDW. I had to do it in a restaurant at home before our trip (not planned, but she got hungry cause we were there so long) and my option was to nurse her at the table and eat my meal or go sit on a dirty toilet and have my food get cold. I learned fast what the better choice was and got over that nursing in public fear. And I think the delivery helped get over that too as you're naked in front of so many people giving birth, then everyone's hands are on your breast helping you teach the baby to latch on, etc.

YES!!! To all of this post!!

We took DD at just under 3 months and it was great. The baby care centers are great, but you will not be able to make it back to them every time the babe needs to nurse. There are plenty of private areas where your wife can nurse the baby....secluded alcoves, dark rides/shows (my favs where dd nursed were Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Carousel of progress, Hall of Pres., ummmm, can't recall others but there were plenty!), etc. I was not an "out in the open" nursing mom, and still found plenty of remote, quiet areas.

One note to make....take at least 2-3 outfits (for baby) with you to the parks. We had "blow-outs" regularly at that age, and went through at least 2 outfits/day while in the parks. Also, FL weather can be funny that time of year - we were there in mid-Jan and had nice, warm sun during the day, but chilly temps in the evening and at night. Had to bring plenty of layers to the park, and blankies to keep DD warm.

Also - we drove from CT to FL for that trip and it was long but dd did great. She slept a lot, woke up to nurse (just about when we needed to gas-up, she did too ), then back to sleep soon after. I would NEVER do it with her now - at almost-3.

you'll have a GREAT time!!!

 

[Oceana]

My favorite places to nurse

Monorail, spaceship earth, tomorrow land transit, any movie (like FRance at Epcot) great movie ride any show

Check out slings... most woman can nurse in them and walk at the same time.

www.mayawrap.com was my favorite

julie

 

[tinatark]

Dissenting opinion here (you asked, right?)... I wouldn't expose my 2 or 3 month old to everything @ the World - especially in Nov/Dec - flu season. Whether you keep her in a sling, or a covered stroller, etc., she still breathes the air everyone else does. It is also usually COLD in FL in December - not as cold as Ohio (is that where you said you live?) but still cold.

Syko - the day she came home, after a difficult delivery?!

I

 

[emma'smom]

Well, it wasn't Disney. However, we took dd to Chicago at 2 weeks old while I attended a conference. My dh took her to the Field Museum (with dd3) and walked all around Chicago in February (everyone was bundled up, of course)....No problems!

At six weeks, I took dd3 and dd6 weeks to the St.Patrick's Day parade in NYC. We stood out on 5th Avenue watching the parade with dd6weeks in the Bjorn and dd3 in the stroller...No problems!

 

[mommyceratops]

The baby care centers are VERY friendly to nursing moms. I was shy about it and I would of felt fine doing it there. Find out where they are in all the parks so you know where to head to and not have to look in a hurry. They all have a CM there if you need anything, changing tables the works.

My older son was 3 and LOVED the baby care centers when we took our infant to be changed there. They had movies to watch and private changing rooms.

 

[Ariel8676]

Disney lover JJ..i posted a few links on the first page.. one of them being a nursing cover. I have used mine since birth, its great. I can't imagine having to run to the baby care centers everytime my kids wanted to nurse. here it is again.. http://bebeaulait.com/ its nice and light and you can see down to the baby..not like covering with a blanket. Please feel free to PM me with any questions..

 

[KristiKelly]

Cool you're right...I forgot that we're driving down so I can take my Graco Pack and Play...good point about breastfeeding...which we're planning to do as well. So far I'm convinced on taking the trip....if we do...I'll post pics as your advice has resulting in my baby's fist WDW experience. Thanks a bunch

The DVC resorts already have pack & plays in them but you may still need it for the drive down if you stop to spend the night.

We went last Sept. with our 3rd. She turned 3 months while down there. We had her stroller and a Baby Bjorn (some will recommend a sling, I would purchase whichever suits both your needs - no way DH was wearing a sling). I was breastfeeding and was able to do that on most of the rides. They sell a nursing blanket at Target for around $10. Some people may not mind but I felt more comfortable being covered. The Baby Care Centers at each park are really nice. You won't have to worry about the heat as much but I would be prepared to take a blanket into the shows, rides & restaurants, they tend to be cold.

One tip, Pack & Play was hard for me to get DD in without waking her so I took the cushions off the sofa - almost a perfect fit (within 1") and then put the sheet on top of that. This helped to raise the bed so I wasn't having to lean over so far. Disney did not give us a real P&P sheet but a regular sheet so it was easy to make fit.

Also, if baby is asleep, you can bring your stroller into restaurants. Have a great trip

 

[Bird-Mom]

Wow your answers have been REALLY helpful and re-assuring. I think I'll be taking the trip then. One final ? playing Devils advocate here...weren't youu concerned about taking them out at such a young age without all their vaccines in? Also, did you use the hotel cribs? As you can tell I'm a first time parent...really nervous ;o)

Well, my non-vaccinated 4 year old has been there 5 times (6 months, 13 months, 21 months, 25 months, and 3.5 years) and hasn't come down with anything scary. My non-vaccinated 2 year old has been there once (15 months) and nothing scary. The chances of the baby catching a disease for which there is a vaccine is very, very, very slim. Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands and you will help keep germs away for the most likey thing baby could get which is the common cold.

Have your wife go to a La Leche League meeting when your baby is born, and they will be very happy to teach her how to nurse in the sling. It is very easy, but sometimes it is difficult to figure out when you are trying to get the hang of the sling as well as the hang of breastfeeding.

I highly recommend a pouch carrier for a newborn. Take a look at www.hotslings.com.

We have so many cute pictures of my older dd with the characters. It was super easy to bring her when she was so young. It gets a little harder when they want to walk and not ride in the stroller.

 

[amarberry]

Just thought that I would chime in on this thread. My DD's first trip to WDW was when she was a little under 4 months old and it was around the same time of year that you are considering (mid November). DD has also been to WDW at 14 months and 18 months. The trip when she was 4 months old was by far the easiest (although each trip is more and more fun for her, and through her reactions, it has been more fun for us too!) because she was exclusively breastfeeding and would just nap whenever and whereever she wanted. As for the germ issue, I was probably least concerned during the first trip because she was being exclusively breastfed and she wasn't mobile and touching everything.

Also, regarding the baby care centers. During our first trip, I wasn't as comfortable with public nursing as I ended up being and DD was easily distracted by everything going on. I probably nursed in the baby care centers about 50% of the time on that trip. They are very nice to have available, but in general WDW is a very nursing friendly place. Others have mentioned getting a nursing cape. Personally, I think they attract more attention and made me even more self conscious, but every woman has a different opinion about that.

I say go for it! There isn't a more infant friendly vacation destination than WDW!

 

[abcboys]

I think it all depends on the temperament of your baby. My 3rd and last baby was a NIGHTMARE for the first 4 months. Cried off and on all day. Had to be held, rocked, fed constantly. My first 2 were not like this. This baby needed constant attention and was up all night. It's really hard to say. Some babies are so easy going eat every 3 hours fall asleep by themselves. Others are more difficult.

 

[justhat]

My daughter was like your 3rd abcboys, but WDW was actually a lifesaver for me. Because she was in a Bjorn all day, she was happy and didn't cry once on the trip. I took her out to feed her and the put her back in and she was satisified. At home I have other work to do so she needed to be put down sometimes so she'd cry and cry until she was picked up again. So in our case her challenging temperment actually worked to our advantage on vacation, which I never would have guessed in my life.

 

[4Girlshouse]

I took my third daughter when she was two months old. When it got hot we would roll her stroller around a gift shop for a little bit. I also nursed her so I didn't have to carry bottles around with me. It was so easy! The Care Center has a nice room to nurse in and I took advantage of that. I also had a nursing cover I used and nursed in line to rides if I needed to. Nobody knew that she was eating! I would go.

 

[Clare]

I just posted about taking our 4 month old, but after reading these responses I think we'll be fine!! I too needed reassurance and this will be our second child!

I just have a suggestion for your wife regarding nursing discreetly. I too was very concerned about doing this in public with my first baby. I also felt like nursing covers made it even more obvious what I was doing. Something that worked well for me was to wear a tank top with a lightweight zip up sweater or sweatshirt over it (which, if you go in December might be just about right, weather-wise). She can just unzip the sweater a bit & pull up the tank. The tank covers the chest and everything down to the baby's mouth, the sweater covers the belly, and baby's head covers the most important bits!

This really worked for me and made me more comfortable nursing around friends and family.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

Just wanted to let you know disney also has the packnplay but it does not have the bassinet attachments if that is what you plan on using.
Best of Luck!!!!!

DH me DD5 DD2

1993 offsite 1st trip
July 1996 POFQ (Grand Magical Gathering 25 people w/ 5 2yr old)
May 2002 Fort Wilderness DD5's first trip
Sept 2004 POP Century DD2's first trip (BC ressies cancelled due to
diagnosis, DD5's 4th Bday)
July 2006 Polynesian (1st there 1st time back loved every minute of
it Celebrate Cancer Free)

Patiently waiting for 8/12/06 we are going back
ressies at POP trying to go back to Poly hopefully I will get my PIXIEDUST today

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Wow your answers have been REALLY helpful and re-assuring. I think I'll be taking the trip then. One final ? playing Devils advocate here...weren't youu concerned about taking them out at such a young age without all their vaccines in? Also, did you use the hotel cribs? As you can tell I'm a first time parent...really nervous ;o)

We took our son out everywhere, including tourist destinations, starting when he was 9 days old. He had no vaccines. He still has no vaccines! (We choose not to have them.) He never got sick from it. He has been sick ONCE, the week he started Gymboree at 16 months old. He started Monday and on Friday came down with a stomach bug--but that is to be expected with hundreds of kids leaving their germs all over the place. Just use a sling and keep a slower pace, and your child won't know the difference. Also, consider breastfeeding (if you haven't already) as it is very easy to travel with a breastfeeding infant. The food is always with you, always the right temperature, never spoils, and the natural immunity can't be beat! Enjoy!