Suddenly nervous about upcoming trip with infant

[SaraPosh]

Those who have done WDW with a baby... please reassure me. We just booked 4 nights at the Dolphin in late March (DH has a seminar in Clearwater and we decided to extend the trip). This will be DD's (age 4.5) second trip... no worries about her really. However, DS will be 7 months at the time and I can't decide if I am crazy for trying this or not.

He is a somewhat high maintinence baby... but very irregular in naps and feedings. I breastfeed, though he will be having some baby food feedings by then as well. We are bringing a nice cozy stroller for him (and one for DD too for that matter) and plan to totally just follow the kids lead. No scheduled meals or "places to be".DS's lack of schedule leaves us pretty open and I am hoping he will just enjoy the ride! Wishiful thinking??!?!

Babies can go on most rides, correct? Well, the ones DD would want to go on anyway, LOL! She actually enjoyd the characters and parades and shows best the last time.There are child care stations in the parks, correct? Can you tell me about them?

Any other suggestions or advice?

Am I crazy for even trying this?!!?

TIA!
Sara

 

[blessedby3]

We went a few years back when youngest DD was 10 mos. I swear this was the easiest trip with her. She is/was a bit high maintanience also, but she was great at Disney. It was in Sept/Oct and we had the stroller for her and the baby front pack. She stayed in the front pack a lot and it was easy to go on the rides with her in it. I was nursing her also so that was very convienent. We just nursed wherever and on some rides- people didnt even seem to notice. I just threw a few jars of baby food in the bag and she was able to eat some table foods also, depending on where we ate. We did the parks all day long and she was a trooper. Being the 3rd child she was used to that though. The other 2 always have somewhere to be (at home) and we drug her along so this was not too new. Use the baby care centers when you want a break and take your time. Things will be fine. Take lots of pictures. Your baby wont remember this time, but can look back at the pictures when he is older and you can fill in all the details and tell the stories.

 

[KristiKelly]

We went in September with our kids DS8, DD5 & DD3 monthes. It was very easy, but she was still at the age where she slept alot. She is now almost 7 monthes and sounds alot like your DS, she is not a good napper now. Do you have a Baby Bjorn? I purchased one, of course she was much lighter then but she stayed in that most of the time. She didn't like her stroller much.
Dh & I would take turns carrying her in the Bjorn. That way, if she was asleep and we all wanted to ride something, we didn't have to take her out of her stroller. Yes, he will be able to ride most things (as long as there is no height restriction). She rode Pirates of the Carrib., Haunted Mansion, Buzz Lightyear, etc. We had a great time.
There are Baby Care Centers at each park - USE THEM!!! They are nice, quiet & air conditioned. They have high chairs for feeding, changing stations, and nursing rooms. It was nice to go in there and just get away from the hustle & bustle. Best of luck on your trip!!!

 

[WantToGoNow]

I’ve taken infants to WDW twice. My ds was 6 months on his first trip. He was a very easy going baby (and is now a very easy going 4.5 y/o) and he just went with the flow. We usually stayed out all day and he would just chill in the stroller and sleep when he needed to. He was bottle fed so I did have quite a bit to carry around – bottles, formula, bottled water to make the bottles, baby food, bibs, diapers, etc. The security person checking the bag at the MK commented on my “baby survival kit”. He basically went on every ride that didn’t have a height restriction and sat through every show.

We went again when my ds was 3.5 and my dd was turning 1 (had her first birthday at WDW). She was a very high maintenance child (and still is at 2). She was actually more difficult than my ds was at 6 months. She was walking and was not happy to be fastened into the stroller. She was however eating table food so I didn’t have to pack anything for her to eat/drink. She also went on every ride she could, walked the Swiss Family Treehouse and sat through a lot of shows.

We will be returning in December when my ds will be 5.5 and my dd will be turning 3 (again at WDW).

You will be fine. You dc will probably enjoy watching the people and the rides. All of the colors and sounds will be very interesting to him.

 

[mommystieg]

We took DD#3 last June when she was 7 months old. I decided not to introduce solids until after our trip so we wouldn't have to tote the baby food around with us. I didn't really notice the effect of bringing the baby on our park/dining plans. We were bf'ing exclusively at the time so other than stopping to nurse we didn't slow down much. I did use the Baby Care Center in MK while DH took the older girls on the rides but for the most part just nursed her whenever/wherever. The only glitch in our visit was the fact that DD#3 did not really like riding in her stroller very much and she preferred mommy to carry her around. Luckily I had purchased a sling type carrier to take with us -- boy, was that thing a life(and back)saver!! Don't worry--you will have a great time

 

[KristiKelly]

I posted earlier and wanted to add
When we went I was breastfeeding exclusively and really liked using the Baby Care Centers but I also took a nursing coverup that I had bought at Target. I bf'd DD on many slow moving rides and shows. It's a Small World, Great Movie Ride, etc. Dh asked for the back row for us. No one even noticed and I felt more comfortable being in the back. At 3 monthes though she was much easier to please and a little less nosey. I don't know if she would tolerate the nursing cover now it would block her view.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

When we went in 2000, DS was 6 months old and he was very easy to take care of. We did forget his bottle when we were going to MVMCP, but we just got one at the Poly where we were having dinner. I know you are breastfeeding, I am just saying if problems come up, just make other arrangements and carry on.

We took him on most every ride we went on, w/ the exception of the big rides, of course.

Our DD was almost 5 then and it was nice that she could enjoy herself one more time before she had to worry about her brother on her vacation. They generally get along, but I think it was nice for her to feel kind of like she didn't have to share and all that stuff.

I never did use the Baby Care Center, so I can't offer any advice on that.

Have fun and don't worry-it will be fine!

 

[java]

We have 4 children so we were always with a baby one time or another- most recently last summer with a 6 month old and he was easy. He was so happy to be outside and there is so much to see!! He loved it. He slept through most meals- we were flexible with our schedule so tried to eat when he was asleep. And those Baby Care centers are great! The AK one is my favorite. So quiet and cool. Great place for baby to relax. You can do it no problem! Disney is a place you can feel totally comfortable being a family! Enjoy it.

 

[rt2dz]

I have not read all the posts, so I may be missing something, but...

When we went in 2004 we had DS3 and DS 7months. DS7 months was (still is) and exteremly high maintaince child. Some of it is his personality and some of it was due to the fact he was an ill infant. He nursed every 1.5 hours until 7 months. He was morphing to a 2-2.5 hour schedule while we were at WDW. He was just starting baby food (late start due to illness). But that is the beautiful thing about babies, they are portable. They have no choice to go with the flow. And nursing is quick and easy.

We had a stroller and the baby b'jorn. Between the two he was never an issue. He went on all the rides that weren't height restricted and we baby swapped the others. He enjoyed taking in all that was going on around him. He was actually MUCH easier at WDW than at home.

We didn't use the baby care centers that trip and didn't miss 'em. All bathrooms (even men's) have changing tables. There are a million places to nurse out of the way if you're shy about nursing in public--ie, shows, dark rides, certain benches, etc.

If you have any specific questions, please feel free to PM me. I don't always get back to a board I've posted on.

 

[bartleby1]

Please don't be nervous. Just go and enjoy your trip. Babies are soooo adaptable and I think you will be surprised how easily they travel. We drove from NJ with our 3 kids last summer and my youngest was only 9 months. She did great on the drive and in the parks.

Just be sure to keep your little one well fed and a clean diaper and he will be good to go!

 

[SaraPosh]

Thank you all so much for the reassurance and advice.

We do have a baby bjorn carrier and I will either bring that or a sling/hip style carrier. (He is a big boy, LOL!) We'll see what fits best then. I am pretty comfortable nursing him wherever I need to... he is just at that nosy age, so the baby centers might be the better place to do it if they are as calm and quiet as you say.

We will be spending several days at the beach before arriving and will be buying our supplies there, so not so much to fly with. He does like the stroller, but has never had a whole day outing in it yet, never mind several days in a row.

I am still nervous about it... though I am sure everything will fall into place. It is just nice to hear that so many of you have had great experiences.

Sara

 

[las3888]

We went last fall when DS was 8.5 months old. He is not a good stroller napper so the biggest issue was by the time we got ready and made it to a park, we had to leave in about 45 minutes to make it back to the room in time for naps! If he were a little younger, I would have done the baby bjorn but he was just too big for it by that time (around 20 lbs I think).

He used to sleep in the baby bjorn so it would have helped alot...we could have spent more time in the AM in the parks, just walking around or whatever. Other than that, it wasn't a big deal. We packed babyfood and fed him at all the restaurants we went to. He was a little frightened at most of the rides not geared for little kids (i.e. MGM's Great Movie Ride). They were just too loud and dark. He really enjoyed the kiddie stuff in Fantasyland at MK though.

I hope that helps. I think the hardest thing for us was that DH and I had been going to Disney for so many years without kids, so it just wasn't the same obviously, but it was fun in alot of different ways!

 

[In Luv with Disney]

You will be TOTALLY FINE, no worries!!! I went in October and our DD was just turning 5 months old while we were there. She was GREAT! She is exclusively breastfed, but I use formula in her cereal. I did bring an empty bottle with powder formula in it and all I had to do was add water in case of a real emergency! I used the baby centers a lot...the one at MGM was VERY small!!! My favorite one is the one at MK. It is really nice! They have a private room for nursing, with rocking chairs, lamps, tables, etc. Then they have a separate room for changing. Then there is a sitting room with a TV for the older kids! They also have everything you would possibly need in case of emergency. It is right next to the First Aid center near Crystal Palace!

When I wasn't near a baby center, I nursed in bathroom stalls. I feel funny breastfeeding in public, since DD hates a blanket around her!!! So everyone could see everything...and that made me uncomfortable. So an empty bathroom stall for a couple of minutes always did the trick!

You will be FINE...any further questions, be sure to ask!!!