tips for taking an infant

[alnina]

We are beginning to plan our trip to disney next march. We will be taking my daughter and her family. Our grandson will be 7 yr. old and we will have a new granddaughter who will be 7 months old. I know we will need to be flexable and can take turns entertaining the baby and grandson but any tips to make it easier would be appreciated. This is the first time we have attempted a trip with an infant I know we will be fine! To me you enjoy each trip differently depending on thier age.

 

[aestapa]

My oldest was 4 months for his first trip. Like you, we had older kids with us. If I remember correctly, my neices were about the age of the older child going with you.

First, check out this page on allears.net. http://allears.net/pl/infant.htm
My brother is actually the one who wrote this page, and it has great advice.

I would say, take it slow. Take advantage of the baby swap, so everyone has a chance to ride the rides. Many rides will allow baby too. Pick up a copy of The Unofficial Guide. They have a great section on going with kids. We did not go back to the hotel to nap when ours was a baby, but since then, we have boys 5 & 3. They have been 5 times and we always do the nap. It just helps us. Hope this helps and have a great time!

 

[dsnymomof4]

How wonderful! One of my favorite trips was when we took our 10-month-old. I loved sharing Disney with him! He was so fascinated with the characters and lights and activity all around. You didn't mention if this is the 7yo's first trip - either way, I'm sure a lot of the activity will be planned around him - that is also a wonderful age to enjoy all the magic disney has to offer! The baby will be able to ride lots of rides - especially in MK. Take advantage of the baby care centers in each park - they are really great for feeding, changing and just taking a break from the crowds. Yes, flexibility is the key. You might want to head back to hotel in afternoon for a break, or if you have a stroller that reclines, she can take naps right there in the park and you won't miss a beat. I think bringing a baby to Disney is so much fun. I know you'll have a wonderful time!

 

[alnina]

THANK YOU! Great tips. I will take the advise of those who travel before me What about resorts? Going during spring break I dout any specials so that would realisticaly be looking at value or moderate. Any difference with a baby? Of course we will have stroller and sling{thanks to tips ha} but I know at night the walk back can be an effort.

 

[squirrlygirl]

A mini-fridge will be invaluable (I don't think the values have those?). Also, get a sunshade for the stroller. We had one from kiddapotamus (sp) that had a bug screen and white snap-on sunproof sides. We could open/close sides depending on where the sun was, and totally enclose DD when she was napping. It stayed cool inside the stroller, and kept it dry during rain.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Just took DD 6m0 (she's 8 mo now) in April and we had a great experience. Best advice I can pass on is this... PACK SMART!

I purchased some disposable bibs and spoons so all we had to wash were bottles when we got back to the room. I took along our bottle drying rack to keep in the room (by munchkin, run about $8). We put some dishsoap in a travel sized pump so we didn't have to lug around a big bottle. We would refill our supplies midday (formula, diapers, and wipes).

Take 1.5x the clothes you think you'll need AND don't forget something warm!

We took our own stroller. When the baby was tired, she napped in the stroller. Oh... and buy a baby backpack. DD did get fussy a couple of times b/c she was tired of the stroller. We were able to carry her without killing our arms and she was happy to be out and about!

We also had hats and sunscreen with us at all times. We had the big bottle, but we keep a sunscreen stick in the diaper bag for emergencies.

Be aware, whatever you pack on the stroller, you'll have to take out to get on trams, at the gate entrances, and public transportation.

Best of luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

THANK YOU! Great tips. I will take the advise of those who travel before me What about resorts? Going during spring break I dout any specials so that would realisticaly be looking at value or moderate. Any difference with a baby? Of course we will have stroller and sling{thanks to tips ha} but I know at night the walk back can be an effort.

Mods have fridges in room, at Values, you have to rent one... We stayed at Coronado Springs and were quite pleased.

 

[alnina]

THANKS I am writing all this down

 

[JollyHoliday]

We went with our 8 month old and our 8,7 and 5yr old. The baby was the best one! We still laugh about it.As long as he was feed and changed he was as happy as can be no complaints. Now the older ones whined alot. I did buy and bring the cheapest bottles from babies r us so I could toss them and did not have to carry around dirty ones. I used powdered formula that week. I also ordered from the Garden Grocer and had some things delivered to the resort like water,juice,baby wipes etc.

 

[aestapa]

We went with our 8 month old and our 8,7 and 5yr old. The baby was the best one! We still laugh about it.As long as he was feed and changed he was as happy as can be no complaints. Now the older ones whined alot. I did buy and bring the cheapest bottles from babies r us so I could toss them and did not have to carry around dirty ones. I used powdered formula that week. I also ordered from the Garden Grocer and had some things delivered to the resort like water,juice,baby wipes etc.

Ha Ha! That was our experience too! When we took the baby, we bought one of the mister fans and strapped it to his stroller. He napped in peace while my nieces were tired, hot and frustrated! I think there is a misconception about how difficult it is to take an infant to WDW. They are actually probably the easiest. Feed, burp, sleep, repeat.

I would suggest lightweight fabrics (not t-shirts and shorts). The loose cotton summer overalls etc will not hold in as much heat...and use lots of sunscreen. They can even get burned if they are under the stroller shade. (don't forget the feet).

Our little guy suffered from severe reflux and we could not use powdered formula at that time, so we made his bottles in the morning and packed them in a soft sided cooler lunch box. We stopped by the baby center to warm them up.

On that trip we stayed off site in a vacation home since the entire extended family was with us...which by the way was so affordable. Our next trip included DS3 and his younger brother 15mo. We chose the Fort Wilderness cabins so we could have a separate bedroom and it was perfect. We came back every afternoon and DH and the baby would sleep in the bedroom, while DS3 and I napped on the murphy bed. (divide and conquer...our boys are best friends and will play rather than sleep if left together) We had free dining on that trip, so we didn't use the kitchen much, but it was nice to have all that room. If you do go the cabin route, I can't suggest strongly enough to budget for the golf cart. You will need it to get to the MK boat and the kids loved it! Some of our favorite memories were zipping around the campground on the golf cart. I want to go back just for the golf cart!

 

[Lexie]

A mini-fridge will be invaluable (I don't think the values have those?).

Don't see why you'd need the fridge...we just got back from a week long stay at Pop Century with our 8.5 month old son and had no need for one.

 

[taymacsmom]

Not sure when you are going, but if it will be hot i suggest and clip on stroller fan. Thay are battery operated and I have seen them at Babies R' Us. We took our 10 month old 3 years ago in April and when he was asleep in the stroller he would get very sweaty! Wish I had one of those fans then. I would also suggest the powdered formula. We would fill up our bottles with the appropraite amount of warm water in the morning and then just pour in the powder as we needed it. Therefore, we had no need for a fridge. Remember some dish soap so that you can wash the bottles a night. Have fun. It was a great age because they are content to be held, sleep or ride in the stroller. No begging for things, no whining, no walking around, just pure joy!!!

 

[alnina]

You all are great! I really am writng all this down. I enjoy planning for our Disney trip and we are not going until March since daughter is a teacher. Don't laugh but she has not had the baby yet, she is 32 wks. I am just really looking forward to taking my whole family. It will be me. dh , ds{28} dd and her dh ,grandson 7 and baby Addison who will br 7 months. I am going with our travel agent we've used before and she said once the 2010 rates come out she will price Value , mod. and delux. With the time of year we are going I would be surprised if any specials will be going on and that would be the only way Delux could even be considered. Last time we stayed in Movies Toy story and had great location close to Bus. stop. We will have a wondreful time and I thinj you guys are awesome

 

[tartemis]

I took my daughter for her first trip at 6 months. We took her second trip at 18 months. They were both wonderful, but in different ways. A baby is really easy to deal with there, especially because they have such wonderful baby stations at each park to nurse, feed and/or change a diaper in a cool and clean environment.

My two biggest pieces of advice:

1. Buy this solar blanket. http://www.solareclipse.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=478. It is super lightweight, but blocks all of the harmful rays. It beats trying to lather on sunscreen when the baby is in the stroller. (We also bought the sunsuit which was fabulous, but if I had to choose only one I would get the blanket).

2. Do not go on Ellen's Energy Adventure with your baby -- even if a CM says it is fine. It was one of the worst 20 minutes of my life.

Have fun!

 

[squirrlygirl]

Don't see why you'd need the fridge...we just got back from a week long stay at Pop Century with our 8.5 month old son and had no need for one.

guess you weren't storing any breast milk for the baby then (I just wracked my brain for WHY I wrote that, and it's the only thing I can think of that would make me feel that way!)