Tips for WDW with 7.5 month-old?

[DisneyFanDC]

Next month, we will be taking our then-7 1/2 month old baby girl to WDW for her first trip, and I would love any tips that worked for others with babies a similar age. Were any other parents able to cobble together an appropriate meal from food available at WDW restaurants, or did most of you bring your own? How did you handle bed times and naps -- stick to your schedule from home or keep 'em up later? Would love links to any trip reports featuring a baby as well. Thanks in advance!

 

[badblackpug]

We took my 8 month old last year. She napped in her stroller, whenever she was tired. For meals we did a combo of things. We used powdered formula, just added the appropriate amount to the botlle and added bottle water when she was hungry. At restaurants we brought jarred baby food and fed her a little of that and off our plates, too. She was actually easier than the big kids!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Our DD was 6 months in April when we went. I took as much disposable stuff as possible and refilled a lot of our supplies on our breaks (diapers/wipes/formula) so we carried as little into the parks as we could.

Disposable bibs, changing pads, spoons (take n toss), food (stage 1s), a small box of cereal, and I know they're kind of expensive, but got some of the pre-packed Enfamil packs because they were small.

We took our own stroller b/c the Disney ones aren't really made for little kids. We also took a baby backpack for when she was tired of the stroller. She slept in a pack n play in the room (we took an old crib sheet that I left behind).

Take extra pacifiers! I can't tell you the number of times we were looking and couldn't find one (DD cut her first 2 teeth at the World)! Tylenol/Motrin, teething tabs, a blanket, and a toy that can connect to the stroller with rings.

 

[DisneyFanDC]

Thanks for the great suggestions!

 

[verygfy]

We took our daughter on her first Disney trip at around 5 months old. I brought the snuggli with me to take her on the rides and that worked really well. I brought all disposable items, but the baby centers in the park were great for breaks, diaper changes even my older DS enjoyed the time outs at the baby center in the a/c. I brought a lot of her foods and snacks, but the buffets were really good for her as well. She was able to go on just about all of the rides and when it was naptime we either did SSE and Energy for long cold breaks or we would go back to the hotel and take a nap. We didn't really keep to her schedule, but a lot of times she did!! Definitely bring your own stroller, the Disney ones are not that great for that young when they want to take naps.

 

[donaldsgirl]

We took our daughter when she was 9-10 mos. old. We loaded up her bag with baby food and formula for her. She had a great time..the only thing that she HATED was changing tables in the bathrooms. HATED THEM!!! She looked and watched and played..she napped in the stroller but we really tried to keep her as close to her schedule as possible..she is a real bear if she is too inconvenienced..You will have a great time. The ONLY thing that I wanted was for all of us to have our pictures made with the characters..she stayed awake until we were #2 in line..just another 2 or 3 minutes was all that we needed. The little noodle head fell asleep, stayed asleep through all the characters and woke up within 15 seconds of walking out the door. She did it to me 2X'S. Wish me better luck this time around!!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Thanks for starting the thread. DS will be 9 months when we go. He's 3 months now and travels pretty lightly since I'm nursing. I think that will be really convienent. As for solids, I'm not sure what we'll do. We'll be making our own baby food at home but I know it's not feasible to take it with us. Does WDW sell jars of baby food? Something tells me that they do at the baby centres. At 9 months, we might get away with feeding him off our plates. Anyone have experience with that?

 

[bekkiz]

My two are just over 9 months, and we could probably get away with mostly table food. Things like unsweetened applesauce, whole banana, avocado all travel well, and you can spoonfeed those. Dried fruit that you soak in hot water (like apricots) and cut up is another one that travels well. You just have to ask for some hot water.

My two are really into pancakes. I put veggie puree in at home but I figure without veggies should be ok for a few days. I'm sure I'l be able to find stuff for them to munch on.

There are some great frozen baby foods that are all organic and taste better (to me at least) than jars. If you're staying somewhere with a freezer, perhaps you could order some and have them shipped. We like Happy Baby, but I just bought some from Plum Organic to try! I wanted to try them out before we left (our trup in in a couple months) just so I know if they're still enjoying some purees, there's an option they'll eat.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

My two are just over 9 months, and we could probably get away with mostly table food. Things like unsweetened applesauce, whole banana, avocado all travel well, and you can spoonfeed those. Dried fruit that you soak in hot water (like apricots) and cut up is another one that travels well. You just have to ask for some hot water.

My two are really into pancakes. I put veggie puree in at home but I figure without veggies should be ok for a few days. I'm sure I'l be able to find stuff for them to munch on.

There are some great frozen baby foods that are all organic and taste better (to me at least) than jars. If you're staying somewhere with a freezer, perhaps you could order some and have them shipped. We like Happy Baby, but I just bought some from Plum Organic to try! I wanted to try them out before we left (our trup in in a couple months) just so I know if they're still enjoying some purees, there's an option they'll eat.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Glad to hear that they are able to eat off regular menus in some small way. We won't have a freezer on the trip but I'm happy to hear about the better quality prepared baby foods. We'll have to try some at home if we ever need a break from cooking/pureeing.

 

[winjos]

Go to the baby centers whenever you get a chance. They are a great place to take a break, have comfortable changing tables, and a place to warm food.

I'm not sure that all the baby centers at WDW have high chairs, but the one at DL have them. It makes it so easy to feed the little ones.

Biggest plus: A/C in the summer and heating on cold days!

OT - my kids hated the automatic flushers! The baby center at DL has this toddler sized toilet that has to be flushed. No matter where we were in the park, we would run back to the baby center to use the kid toilet.

 

[Jdougherty]

We went when DD was only 9 months old. She had JUST given up baby food (the stuff in containers) about a week or so before. She ate what ever I ate just cut very very small and I made sure she got the tenderest pieces of any meat I was eating. We supplemented her with Fruit cups,which I had delivered from graden grocer. We brought her formula down and per made water bottles in the room and kept powder in a container per protioned for being on the go.

I did bring my own stroller, this is a must with one so small as the WDW strollers don't accomidate anyone under 1 yr safely. She napped in her stroller or I wore a sling with her in it.

I ordered daipers, wipes,bottled water and food stuff from garden grocer to have delivered to the room. Most important, BE FLEXIBLE.

DD loved the charactors did very well the whole trip. I plan for our 2010 trip to use similar tactics with DD whole will be 2.5 and DS who will have just turned 1.

Bring own stroller and order snack and water to be delivered, let my childern dictate the pace.

 

[Keri]

We went last December when my youngest was just shy of 7 months. My biggest advice is buy an Ergo carrier -- seriously. Emery spent 90% of the trip in there. It was great because she was sitting facing me, in such a way that she could just stay in there on every ride I went on. She wasn't thrilled in the stroller plus my older daughter (then 4) wanted to ride in it. She napped on me for short stretches -- we didn't go back to the hotel ever. We did go back to the room on the early side compared to a lot of people, but she was usually zonked & could have lasted longer sleeping on me -- but the big kids were another story.

Food, I still BF her, and I brought jars of food and the bibsters and baby spoons with me.

It was great -- she was at a good age, still pretty portable and not walking yet! I was able to do everything my (admittedly kind of chicken) big kids wanted to do with them and she just hung out & enjoyed the ride, or snoozed.

 

[Mickeyfollowers]

Just wanted to add a tip about the pack-n-plays. I purchased one of this twin egg foam mattress covers and cut it to fit inside to add extra padding and used his covers. The resorts pack-n-plays are worn out and hard. I know I wouldn't want to sleep in those hard things. We also took a soft cooler full of drinks that stored under the stroller. Saves money.

 

[DisneyFanDC]

We went last December when my youngest was just shy of 7 months. My biggest advice is buy an Ergo carrier -- seriously. Emery spent 90% of the trip in there. It was great because she was sitting facing me, in such a way that she could just stay in there on every ride I went on. She wasn't thrilled in the stroller plus my older daughter (then 4) wanted to ride in it. She napped on me for short stretches -- we didn't go back to the hotel ever. We did go back to the room on the early side compared to a lot of people, but she was usually zonked & could have lasted longer sleeping on me -- but the big kids were another story.

Food, I still BF her, and I brought jars of food and the bibsters and baby spoons with me.

It was great -- she was at a good age, still pretty portable and not walking yet! I was able to do everything my (admittedly kind of chicken) big kids wanted to do with them and she just hung out & enjoyed the ride, or snoozed.

We have a Baby Bjorn -- would that work just as well as an Ergo? I know they're not quite the same thing. Thanks so much!

 

[disneymom2jhe]

My daughter was 10 months on our last trip. She ate mostly off our plates (but we prepared her for that before we left). The one thing we didn't do, was let her loose to crawl around and get some exercise. We had her in the stroller or carried her (she wasn't walking yet) because I didn't really want her crawling in the walkways and such! As a result, I found it was harder to get her to sleep than at home. At home, she crawled and played all over the house with her brother and sister, but at Walt Disney World, I forgot to give her her play/exercise time and as a result, she just wasn't tired.

By the way, someone mentioned the pack and plays and they are absolutely right! Those things are so hard and worn out. Definitely bring extra padding!

Have fun on your trip!

 

[MickeyOCD]

I took each of my kids when they were 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 months old. It was really easy. Just left them in the stroller unless we were riding a ride, and if they're in the carrier then you don't have to disturb them at all to ride a ride. The applesauce in all the parks is unsweetened so you could always use that, it tastes pretty good. Also, as PP have said the buffets are a good place to get a little variety of fruit and cooked veggies. All of the restaurants are good about heating up your jarred food if you need it, just check the temp first. The baby centers are awesome, they all have stuff you can buy for babies if you run out. WDW is a great place to take babies, they are really accomodating. I also have some of the best pics of my kids from this time as the characters seem to go out of their way to engage the babies and spend extra time with them. Have fun and enjoy. And don't listen to those who say your child is too young, they won't remember it. Who cares, you will and you will cherish how your child will light up when he sees Pooh bear or Mickey!