Traveling with a 3 month old

[Bob H]

I was just wondering if anyone could offer any advice on anything regarding travelling with a 3 month old. We made these plans before I even knew I was pregnant!
We have been to Disney numerous times and I am treating this vacation as more of a time to "relax" by the pool as I don't think it would be much fun to drag him around all day to the various parks.

My parents are coming with us and my brother and his wife (along with their 2 kids) will also be there so I think there will be enough people to help out. My hubby plans on spending alot of time with my brother's family as they have never been to Disney.

We bought a baby "sling" but I'm not sure how well that will work during the heat. And of course I will need to still carry a bag with his stuff. Also I wasn't sure about lugging our stroller with us. Does anyone know of a "cheap" stroller for infants (most of the ones wouldn't be practical for an infant that people recommend).

My doctor said that he must be taking a bottle as he needs to swallow during takeoff and landing and the "binky" wouldn't necessarily make him swallow. She also told me that the pool was fine (except "don't let him drink the water" ~ imagine that he shouldn't drink chlorine ~ duh). And NO sunscreen so just try and keep him out of the sun as much as possible.

As far as ride goes I assume that I can take him on to things like its "A Small World" etc.... but I assume I am not even allowed to hold him other rides.

As far as sleeping goes - hubby and I have decided to let him sleep with us - I believe we have a King at the villa's at The Boardwalk.

Any advice/recommendations/comments appreciated!
Tracie

 

[robinb]

Congratulations Tracie!

I brought my 4 month old DD to WDW for NYE 99/00. What a zoo, but we had a great time! I hope that you rethink about taking your baby-to-be with you to the parks. It was great fun to drag my DD around and the Cast Members loved her. We especially enjoyed the character meals.

These are my opinions on your questions ... I'm sure that other folks will disagree on some of what I have to say .

(*) I have a sling and it is a "must-have" IMO. It keeps the baby close to you where he likes it, plus it keeps him safe and secure. We even did Dumbo with my DD in the sling!

(*) If you have a stroller which you have to "lug" return it immediately and get a lightweight one! The "systems" seem like a good idea when you're pregnant, but they are really only good for mall crawling. My SIL gave me her Peg Perago Milano which we nicknamed "Pramzilla". I don't think it ever been out of the house. It's just too big and bulky to take anywhere. We used a regular umbrella stroller with an insert which kept my DD from slouching too far into the seat. In retrospect, I should have bought a Snap-N-Go stroller (http://www.babytrend.com/) which is a frame that your infant car seat snaps into. It's lightweight and your baby never leaves his car seat from car to stroller. We currently have a Maclaren Techno.

(*) Don't listen to your doctor about the bottle. If you are nursing, just nurse your baby in the sling that you brought with you. By the time you're 3 months out, you'll be a pro at it . You can also try just a binky. My DD has never had any ear trouble on take offs and landings. You may also be as lucky.

(*) We swam with my DD at 4 months old. It was nice, but we were only in for a very short period of time. You should be able to buy "Little Swimmers" disposable swim diapers will fit him. I've heard the recommendation of no sunscreen until 6 months old. You may be able to find something you can use at a younger age. Stay away from Coppertone Waterbabies 45 SPF. It really strings when it gets into their eyes.

(*) I took my 4 month old DD on a lot of things with the sling. The sling will allow you to have both hands free. We went on just about everything except for those rides which have a height restriction.

(*) Sleeping arrangements will depend on how you do it at home . We co-slept with our DD for 6 months and now off and on for another 1.5 years. You'll be pros at sharing a bed by the time you go. There is also a pack-n-play type crib in the master bedroom if your baby is not sleeping with you.

I would also make sure that you keep your baby hydrated. My favorite nursing places include the Carousel of Progress, Hall of Presidents, or anywhere else which is dark and cool (or warm off season). The baby care centers provide areas for moms only where you can nurse in peace. Heck, I nursed just about anywhere since at 4 months she hadn't become a "looky-loo" yet where she would suddenly expose me .

I think you'll have a great time ... 4 months was so much easier than 2 years old!

BTW, Here's a picture of our family from that vacation when my DD was 4 months old:

 

[Bob H]

Hi-

Thanks for the info!

Great family pics!

You can check out our little one at www.roberthinman.com and follow the Jacob link!

Tracie

 

[stacy6552]

ok first of all buy your precious baby a plane ticket if you are flying! please please please.

then get the snap-n-go baby carrier seat frame. the frame is lightweight and one model has a great basket and they fit most every seat.

find the sportbaby backpack diaper bag. it has insulated pockets and the huge changing pad is attached so you cant loose it.

if you have the evenflo carseat, it will sit in their wooden highchairs rightside up. if you have another kind then simply turn the high chair over and it will prop in the base in resturaunts.

bring the carrier for rides and thing you cant take the stroller with you. the baby can go on anything without a height restriction.

 

[Alysa]

Tracie,
What a cute little peanut you have - such an adorable baby! We are hoping to take a trip with our little one at three months (making his or her way by stork right now) on the cruise and are very keen to hear any advice from other parents who have done this. With such a large group of family there to help you, you can't go wrong! Have a wonderful time!

 

[jel0511]

WE just returned from a trip to the world with a four month old, so here's what I did.... First of as stated in a previous post, PLEASE buy your baby a seat on the plane!!!! Also, we just toured in the morning and then rested in the afternoon then went back out around dinner time. I personally wouldn't bring the baby in the water, because the baby pools are usually a little deep for an infant, usually between 1 - 2 feet and the big pools well, they're big!! Also, the swimming diapers have a lower weight limit of 16lbs, which for a 3 month old is a little large, and the baby will get sun. I was told by my ped that I could use sunscreen on my son, I bought Baby Blanket, by Playskool, which doesn't have any chemical sunscreen in it and he was fine. If you don't go the sunscreen route, make sure you buy one of those umbrellas for your stroller if you don't' have one of those, the baby is going to get some sun someway, and it is really strong down there. I would recommend bring your own stroller, it's more comfortable for the baby, but if you feel it's too bulky, buy a new one NOW, so the baby will be able to get used to it. Unforunately, for a baby that small, those small unbrella strollers aren't really the best things since they don't fully recline, with my DD (who's 3 now) I bought a Peg Perego, well I hated it!! With my son, I bought a Maclaren, and it's AWESOME!!!! It's a light weight unbrella stroller that fully reclines and I can use it everywhere. The snap and go is also a good idea, since it's nice and light, but I feel that sitting in those carseats is a little constrictive in the hot parks, and the baby is bound to get overheated in it.

 

[Spinning]

Hi! Congrates! You will have a wonderful time! We went with my DS at about 3 months too. Same as you trip was planned....
Anyway as most have said, buy a seat on the plane. You can usually get a 1/2 price seat just tell the airlines you have an infant and would like a seat. I flew one time with out a seat and swore never again! I was so scared. We hit a ton of turbulance I thought for sure she was going to fly out of my hands. We had no problems with ear pain. DS would take a bottle briefly so we gave him that or a clean finger worked too.
If you can get the frame for the infant seats that is the way to go. We didn't have that but if this is your first baby then it would be worth it. I had my regular stroller nothing fancy, I think it is a Craco around $75 light weight worked fine for an infant has a nice basket and straps that went between the legs. What ever you find just make sure it reclines.and has a roof. We drapped baby blankets over sides for extra coverage. Bring clothes pins to help pin it!
As for the parks. Each park has a baby station, wonderful rooms to nurse in. I found I did this at least once a day to give the baby and me a break and some quiet time to nurse. Other than that I found other places worked fine. Some of the shows, Tough to be a bug....worked too if I didn't need a long time to nurse. Also he did take some formula so I used the powered stuff and brought water with me. But I found nursing to be the easiest! But it was good to have a bottle incase we were on a ride, my mom and Step dad were with us too so they helped with baby.
The characters were great with the baby. Suzie Mouse for Cinderella actually sat down on the ground and then took the baby! Pictures were way too cute! Enjoy!

 

[R4racing]

I would recommend if you do not already have a backpack diaperbag, use a backpack instead of a standard diaperbag. It is so much easier when you (or DH) can just slip it over your shoulders and not worry about it sliding down your arm. Also, just about any ride that doesn't have a height restriction or restrictions for pregnant people should be fine to ride. Some of the shows might be a little loud, keep that in mind when choosing a seat. Also, resign yourself to the fact that you may have to leave a show if the little one gets upset, if may not happen, but you never know. Enjoy yourselves, the characters and cast members seem to really LOVE babies, so you may get some nice photos.

 

[robinb]

I would recommend if you do not already have a backpack diaperbag, use a backpack instead of a standard diaperbag.

I second this recommendation! We just hang our backpack off the back of the stroller and take it with us onto the attractions.

A lot of people recommend buying a seat on the plane. We never did and traveled with our DD lots (even to London and Japan). Sometimes we were able to get a seat for her car seat, sometimes not. When she wasn't in her car seat she was always attached to me in her Baby B'Air in case of turbulance (http://www.babybair.com/).

 

[cgcw]

Our pediatrician recommended giving our 7 month old some dimetapp before we took off to help prevent clogged ears....3 months old may be too young but you might want to check with the doc.
Also, invest the money in the seat. Our little one flew for $91 round trip. The peace of mind was great. It was convenient to him in his seat and we had his car seat for the rental car.