Traveling with a 6-week old: Am I being too optimistic?

[Xenorye]

Hello all. My wife and I have been planning a trip for our family (nothing booked yet) tentatively for August. My wife is due June 29 with our second child, so he would be about 6 weeks old for our trip. We would be flying from Oklahoma, staying about 7 days and getting 5 day hoppers. We're also planning on bringing my mom to act as a "babysitter" for when my wife, daughter (almost 5 at that time) and I want to go on rides together, stay in the park later, etc.

So... are we being too optimistic? When I was telling my dad about the idea, his first reaction was "Are you going to enjoy it?" and that has me worried now. Originally, we had planned on trying to go in February again (went in 2013 and loved the low crowds, weather, etc), but the wife won't have enough time off saved up after taking maternity leave this summer, so we thought we'd take the trip while she was on maternity leave.

Just looking for some opinions, thanks.

 

[seagodess]

I think everyone is different. However 6 weeks after having a baby I was in no mood or shape to walk around all day long, let alone multiple days in a row. So personally I would never do it.

 

[msmama]

Like pp said, I couldn't have done it. I ended up with a c section and needed the full recovery period plus extra.

That said my sister did something similar to what you are trying to do and tacked on a trip to Puerto Rico at the end of her maternity leave.

Regardless, if I planned a trip for that close to giving birth, I'd make sure to buy travel insurance in case you need to cancel. What happens if baby is late? Could be closer to a month old, too.

Congrats on your new addition.

 

[Malcon10t]

I don't know your wife, so who knows for sure. A full day at the park is going to be very hard on her. I did the park with infant in tow, but they were 2.5 - 3 mos on first trips. I was back to work by 6 weeks with most of mine, but don't know how I would have done trying to manage a summer park trip with long hours. She may end up staying with the baby while you and your daughter hit the rides.

Oh, and my second child was 23 days past due.

 

[cptmemo]

I think you could go and still have fun.

I flew from Oregon to DC with a 7 week old, an 8 yr old and 10yr old by myself. I'd had a C-section.

I would just plan on LOTS of rest time for your wife, and have it be a pretty laid back trip. We weren't a theme park obviously, and were staying with my sister and her family so it was kind of a home away from home, but we did the normal sightseeing and what not with lots of walking.

The only thing that was a problem for me, was getting my luggage into the overhead bins with a baby strapped to my chest, and my stupid C-section scar. That was a bad idea, and it started bleeding. On the way home I made sure to get help. (the 10 yr old wasn't quite tall enough to swing the suitcase up).

 

[awdsmama]

Personally it does not sound enjoyable, especially factoring in nursing/pumping breaks (even if the baby is at hotel with grandma, mom will need some ummm "relief" ) and who knows how the general recovery from delivery will go - each pregnancy/childbirth experience is different from kid to kid. If she ends up somehow with a c-section that will tack more time on.

I'd wait another year, 18mos etc - let the new baby get to toddler age to enjoy BugsLand.

 

[CMarie102]

I'm at home with an almost-6 week old right now and there is just no way that I'd personally want to brave DL with him in tow. I had an unexpected c-section and he was born early, so we had preemie issues to deal with as well.

There is just so much that can't be planned with giving birth. Combining that with the fact that at 6 weeks your little one won't have his/her shots yet, I personally wouldn't want to do it. I'd wait until at least after the first series of vaccinations before exposing little one to those levels of crowds. But that's just me! We are planning a trip when our little guy is 6 months (big brother will be 5) and some people would definitely find that crazy.

 

[3monkeys4me]

I didn't do a Disney trip with any of my kids when they were that young...but only because we we had other vacation plans.

I totally would have. We did many other trips with the kids when they were that age. Our first ever vacation with our oldest was a weekend in Florence (we were living in Italy at the time) at 2 weeks followed by a 14 day trip to Germany at 6 weeks. With our second, I took both kids back to visit my family for 2 weeks when DS was 8 weeks. Dh stayed home to work. With our youngest it was too close to school being in session so we didn't travel far but took many day trips in her first 3 weeks of life.

I had easy births and never pumped (none of mine took a bottle well) when they were that age. That being said, I would make sure everything was refundable and not buy park tickets until after the baby is born in case something doesn't go quite as well as expected.

If you do go, I would be mindful of heat and sun. I would also take advantage of the babycare center!

 

[cpster]

Summer crowds and weather are very different from February. I personally would wait until later. If you are all sharing one room with baby all of you could be losing sleep! We took our 5 month old and never made early entry, but she could at least sit up in a stroller. At 6 weeks after birth I was exhausted. It's possible for sure, but I think you'd all have a better time once baby was a bit older. If you do decide to come the baby care centers are great but try to avoid peak lunch time as they get quite busy.

 

[3Gsandme]

You know your family and while I was quite adventurous with my little ones (we went camping when my baby was six weeks old) that sounds like absolutely no fun to me at all. I'm sorry. Even having an acting baby sitter wouldn't work, for me, because six week old babies need to nurse every few hours. I can't imagine having to pump when I managed to not be at the parks to make sure baby had enough to eat. That coupled with the heat, the sun (I don't like slathering brand new babies with sun screen) and the crowds would have me running the other way.

 

[Xenorye]

Thanks for all the replies. I think we're going to put planning on hold, and either go the first week of my daughter's summer vacation or something along those lines. I don't want to wait too long as I did promise her that once she hit 40" we'd start planning another trip.

 

[seagodess]

Thanks for all the replies. I think we're going to put planning on hold, and either go the first week of my daughter's summer vacation or something along those lines. I don't want to wait too long as I did promise her that once she hit 40" we'd start planning another trip.[/QUOTE]

Planning as soon as she hits 40" and going are 2 different things. Unless you said you would go as soon as she was that tall, your good. You can start planning all you want, that doesn't mean the trip has to be anytime soon. Good luck.

 

[At Least Many]

I would attempt it, especially with help. Like others said, take it really easy. 5 day hoppers should let you take it slow. Babies are so portable at that age and still sleep a lot. Plus, they can typically sleep anywhere through just about anything. I would get an Ergo or the like (not a Bjorn) and take turns carrying the baby and riding with your 5yo. I would make sure your wife and baby had the chance for breaks in the shade since Aug will be hot! Barring any complications from birth, I think it would not be tough at all. Trip ins is a good idea too, I think.

Now, I've given birth seven times, so for me, that newborn stage is a dream! 6 weeks is kind of a magical number because generally nursing is well established, recovery is almost done, baby has "woken up" a bit, but still sleep a a lot. But it's been many moons since adjusting to two versus adding to half a dozen.

 

[Xenorye]

Planning as soon as she hits 40" and going are 2 different things. Unless you said you would go as soon as she was that tall, your good. You can start planning all you want, that doesn't mean the trip has to be anytime soon. Good luck.

Semantics, I know. We told her we'd start planning, but there's this pesky thing of I WANT TO GO RIGHT NOWWWWWW. From me, not from the 4 year old.

 

[detarica]

Whooping Cough is going around a lot now due to unvaccinated children and adults whose childhood vaccines are no longer effective. It can be deadly to a child that age. I would avoid the temptation and take the family after the baby is 9 months. They seem more durable at that age.

One point about mom is that the body takes several months to get back to normal after an uncomplicated birth. Hips and joints will be loose for at least a couple months. While one or two days in the park may be ok, a whole week might cause inflammation that would last months.

 

[Malcon10t]

Semantics, I know. We told her we'd start planning, but there's this pesky thing of I WANT TO GO RIGHT NOWWWWWW. From me, not from the 4 year old.

What about a daddy/daughter trip? Is she 40" yet?

 

[crystal1313]

To be honest, I didn't read very many of the replies. Just wanted to tell you about my experience with an 8 week old.....

It was WONDERFUL!!

Let me say this was my second baby. I had a routine recovery. My oldest was 22 months. My mom came too to help us. He slept most of the time. I carried him in a moby wrap the entire trip (although this was in Dec). We only brought one stroller and when oldest DS was not using it, I would lay youngest DS in it to sleep. I did joke that I felt like I spent most of the trip in the baby care centers nursing, LOL. But it was still SO much fun! For us, we couldn't go on the bigger rides with our oldest son at that point, so we focused on the smaller rides anyway and still had a blast. Having my mom there was so nice and really helped out! My DH and mom would take older son on rides while I was nursing and then we would all go ride together, or we would all take a break at that point.

Yes, your wife will be making a lot of nursing and diaper change stops. But for us, it was totally worth it and so much fun! A lot of the smaller attractions I didn't even have to take him out of the moby, so that was nice too. Your older daughter will have a blast! And you can take advantage of rider swap too and she will get even more rides in on her favorite big kid rides.

I think as long as you go into knowing that you aren't going to get as much done as you think, it will be fun. You will have a lot of days to enjoy and take things slower. I do recommend the baby centers at both parks! True lifesavers. They sell all kinds of baby items and there's padded changing tables and a semi-private area to nurse. DL has one on Main Street near the corn dog wagon and DCA in Pacific wharf near Ghiradelli.

I would also stay in a fairly close walking distance hotel just in case you need to go back for naps or change of clothes, etc.

Here's our family photo with Mickey, you can barely see DS head poking out of the Moby wrap:

 

[cinder-ellah]

I did it and I would say "yes" !
My son was 7weeks old, middle of August for his first visit to Disneyland. I went with 2 other adults and a 4 year old. Book a nearby hotel, incase you / Mom need a few breaks. And definitely use the Baby Center, which will also works to take your other child in. With the other adults along, all of you should have lots of fun with your older child. Sounds like you're planning plenty of days, so that is a plus.
Of course you'll have summer heat & sun. So just be aware of that. Showing your 5 year old the Magic of Disney will be so much fun !

 

[kangamama]

What about a daddy/daughter trip? Is she 40" yet?

I totally second this.

Obviously you (and your wife!) are the best ones to judge whether this trip is a good idea with a newborn, but I'm definitely in the "no way" camp. There's just no way to predict a) when the baby will come b) what the baby's temperament will be c) what your wife's recovery will be like. Looking to your family's experience with your older daughter might not even be a good indicator of what your experience with no. 2 will be. To those who have done this and had successful trips, more power to you!

 

[starshine514]

Well, we have a vacation planned during which our LO (due in less than 3.5 weeks) should be about 6 weeks old. We've got a timeshare at Lake Tahoe reserved and are planning on seeing a couple of sites (Grand Canyon, Adventuredome for the older girls in a Vegas, etc) on the drive up and hitting Sea World on the way back. So, if you're crazy, then maybe we are, too!