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

[sherilaine]

Not to stir the pot or anything, but would it make you feel better to embarrass the parents like that? What would you have expected them to do at that point? Pack up and go home?

I think it is completely understandable for someone next door to people who have a very young baby crying in the middle of the night to be put off by this - that is life - people bug each other all the time and when travelling we take that risk. If it's not a crying baby it can be people up late talking or partying or otherwise making noise.

I do think though if you are considering travel with such a young child that you are comfortable with their schedule and their behaviour before doing so. If your baby wakes up several times each night and is very hard to get back to sleep with a lot of crying and fussing then no, going to a hotel is likely not showing good consideration for fellow guests.

However, even if your child is one of the calmest and easiest to deal with babies that were ever born, they can change and quickly at that young an age. There is no guarantee travelling with a baby, of almost any age that does not already consistently sleep through the night, will not disrupt others.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

Crying newborns make tiny peeps! Bigger kids melt down all the time at DL - it is a family destination! I'd say your chances are better of being awakened at 5am by a screaming 6-year-old or feel an "earthquake" because the kids on the floor above you jump on the bed at 12am when they arrive in the room because they're so excited to be there than of being awakened by a baby.
Why would someone who dislikes children stay at DL?

As for recovery time after delivery and visiting DL so soon -assuming there are no big issues - for me honestly DL would be much more relaxing than being at home where I'd be cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, shopping, and entertaining the older sibs. Slowly walking through DL while snuggling my baby, lots of opportunities to sit down and rest, sleeping in a bed someone else makes, eating food someone else prepares and cleans up...doctors should really prescribe a vacation for all moms of newborns!

 

[mom2rtk]

Crying newborns make tiny peeps! Bigger kids melt down all the time at DL - it is a family destination! I'd say your chances are better of being awakened at 5am by a screaming 6-year-old or feel an "earthquake" because the kids on the floor above you jump on the bed at 12am when they arrive in the room because they're so excited to be there than of being awakened by a baby.
Why would someone who dislikes children stay at DL?

As for recovery time after delivery and visiting DL so soon -assuming there are no big issues - for me honestly DL would be much more relaxing than being at home where I'd be cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, shopping, and entertaining the older sibs. Slowly walking through DL while snuggling my baby, lots of opportunities to sit down and rest, sleeping in a bed someone else makes, eating food someone else prepares and cleans up...doctors should really prescribe a vacation for all moms of newborns!

Tiny peeps? LOL. My kids must have been born with super-human lungs.

Of course Disney is for families. And of course there will be chances for other sorts of disruptions. It's about what is likely. And a 6 week old baby crying at night is likely and predictable.

And since when does liking a good night's sleep and considerate parents mean one dislikes children?

 

[crystal1313]

We are very courteous when staying in a hotel. We have a talk with our kids every time we stay explaining that some people could be sleeping and that we need to use our quiet voices when walking in hallways, etc. We tell them again before leaving our room. They are super quiet and know the rules. We also make sure they know to be quiet in the rooms. And when my youngest DS was an infant we did our absolute best to keep him from crying. I think most people do.

I cannot tell you how many times we have been awakened by people yelling in the walkways, screaming from one floor to another or parking in front of our room and loading their luggage in the early am hours (and we use a white noise sound machine in our room). Even when we stay in a DLR hotel we have been disturbed by guests being super loud in the hallway (yelling, screaming, running, etc). These are people who are choosing to be rude. A baby would never upset me. I’m a mom. I realize that babies cry. I realize that the parents are probably doing their best to quiet the baby. Babies can be loud. So can older kids. Adults are usually the loudest of them all. I think it’s unfair to say that people are thoughtless and rude to take their family on a vacation and stay in a hotel with a baby. In Europe, people travel with their babies all the time. It helps the kids adjust to traveling. And I don’t think people should put their lives on hold because they have a baby.

For the OP, the trip would obviously be more for their older DD. If they can go now, than why wait? Life is too short. Only the OP and his wife will know once the baby is born if they can swing this trip. It will have its challenges, but also a huge reward of taking a family trip together.

 

[DahliaRW]

Interesting, I have not heard about this. I'll bring it up to the wife. Thanks for the link.

Not to get off topic, but you should also know that while it is recommended, they have not done any studies on pregnant women to see if the vaccine is safe during pregnancy for both mom and baby. This is a fairly new recommendation (I had my last child in 2009 and it was not recommended then).

As for a 6 week old, there are plenty of illnesses light there that are much harder on them than an older child or adult. Things like rsv, influenza, etc. A major theme park and airplane travel at that age would concern me. A fever over 100 in a baby under 3 months means a spinal tap too. I just wouldn't risk it.

 

[sayhello]

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.

If you book it, get trip insurance. And 2 hotel rooms. Your wife might have stitches or something that would still be causing her pain at 6 weeks. I know I was still miserable 6 weeks after. And I don't think it would be a good trip if all 4 of you were in a room with a newborn who cries at least once in the night.

Sorry, but most trip insurance does *not* cover pregnancy, except "Complications of Pregnancy threatening the life of the mother or child".

Sayhello

 

[At Least Many]

On our last trip we had a family staying in the next room with a baby. It woke me up several mornings at 5 AM.

On behalf of whomever will be staying in the room next to yours........ please wait for an older age.

If that baby next door had been waking me up more than once per night, there would have been some serious words exchanged.

You're the lady that wrote that awful letter to the parents at the ski resort, aren't you?!?!

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[mom2rtk]

You're the lady that wrote that awful letter to the parents at the ski resort, aren't you?!?!

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LOL, I must have missed that story.

 

[At Least Many]

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/201...or-taking-their-screaming-baby-to-ski-resort/

Just kidding, of course. I'm sure you don't dot your i's with cute little circles.

 

[mom2rtk]

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/201...or-taking-their-screaming-baby-to-ski-resort/

Just kidding, of course. I'm sure you don't dot your i's with cute little circles.

Nor do I ski. Or send anonymous letters. I already said I'd knock on the door.

And it sure sounds like the baby in question made more than "tiny peeps".

OP, you asked for opinions on what people think of traveling with a 6 week old baby. It's up to you whether your family will find enjoyment in it. But choosing to put others in a situation where they might lose sleep (and enjoyment) from their own trips is something you will need to consider in that equation.

 

[Xenorye]

Thanks again for the information about trip insurance (as i stated in the original post, we have not booked anything and didn't plan on it until we knew more about the timing), and the vaccine not being tested yet.

And crystal1313, *fist bump* -- I understand being considerate, but you could also have a perfectly-mannered baby that has never cried before and it could start in the middle of the night. If you can't console the baby and stop the crying with a feeding or rocking, you go to the lobby (or to the hospital if it's that bad). By the way, saying a baby makes tiny peeps did make me laugh...

Of course it's understandable to be a bit peeved about being woken up by someone else's kid, but it happens. As crystal1313 explained, bigger kids or adults could wake you up too. It's not like we'd let the baby cry all night.

I feel like the conversation has devolved a bit and we're nearing the "should your 5 year old REALLY be in a stroller?" territory.

 

[mom2rtk]

Of course it's understandable to be a bit peeved about being woken up by someone else's kid, but it happens. As crystal1313 explained, bigger kids or adults could wake you up too. It's not like we'd let the baby cry all night.

True. But there's a difference between an unexpected odd occurrence and a predictable occurrence.

Most 6 week old babies do not sleep through the night. Most adults and older kids do.

 

[crystal1313]

I feel like the conversation has devolved a bit and we're nearing the "should your 5 year old REALLY be in a stroller?" territory.

Good luck with your decision and good luck with your new baby! So exciting

 

[mummabear]

I wouldn't at 6 weeks, 3 months and above I would. I think you will find it too stressful, you won't be getting enough sleep, your wife will still be recovering and I don't think either of you will be able to enjoy it very much, especially compared to waiting a few more weeks or months.

 

[Carolynleanne]

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.

I'd totally do it - but make sure she doesn't push herself. We went on vacation with our 6 week old last summer and had a blast. I was just careful to sit down when need be and rest in the afternoons

Have fun!!!

 

[mummabear]

DL would be much more relaxing than being at home where I'd be cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, shopping, and entertaining the older sibs. Slowly walking through DL while snuggling my baby, lots of opportunities to sit down and rest, sleeping in a bed someone else makes, eating food someone else prepares and cleans up...doctors should really prescribe a vacation for all moms of newborns!

I am sold (and feeling a little miffed that I have just finished cleaning the windows!)

 

[starshine514]

I just wanted to circle back and let you know how our travels went. We did a road trip, 4 days driving 6+ hours each and 5 different hotels over 11 nights. Our youngest was 6 weeks and a day old when went started the trip. She travelled reasonably well in the car, mostly sleeping. We only had one bad night during the trip, in which I spent an hour + walking the floor with her in the middle of the night. My parents travelled with us, either having the room next door or an adjoining room, that one night was the only night my mom said she heard the baby overnight (the baby didn't cry for an hour or anything, but she did cry a little that night, which is why I walked her for so long. That was also our first night). Other than that, the baby does what she does at home, wakes up grumbling (not crying, she doesn't have to cry to wake me up), eats, and goes back to sleep. She followed her typical routine of waking at 3:00 and again at 6:00. We did take her rock and play sleeper, which is what she sleeps in at home as well. On our trip, we only did one full theme park day; we went to Sea World. She did fine. I carried her in my Infantino wrap or my mom held her on her lap in the wheelchair (we didn't bring a stroller). I wouldn't say it was an easy traveling with an infant as it's without one, but I would do it again. Our first Disneyland trip will probably be next May, when the baby will be just over a year old.

 

[scanmom]

I didn't read through all 4 pages of this thread, so I may be repeating this, but why don't you leave the new baby with Grandma at home? You would probably have a much better time, less packing (no diapers), and you could take it slow if your wife needs to. If she's breastfeeding, maybe pump and freeze milk for the baby? Just a thought.

 

[Dot2Vegas]

I have not read through the entire thread but here are my thoughts....

Traveling with a 6 week old probably wont be that bad, especially with Grandma helping. I think traveling with a newborn, while not the most relaxing, would be ok. Just pace yourself.
My biggest concern would be how your wife is feeling. 6 weeks out from childbirth she could feel fantastic, but on the flip side she may still feel pretty lousy. Changes in her body, the crowds and the heat combined with exhaustion could be too much. And also, not to be a downer, but what if she has a csection? Then she really may not want to be in the parks, plus the added stress of recovering from surgery.
Good luck with everything!

 

[Xenorye]

Kinda surprised to see this thread pop up again.

Scanmom: We didn't feel great about just leaving our 6 week old for a week. We weren't sure if we thought it was too soon for US or too soon for the baby, but we decided against that part.

Instead, we decided to wait until February and leave the baby at home with Grandma. My wife actually started thinking more about how SHE would be feeling 6 weeks out and we didn't want to chance it. It's an expensive trip for us (we go nearly all-or-nothing on vacations -- our trip in Feb 2013 was our first trip anywhere since our honeymoon in 2007). We want to stay on property, and flights from Oklahoma City are ridiculous, so we're dropping a considerable portion of our income on this (obviously after saving up).

So, in February, if all goes according to plan, it will be me, my wife, and our (at the time, she'll be) 5 year old daughter. Can't wait... now if Disney will just release the 2015 info, we can get this booked!