WDW & a 3 month old - Are we insane? Input appreciated.

[Disney Dreams]

DH and I have wanted to be parents for a VERY long time. It was not in our cards. We enjoy WDW vacations and have gone every other year for the last five years. We are booked to go next month. YAY!

After years of trying to adopt, we are now very happy brand new parents. At the time of our planned trip, we will have a three month old. So, what to do???

The two rationals we have been going between:
1. Cancel the trip: It's insane to go to WDW with a three month old.
2. Go on the trip and enjoy it. We can push him or carry him via stroller or carrier just about anywhere. We can go at a slower pace and just enjoy being at WDW. We can wander EPCOT like we love to do. We can enjoy the Animal Kingdom like we love to do. We can ride most of the things we love with him and use rider swap on the other ones he can't. It will really be the last "adults at WDW" trip, as every future trip will be all about him for many, many more years.

So... is it crazy to go to WDW with a three month old?

And yes, he will have had all of his immunizations and the pediatrician said it would be okay health-wise.

Thanks for any tips, insight, personal experience you care to share. We appreciate it,
Dreams and DH

 

[pigletgirl]

I think you have a great attitude going into it. I say, go! Your touring plans and style will probably change, but that is A-OK! Take plenty of breaks and everything should be fine. I would definitely utilize the baby care centers in each park. I hear they are fantastic.

 

[Sparkie]

I have done it and it was fine.

I took my granddaughters ages 3 months and 2 years in March during Spring Break. My mom and I flew down with the babies and managed a diaper bag, a double stroller and 2 babies. My husband and other daughter met us a few days later. (The mom of the kids did not go)

The 3 month old was no trouble at all. She mostly slept in the stroller. We took her on a few rides in Fantasyland. People did look at us like we had lost our minds bringing a small baby but who cares.

Last year I took that once 3 month old as a potty training toddler and I will tell you, changing diapers in the parks is a lot easier than finding a potty quickly. I tell people that I rode the "potty ride" a lot...lol.

Make yourself familiar with the baby care centers in each of the parks. We just used the stroller. I had a baby carrier but it was too much trouble to put it on and put the baby in it and just made me hot anyway. For meals, we just took turn holding her. A few of the restaurants had the high chairs with a built in infant seat and those were great. Dont cancel your trip. Go and make some memories with your new family.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We are doing it in April. Our 3rd child is due in January and we will be going at the end of April when our son will be about 3.5 months old. We can't wait to bring him on his 1st trip. I think there will be challenges, but it will be an adventure!!

 

[kohlby]

Our first with-kids trip was with a 2 month old and barely 3 year old. The 2 month old was easy. The barely 3 year old was another story! (We learned so much on that trip though that we went back 6 months later to do it right!)

The two month old didn't even use the stroller, she was happy hanging out in the sling the entire time. She was still in the very frequent pooping stage though, so there were excessive diaper changes. Also she went through 4 outfits one day - though normally it was 2-3. (Though breastfed baby poop probably has a different pattern than formula fed poop so that might not be the same issue for you). We went at the end of May/start of June and it was fairly hot but she stayed cool enough just by nursing enough. I was glad I had a lightweight sling for my comfort though.

I actually didn't use the baby care centers at all on that trip. Whenever I thought about it, they were too far away to make the walk worth it. I didn't really need them anyway, as there are changing tables in the bathrooms.

My touring style wouldn't have had to change much other than slowing down for diaper changes. But a 3 year old is an entirely different variable! I don't think you're crazy at all for taking a 3 month old - they're pretty portable at that age.

 

[GinnyBear's_mom]

While I wouldn't recommend a family take their 'Once in a lifetime' trip to Disney with a 3 month old, since you've done Disney several times before and will most likely go again you should have no problem with the baby.

DD was 3 months when we went a few years ago and DS will be 3 months when we go in a few weeks. Infants are way easier than toddlers in the park!

My biggest tip is to pack small changing bags so you don't have to lug a big diaper bag into the bathroom with you for diaper changes and root around for the things you need (it grosses me out to put a diaper bag on the floor of a bathroom). I get a big ziploc bag and put in one disposable changing pad, a diaper, an individually wrapped antibacterial wipe for your hands and a small ziploc bag with a few baby wipes. When I'm done changing the baby everything goes in the trash.

Congratulations on the adoption!

 

[SaraMc]

We took DS for the first time when he was 5 months old. It was probably the easiest trip we did.
Enjoy the parks, use baby swap. Bring the stroller and we brought also the Bjorn and put him in that when we lined up for long rides like pirates ect.
The baby stations are great and there are lots of quiet spots for bottles and to get babies to fall asleep.
Don't cancel your trip go and enjoy.

Congratulations btw

 

[rachael95]

Congratulations! I'd make this trip a celebration of your new family member and have fun. Sounds like you have the perfect plan for handling it.

 

[JoeyEmmaMomma]

I would go. Go at a slower pace. Have your stroller and a good carrier (Tula, Ergo), and enjoy. They sleep so much at that age and sleep pretty much any where, so it should work out good.

 

[daisygirl902]

Congrats on the new addition. I don't think you're crazy at all - do it! My hubby and I are taking our new baby in October, he'll be 9 weeks old when we leave! We're bringing our ergo (we've been making sure he gets lots of time in it ahead for practice) and renting a stroller from Kingdom Strollers. We made ADRs like normal - we just plan to leave ourselves extra time to get from place to place.

 

[Katd52]

Congrats! Definitely go. A 3 month old is much easier than say a 12- 18 month old. Our youngest is 2 and has already been to DW 3 times with his next trip in November. The easiest trip with him so far has been when he was 4 months old.

 

[beffiegirl]

Went when my youngest was 2 months during summer! I would do it again, but I would pick a cooler time. Also the baby stations are great! A/C, rocking chairs, changing tables, you can breast feed. My older kids even like the baby stations because they can cool off watching tv. My DS was fine, though if they stay in they infant carrier, they get all sweaty. And I would take a break during the day and let him have tummy time in the room. You'll be fine.

 

[staceyrhood]

Go and enjoy but as a local who lives right by disney I have one recommendation... I swear by my stroller fan, I actually have 2 just in case the batteries die. I use them May-November, they clip right on the stroller and keep baby nice and cool. The baby centers are great in all the parks. Have a great trip!

 

[DisneyParkLover]

I vote #2! Go for it! And congratulations! We went when my son was 2 1/2 months and had a great trip! I agree with all the PPs who said to bring a carrier - it was perfect for lines, crowds, and even meals. I also rode most rides with him in the carrier. I have my trip report linked in my signature if you want to read more about our experiences.

 

[MandiC]

Congrats!! I agree with the majority, I'd much rather bring a 3 month old than a toddler. By 3 months in you will likely have a good feel for the parenting thing and I think your attitude towards a trip with baby is great.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I would absolutely do it! The positive sides for this are that you won't be so physically drained from labor that you will be able to be active and enjoy the infant stage. I think it's a wonderful way to bond with the baby, wear him in a sling carrier as much as possible and just enjoy your first Disney trip as a family

 

[dhardawa]

I went to Disney World with a 6 week old for the exact same reason you are. I was signed up to be a foster parent, but never in a million years thought I'd have a newborn almost immediately. I took him and the trip was sooooo easy.

 

[bostonminnie]

We are going in 3 weeks and our daughter will be 8 weeks old. With our son we found that the younger he was, the easier. I say go and have a great trip

 

[geniegirl]

We had a trip,planned for fall 2011, taking our son and his birth brother ( we have a very option adoption with our older one). 2 weeks before the trip we got the call that we were chosen for our second son. The other 2 were so upset so we rescheduled for January 2012. Took the baby who was 3 months at the time. It was great, he loved looking at things and I loved all the cute pics. We took a baby carrier and a stroller but I wore him most of the time.

I say go, take it easy, take lots of pics and have fun. I am taking our little one down next month for his 3rd trip just before his 3rd.

 

[PocahontasLookALike]

Easiest trip with my kids has been whenwe just had our daughter and she was 14 weeks. She was happy. Quiet. Content.

Go! Enjoy!