WDW with 1 month old

[JenG]

Am I crazy? We will be traveling in November with my 3.5 yo DS and my newborn DD. I will have my DH with us and my parents and my in-laws for help.

I'm planning on renting a pack and play and bring a lightweight stroller. I will be BFing so I won't need many more accessories.

Any tips/advise for me?

Thanks!!

Jen G

 

[Ariel8676]

If you are staying inside WDW i think they have pack and plays available, or even a crib if you request it early enough. As far as a stroller for a baby..a snap and go stroller is good, or a full size that reclines completely.
I would also look into getting a GOOD sling for the baby like a Hotslings (hotslings.com) or Peanut Shell (Goo-Ga.com, sorry im too lazy right now to actually put the link in..lol). Peanut shell has an awesome Microfleece pouch that is great for a newborn (so soft and comfy and warm), having a sling is great for having your hands free and waiting in lines and if you were just going out for a little bit you wouldn't even need to lug around a stroller. Ring slings or pouches are so much better than a front carrier (ex. Bjorn)because the baby can really snuggle up to you in a cradle position.
Also a nursing cover like one from Bebeaulait.com are good if you feel you need something.
It will be cool in the morning and at night( most times anyway..lol), so make sure you dress the baby in layers.

 

[Dad_Z]

I was definitely intending to call you crazy, but with that kind of support and that time of year it should be very doable. Also, BFing should make things easier. Given that 1-month-old kids are practically immobile and sleep a lot, they are easier than toddlers to travel with IMO.

I think you'll have a great time!

 

[CTtwins]

I think you'll have a wonderful time! Babies are so "portable" lol! Your DD will sleep whenever she needs it. My DH and I took our newborn DS everywhere.. gosh, I miss those days of sleepy baby bliss! He's 10 months now and so aware of everything that he won't sleep if there is fun going on!

Back to topic! I agree with having a baby carrier.. perhaps one that is good for nursing like a zolowear pouch - I loved mine! or another good item - instead of a blanket for privacy - you could get something like what is on the site stylishlyprotected.com

Also, if she ends up using a pacifier, be sure to bring extras. Heck, bring or pick-up extras of everything.. diapers, wipes... I had to leave the family at BB one day and drive offsite to find a drug store. I ended up losing well over an hour of family/sun time after losing 4 pacifiers on our trip.

The hardest part will be sleeping. She may wake up other people when she gets up at night, when you change her and need to turn on lights, etc... depending on what type of hotel/room you are in. We did a trip when DS was 1 month old. I ended up in my own room with him... DH and kids slept in their own room. It worked out well... Everyone (else) was well rested.

Hope you have a wonderful trip !!

 

[macmahony]

The first trip to disney, our youngest was 7 weeks, the other two were almost 2, and almost 3. The baby was so easy! We would wake up in the morning, and put her in a sling, or bjorn (depending on who had her), and take her off to feed and change, but she spent the whole trip pretty much attached to one of us). Thankfully we went in late November, when it was not really hot (although we did have two over 90 degree days!!).
Most rides we did not even have to take her out of the carrier. We had a full stoller, I do not like the snap and go, I do not like to keep my babies in the carseat other than in the car (personaly opinion though). I like the full size, we could change her laying down in it, and the few times she was in it she could stretch out.
As for night time, my almost 2 year old took the pack and play, the almost 3 year old slept with daddy, and I slept with the baby. She would wake up to eat, and if she pooped I would change her in the dark (keep everything close, but I think by that point she was going all night in the same diaper, I am one of those once they don't poop every feeding leave them in the same diaper until they wake up in the am people). She never woke the others up, and since we nursed, I slept through most feedings as well.
With all those extra hands, it should be a breeze! I loved traveling with my little ones, they are so easy to bring along.
We nursed everywhere, and changed in the stoller where needed to. That trip we did not even visit a baby station, although, they are great to use if you need to. Plus the sell indvidual baby things if needed!
Have a great time, and enjoy it, it will be nice for your older one since the baby will be so easy!

 

[laughinplace199]

What if the baby is late? What if you have a c-section? Are you ok going with a 2 or 3 week old baby? Will you feel up to it? My first two kids were pretty much "on time" and I had easy recoveries, but my 3rd was 10 days late and an emergency c-section. I didn't have a c-section with the first two and I wasn't prepared for how long the recovery period was for me. It took a few weeks before I felt good again. Because of that, I would never plan a trip that close to my due date, but that's just me personally. Just something to think about.

I hope that all goes well for you!

 

[monorailsilver]

Am I crazy?

Yes but I am sure it is doable.

I know I couldn't do it because my kids that early on nurse every 2-3 hours, sometimes more often depending on the growth spurt time & I tend to avoid nursing in public although I have done it.

 

[stacy6552]

Have you talked to the pediatrition? That's awefully young to be dunking a newborn into the germapolooza that is WDW. Get a to do list from the Dr. for sure.

Also bring a baby carrier, like a Baby Bjorn (my personal choice) or snuggley. There are plenty of places that the baby can go that the stroller cant.

 

[kittymarcy]

I agree with the other posters - for a baby that young I would definitely rely more on a sling or baby bjorn in the parks. Be sure to take advantage of the Baby Station at each park too - they are wonderful, with nice rockers to nurse in, great changing facilities, and they sell everything you would need - though you won't need too much at that age. They were lifesavers when we kept loosing our first son's binky on one trip. If you're not feeling 100% after the delivery, at least there are tons of places to sit and rest...assuming you get the ok for you and baby from your doctor.

 

[emh1129]

I think it would probably be just fine, but if you have the chance to push the trip back even just a few weeks it might be easier for you. It took me right up until the 6-week mark to really get the hang of nursing comfortably (even with the 2nd baby) and my supply established, etc. so I was physically comfortable.
But that will be nice for you not to have to carry a lot of baby stuff with you~ nursing is so much easier that way Make sure you get a great sling! I love the fleece pouch from Kangaroo Korner.
Have fun!

 

[JenG]

Thanks for all the advice! I am totally going to use the sling and I'm not really shy about nursing in public. I nursed my DS until about 15 months so I got used to doing it just about anywhere.

I'm having a repeat C-section around 38 weeks so the baby will be at least one month old. I'm going to rent a motorized wheelchair if I get too tired but I plan on taking lots of breaks. My DH and I aren't really the go-all-day Disney types. We like to nap and play in the pool too.

Thanks again!!

 

[wishtdream]

JenG

I think you will be fine.
I am taking a 7 week old the end of September. I asked my pedi. what he thought before I booked the trip and he said it would be fine to travel after baby was two weeks old. I too am having a scheduled c-section (my 2nd) and I believe you should be fine barring any complications.

Congratulations on your new addition.

 

[mhm]

I'm going to go against the majority here and advise against it. I know I could not have done it at one month. For one, the second is much harder than the first. I would not want to expose a newborn to the germs inevitably encountered when travelling. My youngest dd was still not nursing well at one month (not taking a bottle well, either), got sick (I just took her Christmas shopping), ended up in the hospital where they drew so much blood over the course of 5 days she ended up anemic, had to have a head CT & chest x-ray, and had to go on high-calorie formula for the next 2 months. If you are nursing, you will still be establishing your supply, nursing at least every 3 hours, not sleeping through the night, and probably exhausted. It is just not worth it. Wait a couple of months and go when you can really enjoy it and it won't just be a blur.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm going to rent a motorized wheelchair if I get too tired but I plan on taking lots of breaks.

Just FYI.
you can't rent motorized wheelchairs; what you want to ask for is an ECV (also called a scooter). ECVs can be rented by the day in the parks or from one of the offsite medical equipment companies. There is information and links to companies recommended by DIS posters in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, located near the top of the disABILITIES Board.

 

[Golden Rose]

I hate to say it, but count me as another vote against it. I had a c-section (after a failed induction) with my DS, and then I had a second equivalent of a c-section recovery after a fallopian tube burst during an ectopic pregnancy. Obviously, there was a lot going on with my body that second time (I lost a lot of blood), but the recovery was really very similar to a c-section recovery plus anemia. The second time was a much tougher recovery than the first. I've had friends who had exactly the same experience with their second + c-sections. It just seems to take a little longer to heal and get back to normal.

Riding in the car was not comfortable for me for more than a month. I also was still super hot natured from all the hormones, and I couldn't stand to not be in air-conditioning. Remember you will be probably be jostled sometimes no matter how you do disney; there are just too many crowds and too many people from other cultures with different ideas about personal space. I love WDW, but I know I wouldn't enjoy it much until I was a minimum of 6 weeks out, preferably more, and my body had really had time to heal. Don't forget you won't be sleeping much yet, either, since the baby will be needing regular feedings every 2-3 hours.

Also, my pedi really recommended that we limit DS's time in public spaces for the first 6-8 weeks. Your pedi may have different advice for you, but I would definitely speak to him or her about it before you plan such a large undertaking. People come from all over the world to WDW, some from countries where vaccinations aren't as prevalent as they are here.

Anyway, I, personally, would reschedule for a month or two later. You'll probably enjoy it more when your body is really healed and you are a little better rested.

 

[teresajoy]

Am I crazy? We will be traveling in November with my 3.5 yo DS and my newborn DD. I will have my DH with us and my parents and my in-laws for help.

I'm planning on renting a pack and play and bring a lightweight stroller. I will be BFing so I won't need many more accessories.

Any tips/advise for me?

Thanks!!

Jen G

I say go for it. I've had three c-sections. My first was easy, my second was easy, my third was easy. By a month out, I felt fine. I was actually getting MORE sleep at that point than I had when I was pregnant! I was more comfortable, and since I nursed and the babies slept with us, I didn't even really wake up to feed them. You know your body, listen to it. It sounds like you allready plan on not pushing it, so I don't see any problems.

Have a great time! I haven't taken a baby that young, but Lydia was 4 monts old when we took her the first time, she was really easy at that age! (Oh how I miss that age!)