Why do people bring infants?

[snowman]

The example a PP used was having staked out seats early for a show and then someone with a baby showing up just before show time expecting to be given the seat.

To me shows, parades, fireworks are different than a bus. I'll give up my bus seat in a heartbeat because that sleeping toddler or baby sometimes seems to gain 40 pounds just from falling asleep. Lol.

 

[lustergirl]

Because they can

 

[scoutie]

I have kids that are different ages, and at some point of our family life, there was a baby. Do I deny my 7 year old a Disney trip because he has a baby brother? I've also brought a baby to the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Jamaica. The baby was too young to remember the trip, but I wasn't. And I enjoyed every minute of those trips.

When my kids were babies, I brought them lots of places. They don't remember the parks, zoos, libraries, etc.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

I took my 7 week old last August. We were there for my sister's wedding so other family members were there to help and there wasn't anyone to leave my son with. Plus he was breastfeeding and I'm the only one who can do that! We had a great time and took advantage of rider swap to ride the big rides, took him on the rides we could and didn't expect any special treatment. Would I have liked a seat on the bus to MK while I held my 16+ lb son in his car seat? Sure but I didn't complain when I didn't get one.

 

[nilla]

"You are NOT under any circumstances to tell your sister that those princesses aren't the REAL Cinderella and Belle, or you are being sent to military boarding school, GOT IT?!"

(actual conversation)

Um...can I ask why you've been eavesdropping on my family's conversations?

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I read on these boards once, if you're already in baby jail, might as well be in baby jail at Disney. I think that might have been talking about a cruise. But I remembered it, and it's true.

We took a 4 month old and had a wonderful trip. We were still feeling wonderful about being new parents, the baby would sleep through the night, and we wanted to go. He slept a lot and we only went on rides he could go on. We went swimming. We slept in and ordered room service. We pushed the stroller around the park and looked at things we had never noticed before. We enjoyed being together.

Would I plan a once-in-a-lifetime trip knowing one kid would be a baby? No. But we'd been many times before kids, and knew we'd be back many times as our kids got older. And we needed a vacation--DH never disconnected from his job unless we went somewhere. Can't think of any other vacation that might have been better with a baby.

 

[sunshinemelody]

Reminder to self: stay away from topics like this.

 

[hookedonears]

Infants? What about why do people bring old people? I mean, you face the same issues - they smell, you need to change their diaper, they have an extremely limited diet, they can't ride anything, and they probably won't remember the trip.

Need to keep going here. Should ban anyone who cant run from ride to ride.

 

[buzznina]

We were one of the parents that were not planning on going to WDW when we had our 1st DD. But, a couple of our friends were going when our DD was 6 month and asked if we would like to go and we thought about it and since it was only a few days, why not. We had a fantastic time and realized it was not difficult at all, and now we have photos and videos of that trip plus all the other trips (2-3 per year) including our 2nd DD first trip when she was about 6 month old. Now, when our DDs want to watch home movies, their favorites are the trips to WDW when they were babies and toddlers, they love watching themselves at that age and asking what was their very first ride etc. If I looked at it like a lot of these posts, I guess I would never go anywhere until they were older Luckily I could care less if people do not understand it or would not do it themselves, to each their own. I just know we have had great trips, photos and videos from all our family vacations.

 

[JJZMgailey]

Reminder to self: stay away from topics like this.

This is a great reminder for everyone who gets their knickers in a knot over any topic in particular here!

 

[hookedonears]

This is a great reminder for everyone who gets their knickers in a knot over any topic in particular here!

Was this post moved, removed,what?

 

[SaintsManiac]

Personally, my life pretty much DID stop when I had an infant up until she was about 2. I was sleep deprived, poor and employed full time. When I could take vacation I used it to sleep.

 

[Neon Cactus]

My kids have been going to Disneyland since they were both infants. I have great memories and great pictures. We just modify the way we would do the parks if we didn't have them. If I had to take them out of a restaurant or show early because they were crying, you do what you have to do and it's the price you pay for taking small kids. I'm glad I did. I also have friends who have young children who are waiting a few years to take them and that's fine for them. But if I'm blessed with grandkids down the road, guess where Gramps is taking those kids when they are infants?

 

[hookedonears]

This is a great reminder for everyone who gets their knickers in a knot over any topic in particular here!

Freedom of speed has been lost on the DIS.

 

[disney world dreamer]

I'd like to know - why bring an infant to the parks? From what I have observed, there's very little for them to do, they don't remember anything when they're that young, and there's always a parent that has to stay back away from the rest of the group riding rides, and misses out on everything. The parents with a screaming baby in their arms look miserable. Then again, the parents with a screaming 4 year old in their arms look miserable.

My friend responded to this question once - "Because it's illegal if you leave them at home" - funny, but you also have this insane unpopular choice of not going to Disney until your infant is older.

But that's just my opinion.

you may have your opinion its pretty clear that you don't have much knowledge/experience about the subject of taking babies to disney world.
babies can actually do MOST attractions.
there are a limited number of attraction that they can't do.
who cares if they remember it? they have fun at the time.
many times there is someone in the group that does not want to go on the limited rides that they baby cannot go on so no one is "missing out".
and if everyone does want to go on a thrill ride there's rider swap.
i actually never see many infants screaming.
the 4yr olds are the ones screaming on the bus because they are tired but just won't give up lol.

my parents took us as babies/toddlers and want to know the worst experience they had?
it was when my one sister was 11 months old and a small plane crashed in the epcot parking lot just feet away from them.
that would have happened with or without my sister being there which is kinda my point because my sister was not what caused the bad experience.

 

[mom2rtk]

18 months is fine by me, that's a toddler age to me. I'm talking fresh out of the womb wrinkly little 6 week old babies here.

I would much rather take a baby than an 18 month old. A baby will stay in a stroller quite happily. Chasing around after toddler who just learned to walk is exhausting work.

 

[Taylor Nicole]

It seems like a complete waste of money to bring kids who are under 5, at least in my opinion anyways. They won't remember a thing, and just leave them at home with the grandparents anyways. It's not like they'd be upset you were going to Disney without them. My parents left me with my grandparents all the time when I was kid, of course they never went to Disney, but still. I personally would never bring a kid who is under 5 or 6, just a waste of money. And my first trip to Disneyland was when I was 6 and I barely remember anything about that trip, so either way kids really won't remember a thing.

 

[Taylor Nicole]

I would much rather take a baby than an 18 month old. A baby will stay in a stroller quite happily. Chasing around after toddler who just learned to walk is exhausting work.

Or just don't take a young child at all.

 

[mom2rtk]

It seems like a complete waste of money to bring kids who are under 5, at least in my opinion anyways. They won't remember a thing, and just leave them at home with the grandparents anyways. It's not like they'd be upset you were going to Disney without them. My parents left me with my grandparents all the time when I was kid, of course they never went to Disney, but still. I personally would never bring a kid who is under 5 or 6, just a waste of money. And my first trip to Disneyland was when I was 6 and I barely remember anything about that trip, so either way kids really won't remember a thing.

Or just don't take a young child at all.

18 months is probably the one age I would choose not to take a child. That just happens to be the phase I least enjoyed caring for. They are mobile, they still fall down a lot, and they don't have much common sense yet.

Other than that, I would absolutely take a baby or young child. It would be for my own memories. It wouldn't matter if they never recalled any of those times. It's not *all* about the child and their memories.

And some people just don't have family members they could leave someone with for that long. Of those who do, many would prefer to have their small child with them instead.

We didn't bring any kids until they were 4 and 6. But that was more about not having the money. I really wish I had some pictures of them as younger kids in the parks, meeting Mickey, etc.

Calling it a waste of money is really not necessary to this discussion.

 

[niffer5150]

there's a million reasons someone might want to or *have* to take a baby with them to the park. as long as they aren't crying, i don't see what business it is of mine. it's certainly not my idea of fun and i didn't take my kid till she was 7 but i can understand why someone might take what disney time they can get and just be happy to watch everyone from the bench.