Why do people bring infants?

[Maggie'sMom]

My ex and I took our DD when she was 14 months old. My ex's family lives in the area and we stayed at CBR while visiting them for Thanksgiving. We worked in a day at the MK with DD and it was wonderful. We only went on rides she could go on. We enjoyed the afternoon parade, met a couple characters, and had a very relaxing day. She napped during lunch. We ate at the Plaza Restaurant. She had fallen asleep in her stroller and they allowed us to bring the stroller in while we ate.

For what it's worth, I have a degree in education, taught for a while, babysat extensively from the time I was 11 years old, and spent tons of time with my nephews in the first few years of their lives, taking care of them while my brother and his wife worked, took vacations, and maintained their social life like it was pre-kids. My understanding of kids and what parenting meant completely changed when I had a kid of my own. The perspective is totally different. I too would have asked the same questions the OP did, but once I had my own child, I realized I wasn't looking at situations the same way I did before. It's not right or wrong, just different.

 

[JimmyV]

but there is something extra-special about it for the younger crowd, when they still believe in that fantasy.

Precisely. The joy experienced by a young child at WDW is unmatched. And if you have a young child and also have an infant, well then, you bring the infant.

And while this doesn't qualify as an infant, one of our best trips was a long weekend we spent at WDW over Labor Day when our daughter was 2. We rode the monorail, hung out at the resort pool and did character meals at resorts (Chef Mickey, Ohana). We never stepped foot in a park. My daughter loved it and we saved a bunch of money. So taking an infant can be a relatively inexpensive trip if you don't prioritize the parks.

 

[wisblue]

I personally would not bring a one year old to WDW as my only child. But, in our case, when our daughters were about 6, 4, and 1, we wanted to take a trip to WDW (my wife and I hadn't been there for 8 years), and leaving the 1 year old at home was not an option. We planned a trip with ourselves, my mother in law, and my wife's brother and his wife and 2 year old so we would have a few more adults to watch the kids. On some occasions it was just the 5 of us in a park, and it worked out fine. It became the start of a love affair for all 3 of our daughters which is still there 25 years later. And that first trip created some unforgettable memories for my wife and me.

 

[nugov2]

I don't think not going to Disney or theme parks with an infant means being locked in your house. I wouldn't have brought an infant to wdw, but that is what worked for my family. Not because I was on lock down in my house though. For me it is just way too hot in Florida during the time we would want to go and I can't imagine having an infant in the park for more than 15-20 minutes when it is 105 degrees. If i have to keep running back to the hotel or into air conditioning it is no longer enjoyable and just not worth it. If im paying that much for tickets i want to be able to spend a good amount of time in the parks. It has nothing to do with them being able to remember and more what is best for both us and my infant.

 

[JJZMgailey]

Geez, this topic really struck a nerve.

It sure did! Yikes!

When I was active on the Disney Parks Moms Panel, I was on Lou Mongello's (WDW Radio) show talking with a fellow Panelist friend about bringing infants (toddlers and preschoolers too) on Disney vacations. It was such a fun show to do and there are SO many reasons. Here's a link to the show if anyone wants to listen....

http://www.wdwradio.com/2013/04/wdw...ll-children-to-walt-disney-world-apr-28-2013/

 

[Crystal824]

Serious question: why not just leave them with trusted family?

I see everyone's reactions and opinions on this, it's not really divisive, but, I'm curious.

We took both our girls at 9-10 months for their first trips to WDW. They both had a great time at that age just looking around and loved many of the attractions. One loved characters at that age. We took them because we wanted to go to WDW. Those trips weren't necessarily just for them. Yes, we wanted them to enjoy it, but we also wanted to have a good time. My husband and I love Walt Disney World. We have on average been once a year for the last 12 years, well before our kids were born. They are now 5 years and 21 months. If we were just going for the kids or a once in a life time trip, I agree wait until they are older. These trips were more for us than for the babies.

To answer the question quoted above, not everyone has trusted family to leave their kids with for a vacation. My in-laws and my mom watch our kids from time to time, but they all have serious health issues. I can leave my kids with them for the afternoon but I wouldn't ever be able to do it for a week or even a long weekend. They just aren't well enough for that. We have no other family. Not to mention that my husband and I both work, we want to spend my vacation time with the kids.

These are few pics of my youngest daughter's first trip. We brought grandma on that trip. I think our little girl was having a good time.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

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.

We didn't take either of our kids until they were close to 2, which apparently would pass your test of reasonableness. But that was just how the timing worked out. If it had made sense for our family vacation, I would have taken them younger. Family vacations are about family, and we neither had the opportunity nor the desire to leave our kids with family members when they were very young.

As far as a degree in education meaning you know how to parent, that's like me saying I know how to be a teacher because I'm a parent and I volunteer in the classroom and I was a student once. When/if you become a parent, you will choose what works for your family, and it may not be what you think is the right choice now.

And traveling with an infant is actually pretty easy, provided you can manage all the stuff that they require.

 

[SheilaHeartsDisney]

Except for the first picture, these aren't babies. They are toddlers. Walking, possibly talking, children.

That's why I said they weren't baby babies.

I was talking more about the whole why do you take them if they can't remember and parents have to stay behind and such. I wanted to make a point that even though they won't remember they still had a great time.

 

[mshanson3121]

Serious question: why not just leave them with trusted family?

I see everyone's reactions and opinions on this, it's not really divisive, but, I'm curious.

I can only answer based on us, but I can see some of these being issues for others:

- I exclusively breastfed, so baby went where my breasts went
- We didn't have anyone we could leave them with
- I wouldn't have enjoyed a trip half as much anyways wondering/worrying about my baby back home
- And for us personally, at the end of the day, we had no desire to. Anything we do, we do as a family, we just find a way to make it work with whatever ages we are dealing with, or of course, if it really was not possible, we don't do it. But, most things can be made to work with a baby.

 

[Pigletpal40]

We've been bringing our boys, now 15 and 10 since they were a year old. Both had their first birthdays at WDW. Of course they don't remember
being there, but did have great experiences with the characters at meals and in the parks. We were actually watching a video this past weekend
of our youngest son's first trip. He thought it was great to see himself as a baby interacting with Cinderella and the mice at dinner along with being on the Haunted Mansion and Small World. There's no right or wrong.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I don't think not going to Disney or theme parks with an infant means being locked in your house. I wouldn't have brought an infant to wdw, but that is what worked for my family. Not because I was on lock down in my house though. For me it is just way too hot in Florida during the time we would want to go and I can't imagine having an infant in the park for more than 15-20 minutes when it is 105 degrees. If i have to keep running back to the hotel or into air conditioning it is no longer enjoyable and just not worth it. If im paying that much for tickets i want to be able to spend a good amount of time in the parks. It has nothing to do with them being able to remember and more what is best for both us and my infant.

Good point.

I would have never taken our son to Disney when he was an infant.

But I wasn't locked in my house, all day, every day.

We just didn't take him on a Disney vacation.

 

[brockash]

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.

We bring them because they're part of our family. Until I was on the Dis, it never even crossed my mind to leave any of my kids at home, however I'm now at a point in my life that I probably would consider leaving an infant behind if a close family member was able and offered to keep the baby, but even then, not 100% sure.

In my opinion, dealing with an infant/baby is a lot of work anywhere, Disney is no different, but also really in our experience no worse.

I took my second child at 4 months, 3rd child at 7 weeks and my sister took her 2nd kiddo at 3 months. It just really wasn't a big deal.

 

[Dismama2boys]

I'm still trying for figure out why someone would care why someone else would take a baby??

As far as reasons why we did, they've all been listed out rather well here, so I won't repeat them all.

 

[MickeyPretzel15]

I would much rather bring an infant to WDW than a toddler (disclaimer: I have not done either).

Besides not sleeping ever, DS was an easy going and happy baby. When he grew into a toddler that all changed

 

[mshanson3121]

I'm still trying for figure out why someone would care why someone else would take a baby??

As far as reasons why we did, they've all been listed out rather well here, so I won't repeat them all.

I don't know but it seems to be something people feel strongly about. Maybe the crying babies bother them? I don't know. But my MIL is one of those "Why do you waste your time taking them", kind of people, who swears up and down that NO family with young children enjoy a trip to Disney, because "They're ALL screaming and having fits. There's NEVER a happy trip with young children, and there's absolutely NOTHING for them to do" *eye roll*

 

[MammaMoe48]

There's NEVER a happy trip with young children, and there's absolutely NOTHING for them to do" *eye roll*

And there are fun trips with MILs? J/K I actually loved my MIL very much and miss her but she was not a fun person on vacation. She was old fashioned Irish who believed that if you were too happy, God would take it all away. So she worried for everyone instead, that way we could all be happy.

 

[ElsasFan]

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.

Is this a real question? You can't put your life on hold because you have a baby. Following your logic, why would anyone go to a restaurant if they have a baby? The baby can't eat "real" food and might fall asleep (if the parent is lucky!). The baby might cry or need a diaper change, which is an inconvenience to the parent. Why take the baby to a park or the zoo? It can't walk, and will only ride in the stroller.

People take their infants to Disney because they want to live their lives, and that often includes being with their children, even if those children can't "do" much or won't remember much.

 

[AdamsPrincess]

Why not bring infants?
We have brought our boys as young as 8 weeks and I just seeing them mesmerized by the colors and sounds and music is wonderful stimulation. They might not remember but I certainly do, they are 7 & 8 now and love looking at pictures from when they were little going there.

And about them not being able to go on anything, they can go on everything that doesn't have a high requirement so no matter how old you are, if you are not tall enough, they can go on the same rides or people that don't like rollercoaster, they are in the same boat. I think infants can go on more than a pregnant woman there.

 

[thereallolo]

People go to Disney to make memories. It's pretty simple, really. I took my 3 month old because I would remember. There are moments from that trip that I will cherish forever. She was no more difficult at Disney than she is anywhere else.

Your post comes off as very judgmental. Why do you even care? That would be like someone saying to you, Why do you go to Disney? Your unborn children certainly won't remember.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

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.

We took our kids for the first time when my DD was six months and DS was 2.5. It was honestly the best trip we have ever had as a family at WDW. We took our time and focused on doing everything as a family. If the kids couldn't ride, we didn't do it. We spent time exploring the gardens in Epcot and doing a lot of the attractions that most families pass over on their way to BTMR or 7DMT. It was awesome. We also got to spend a good amount of time character hunting.

Believe it or not, DD loved rides like HM, IASW, JC, etc. She was completely transfixed by Laugh Floor and was actually part of the show.

I know not everyone has as an experience like ours, but here's MY two cents - 1) They're free under three so why not? 2) See number one. LOL