Why do people bring infants?

[IrishNYC]

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.

Only reading this OP and a handful on the first page, I have to agree with waiting until they're older. Yes, we could have made memories for ourselves, but how much fun would memories of one of us at a time riding a ride be? No fun to me.

But, to each their own. I can't think of many more miserable ways to spend my vacation dollars, and my kid was a great, easy going, good traveler infant.

 

[SillySallySews]

We took our youngest daughter when she was 7 months old. Why? Because she has older siblings and we wanted to go to Disney as a family. At that age it was honestly more difficult to take her to the grocery store than it was to take her to Disney.

 

[brooke789]

That was one of the easier parts of our trip. A bit of planning and it was easier dealing with a bottle and baby food than it was waiting in some of the QS lines.

But don't the adults still have to eat?

 

[jsbowl16]

If you are a person who is going to only go once every five years then I have no problem waiting but we go every year and I am not going to skip just because we have an infant. I guess we just aren't the type of people who sit at home just because we have a baby. We always took our infant daughter out to eat, to baseball games, to Disney, etc. I don't understand why people think that you can't do all of the normal things that you always did just because you have an infant. She is a very well adjusted and behaved child and I think that is because she has always been involved in a lot of different experiences.

 

[AngiTN]

In certain circumstances, the judgment is inherent in the question. For example, suppose you saw someone in church wearing torn jeans and dirty t-shirt. The person in the pew in front of you turns to you and whispers: "Why would anyone wear that to church?" I suppose you could write it off as "just being a question" and not a judgment. But is it really? I don't think that the OP's question is really an open ended one intended to gather some research for a dissertation. It reads more like: "Is taking an infant really a good idea?", which, on some level, is a judgment.

Exactly. Had the OP really wanted to know out of curiosity the question would have been worded differently. While no, you can't judge intent in print you can determine tone by wording.

 

[maxiesmom]

Only reading this OP and a handful on the first page, I have to agree with waiting until they're older. Yes, we could have made memories for ourselves, but how much fun would memories of one of us at a time riding a ride be? No fun to me.

But, to each their own. I can't think of many more miserable ways to spend my vacation dollars, and my kid was a great, easy going, good traveler infant.

But you wouldn't have had to do the vast majority of rides one at a time. Any ride without a height restriction a baby can ride. I wonder if a lot of people don't realize that.

 

[Nancyg56]

Asking the question and having an opinion is one thing. I think what set people off was this comment:
It wasn't her opinion, but the sarcasm directed at people who bring infants to WDW.

That is what I was going to say. I thought it was snippy.

 

[theyoungs07]

I'd guess that you have never enjoyed a picture of yourself from when you were an infant. I take babies to WDW just like folks give them a cake when they're 1 even though they won't remember it...it's part of our life.

I've seen/experienced many more miserable and terrible adults at WDW than unhappy children. Maybe people should stop bringing the adults

 

[ELSA711]

I still remember when my little DD was looking at pics from our 2009 trip prior to her being born. She asked 'where she was' I said well this was before you were born, she answered 'You went without me?!!!'
LOL
Cracking up now, thinking about the face she made.

 

[KateP85]

We're locals and go to the parks pretty much once a week, or at least a few times a month. I have a 3-year old and just gave birth last week to baby number 2. My 3-year old has been going to the parks since he was a few months old and although there are certainly parts of his trips he won't remember, he's had a wonderful time growing up at Disney. Now we have a new baby, I'm not going to tell my son we're not going again until his little brother is bigger. Nor am I leaving my infant at home so I can take the older kid. So baby will come with us. It's never occurred to me that I would have to justify this decision.

I don't understand the need to ask the question, but I've never understood why people question other peoples vacation choices in the first place.

 

[poppinspenguins]

Only reading this OP and a handful on the first page, I have to agree with waiting until they're older. Yes, we could have made memories for ourselves, but how much fun would memories of one of us at a time riding a ride be? No fun to me.

But, to each their own. I can't think of many more miserable ways to spend my vacation dollars, and my kid was a great, easy going, good traveler infant.

Infants can do a ton of rides...I just wore them ( Obviously not all of them)

But just wondering (honestly, just curious and maybe you have some recos) .did you go on vacation when your children were infants? I need at least a trip a year and Disney is really the most kid friendly. The beach is much harder...a ski vacation ( another fav) is Def out...I love to cruise but nervous of my toddler and the railings on cruise ship (I know...it's crazy...can help it!)

So for now we do Disney (and we love it anyway so not much of a sacrifice!)

 

[aaarcher86]

Jumping on the "post was judgy" train.

And for relevance:

Why do people bring infants?

A: because they want to.

The beauty is that it doesn't change anyone else's trip. We will bring an 11 month old in October. I'm excited about. I think she'll enjoy it in the moment and the pictures will reflect that. It's fine if she doesn't remember - she's free. I'm not wasting any money, but if that's how I choose to spend my money then that's how I choose to spend it.

I wouldn't leave a baby with family for the length of time we go... But I can't really picture leaving her at all anyway.

 

[Allison]

I'd like to know - why bring an infant to the parks?

It's simple, really. Because parents decided it is what they wanted to do for their family.

 

[AngiTN]

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.

Serious and simple answer.
They do not want to

 

[Nancyg56]

I don't see that the OP was being judgmental. I think it's a good question I often asked myself and I am a parent. I have often felt so bad for the poor squalling, hot, miserable infant being slogged around Animal Kingdom on a 90 degree day. I saw it many many times and I always ask the same question myself. Personally, I rather make my whole family wait another year or two until the youngest is able to handle it a bit better. I took my son at 2 1/2 and that was a great time!
Just me but to each their own.

I think it is a matter of perspective. We took our little friends down the street In August. The oldest was 7 and she absolutely could not handle the heat in AK> There were little ones in baby strollers way more comfortable than she was. anyone seeing her would have felt badly. In fact we did as well, and the whole crew of us returned to the resort. If we wait until she can handle the heat we would never go.

 

[momof2n2]

Why is this on TPAS and not Community Board?

 

[LSUfan4444]

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 started taking ours when she was one and have loved every trip. UNder three they are free. Under two and they fly free. They are still able (and alot of the times want) to be in a stroller. It gets them used to things so they know what to expect.

Most importantly...I wanted to go on vacations with my daughter when she was a baby. I didn't want to leave her behind and if I couldn't take her to the #1 vacation destination in the world that specializes in family activities and offeres daycare and doesn't charge for her, where could I take her?

As you eluded to...the parents struggling with an 18 month old are the parentd that would struggle with a 13 year old, or alone.

 

[JJZMgailey]

Stopping by to remind you guys again to stay on topic and to be friendly, please.

The Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies board is for vacation planning questions and answers. All vacation planning questions are welcome here and we'd appreciate respectful and considerate answers without trying to "judge" the tone of the OP when he/she asked the question.

 

[Nancyg56]

The original post has a very judgmental tone, which I think is the reason for the somewhat chilly response.

Just another day where people are getting their panties in a bunch about something they read on the internet

I think that the question was kind of snippy and that is why you are getting the responses you are getting. I am not getting my bloomers in a bunch, but I honestly want to know why you have asked the question. Unless you were impacted in a pretty negative manner by someones little one, I cannot understand why you question the decisions of other people.

 

[kellya222]

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.

18 months is fine with you? Whew!