Would you rather go with a 4 month old or a 16 month old?

[EllaDisney]

We're trying to decide between January 2009 and January 2010 to go back to WDW? If we go in 09 we'll have a 6.5y dd, 4.5 dd, and a 4 m baby. 2010 we'll have a 7.5y old, 5.5y and a 16 m old.

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

How about both! From what I've heard it's not that hard to take a baby. Other than dragging along the extra stuff!

 

[DISNEYFOS]

I vote both too.

but if you must choose. I'd say 4 months. At 4 months, they sleep a lot and are happy just watching the world go by.

At 16 Months, they are walking or just starting to walk and get a little ansy about staying put in a stroller and by then your other children might want to do more rides the baby can't Now they might all be happy on the younger rides?

 

[mousemommyx3]

Babies are almost easier because they only have opinions on when they sleep and eat! When they get bigger they want to walk and get into everything. That being said we have taken an 8 month old once...pretty easy except for the extra nursing from the heat. We have also taken a 15 month old. A little trickier because although she was good about walking with us and holding our hands people didn't always see her! I agree with the OP....anytime is good! You will have fun because you are there as a family. Enjoy!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I'd take the 4 month old, hands down.
They are still only on formula/or nursing so you won't have to bring anyother food, bibs, spoons, sippy cups, wipes, ect.
They aren't yet mobile
They don't know how to whine and protest
Will sleep anywhere

 

[belle&sebastiansmom]

I would take the 16 month old. In fact my son is now 4 months and we've booked our trip for this December, when he'll be aroound 16 months.

You never know about babies. He still doesn't sleep through the night, has colic. I don't think the rest of the family would enjoy the trip as much. I would not want to be in a hotel room with a screaming baby every night. No one would get any sleep. Yes, he's portable, just goes with the flow, but he is not on a routine yet, is cutting teeth, cranky because of that. His needs are eating and sleeping, but trust me, if you don't supply those when he wants it, everyone knows he's unhappy! Plus, his immunity is still building, so taking an infant to be outside all day in pretty cold weather (in January, as you stated you may go), may not be good for him.

Only you will know your baby, and you may decide after you book that at 4 months your child is just not ready, and your not ready. Then what do you do?

We had the choice and we're waiting. Took our dd at 17 months and she had a wonderful time! It was very easy with her. I always feel sorry when I see infants being lugged around WDW. And most of the time the parents look a bit frazzled!

Best of luck with whatever you choose!

 

[robinb]

Both . I went with my DD when she was 4 months old and again when she was 16 months old. 4 months was really easy and I have the sweetest pictures of my DD with the characters.

 

[kileybeth]

well, if you have to pick, but know you will be back again when 4 month old is bigger, hands down 4mos. soooo easy. they just hang out and eat every now and then. We've been 2x with little ones like that. Then your older ones will get more attention.

About 16 months. magical for kiddo. work for mom but still fun to watch their little faces. wow, good memories just flashed by in my mind.

Have a ball whichever you decide.

 

[EllaDisney]

I would love to do both, actually

 

[SandrainNC]

We just took my youngest for his first trip in November and he was 16 months old at the time. He did pretty good and we had fun. However, he was very very very bad in the restaurants. We had to keep removing him. I think a 4 month old would behave better when eating. He was just at that phase when he didn't get his way (like he wanted the wine glass and he wanted to beat on the plate with a knife and he wanted to pull the table cloth off the table, etc. - and we couldn't let him of course) he would cry and scream. I am still recovering from it. We are going back in June and I only booked a few character meals because they are noisier and keep him occupied.

Sandra

 

[momtwo4]

I vote for 4 month old! On our last trip my kids were 8,8,4 and 15 months. I think it would have been much easier with him when he was younger and strapped onto me, rather than in a stroller, wanting to walk. At 4 month he would nap whenever and wherever.
Tough decision now though since your little guys not here yet. But I'm sure you will have fun whenever you decide

 

[puffkin]

I say both, but if you have to choose, 4 months hands down.

My son was a breeze at 3 months....not quite as easy at 19 months when he became more strong-willed.

 

[katerkat]

My son was awesome at six months at DL - all he did was nurse and watch EVERYTHING. He was ornery at 18 months, and was quite nervous on several rides. At 21 months, WDW only worked because Gramma was there too.

 

[auntie]

I've done both..since our first visit our youngest was just 6 weeks old! We were going to leave him with grandma..and then of course I didn't have the heart to(trip was already planned, before we knew he was going to be part of the family! )..Anyway, turned out Grandma came along too! We had an extra pair of hands. He was 6 mos. and daughter was 4 years, and older son was 11 at the time.
We also did it the following year when the youngest was 14 months, and the 6 weeks was easier, as they aren't running around yet. They pretty much are eating and sleeping at that point. When I look back, honestly I don't know HOW we did it..but we did. We had too many age differences to wait for that "perfect" age. There wasn't going to be one. When you waited for the little guy..the older one was 11 years older..? So we figured why wait. We've been going to Disney ever since. Our last trip ..last May the "baby" was almost 16..my DD was 20 and my older guy(who now books his own room!) was 26! So we've done at ALL ages, from infancy to adulthood, and they all still love WDW!

 

[Matt'nMeg'sMom]

I did both. My daughter was 3 months the first time. She lived in my bjorn carrier, and was the easiest travelling companion. No opinions whatsoever.

We went again when she was 15 months old. Again, it was a fun and relatively easy trip. She was more interested in her surroundings and loved every single playground. She was a little frightened of the scary people with big heads (characters). She napped anywhere we stopped - park benches, dark rides, wherever.

To sum up - 4 months is easier, but 16 months is very doable and still fun.

 

[Denine]

DD is 5 and has been to WDW 15 times and DL once. If you can only make the one trip, I say go at 4 months. Otherwise I say go both times!

 

[lync]

We went with our DD who was 7 months old and it was so easy. Our other DD was 3. She could ride everything we could and she took her naps in her stroller. She was SOOOO good. We are going again in 2 and 1/2 weeks (she is 2yo 4m) and she is sooo excited to see "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" (not just Mickey Mouse ). So this is fun, too, b/c she already is excited!

If I could only pick one time, I'd go with 4mths. I even made a comment to DH about how much harded it would've been a year later when she was walkling. At the time, she didn't have any other options. And let me tell you, that child has an opinion and it's the only one that counts!

 

[Bethany]

I haven't read the other replies, but I would DEFINITELY rather go with a 4 month old than a 16 month old. 16 month olds can walk, have opinions, have meltdowns, are harder to entertain, need more space to nap... need I go on?

4 month olds- small, easily entertained, can be worn in a baby carrier, can probably nap anywhere (at least more easily than an older toddler), easier to feed.....

Definitely 4 month old!

 

[disney4us91]

Another vote for 4 month old, My DD went a 5 months and it was great. She is 17 months now and I know it would alot of work, we will wait until she is over two to go back. We took My now 10 year old when she was 2 and a half and it was great.

 

[monorailsilver]

I'd say 16 months & my reasons as follows:

I took my dd when she was 15 months & she loved it. She walked up to all the characters & loved them (well not the face characters). She was very verbal too, more so then the norm so that may have helped.

I didn't have to worry about stopping to nurse her (I am not a great public nurser).

I didn't have to worry about her crying because she was wet, hungry or tired when it wasn't a good time (we went back to the room for naps every day).

But that is me.

Plus I go in the summer & taking a little baby in the heat & trying to nurse in the heat is not something I like to do.