Would you take 18th month old?

[mb_uh]

We are going in July to take our 5 and 7 year old. My mom has offered to keep our 18th month old at home- she does not want to go. Would you take the baby if you had the option of leaving it.

Pros-

Less luggage
Child will not remember trip
No need for stroller
Both kids can ride most rides so no trading off with baby
Focus on older kids

Cons-
Miss baby
Baby resent trip later on
House messed up- mom tends not to clean up after baby
Missing babies reactions to food, rides, characters.

Baby is very easy going, we live Texas so heat is not an issue, he is not shy or afraid of characters and loves to be outside. We are flying and he will fly for free and we are doing deluxe dining plan with buffets every morning and he can easily eat off our plates- he will eat anything.

Basically for those that have done it with kids under two are memories priceless or would leave baby with grandma. We plan on going back in 3-5 years so even if we leave him, he will get to go once he would remember.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[labdogs42]

We took our DS when he was 15 months old and again at 18 months old (and again...and again...), but he is our only child. So, I can't answer from the perspective of how it will affect the older children's trip. I can answer from the perspective of you and your young child's trip and I can say we had some of the greatest times on those early trips. DS just took everythig in. He loved the rides and the shows and the parades. He napped in his stroller and played in those little fountains. It was a blast. When he got a little older, it got tougher because all of a sudden he had an opinion about everything! When he was littler, he didn't. So, I say, take the baby and have a blast! Your older kids might like it, too, because with child swap, they will get to ride all of the big rides 2x! That rocks!

 

[grace&philipsmom]

I wouldn't hesitate to bring your 18 month old. My DS went at 6 months and 18 months (his sister is 3 years older than him). Disney is the perfect place for a family vacation for all ages. At 18 months, he will eat for free and enter the parks for free.

DS in 3 now and he loves to look at pictures of our family trips from when he was "little". I love the memories of his early trips!

 

[kimmylaj]

just yesterday i watched the videos from my dd's first 3 trips. she was 9 months, 15 months, and 27 months. . i would not trade it for the world. her chubby lil arms reaching up for mickeys nose and kissing it. love it. my ds was 3, 4, and almost 5 on those trips. that being said, they both were not tall enough for the same things so he didnt miss out on stuff because she was there. i would definitely do it all again, the bottles , diaper bags, strollers, everything because the memories are priceless.

 

[gabriellyn]

We went 3 times before our DS3 actually turned 3 and he LOVED it! Yes, the stroller and gear was a bit annoying, but it is totally doable. Since it sounds like your baby is really easy-going, then I would definitely bring the baby! Especially since the baby is free!

 

[TLCdisneyfan]

It's really up to you. I left my 7 month old with my folks when I went in 2007. I was totally comfortable with it, and loved having a little freedom from my baby. DH was miserable b/c he missed her so much.

This time, we're taking my 8 month old, but we're also traveling with the grandparents and an aunt and uncle, so we've got lots of help.

 

[Juliet25]

Yes, I would leave an 18 month old with the grandparents. My DD was 18 months on our last trip, and it was an ordeal. She's not a stroller baby -- she wants to get out and run around. That's very difficult in the parks. Also, eating was very difficult. We had the dining plan and made ressies at 6 table service locations. I didn't have one relaxing meal.

You'll get all sorts of opinons, but it really boils down to how laidback your child is. If he's content to sit in a stroller and doesn't mind a sit-down meal, take him. If he's active and doesn't like being confined, leave him...on the condition that he'd be OK with the grandparents. I would have had a hard time leaving my 2nd DD, but we did leave my 1st for a week when she was 15 months and had no problems at all.

 

[GoinToDisney]

It would break my heart to leave my LO behind, and we took my older dd at 17 months and I would not trade anything to see how her face lit up. I don't think my 5.5 yo dd would allow us to leave the baby anyhow, but she was so easy. She wasn't a great napper at home, but she napped really well at WDW. I even took her on a few easy rides like small world while she was asleep in the Ergo baby carrier. On that trip, we were able to stay at the parks opening to close pretty much because she took great naps, and when she was tired at the end of the night, we put her PJ's on her and she slept in the stroller and went straight to the carseat and then straight to bed. She was big enough that I felt fine sleeping in the same bed with her and it was actually my favorite trip.

 

[lsusoftball37]

We had two older kids when we had our thrid one. So we had been plenty of time before our last one came. I have dd18, ds 12, dd4. So when the baby was 9month we took her with us but grandparent said we could leave her home with them. But we didn't want to missed her for a week so we took her. I was so glad we did she love disney she was crawling and we went it the toy store in ecpot where pooh and friends are hubby put her down and she was trying to crawl under to rope to go see pooh it was soo cute. she has been 3 time before she was three. we are going again in nov for thanksgiving can't wait to go back. She loves disney world so much. When we went when she was 9month she didn't like to sit in the stroller much so we had a pouch we put her in when she got fuss. She love being in the pouch where she could see what was going on. When she was 18month she love her stroller she would fuss sometime when we had to leave it behind. So i said take your 18month and have fun.

 

[M&E]

Hi there!

My situation is just like yours, except we'll be going in August. My kids will be 7, 5 and 19 months old at the time of the trip. (When was your youngest born? Mine was January 28th) Anyways... we have a wonderful mother-in-law who watches the baby two days each week, she's retired and would have willingly stayed home with the baby. I just know that I could have never enjoyed the vacation without the baby. I work full time and I miss the baby so much just during a day away, so I know I could never leave him for a whole week. What we decided to do was bring Grandma along. She's going to come with us for the first half of the trip and then we'll be on our own for the second half. I think I'm going to hire kids night out for one night and leave the baby in the room with a sitter. That way we can take the older ones to see wishes. Try to think of all the positives... you get to bring a stroller. Yes, I actually like a stroller. It's someplace to put your bags so you don't have to cary much. Now my little guy does very well at restaurants (now anyways, we'll see how he is in 6 months) and is pretty content in the stroller as long as it's moving. We also typically only spend about 5 hours a day at the park and since we go to Disney every few years, if we don't get to do everything because of the baby then I know we'll be back. It's just my opinion, of course, but I know I would miss him too much if I left him home.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Yes, I would. I would not leave one child behind, regardless of their age.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

We are going in July to take our 5 and 7 year old. My mom has offered to keep our 18th month old at home- she does not want to go. Would you take the baby if you had the option of leaving it.

I have a dumb question. You said "she does not want to go". You mean your mom, or the 18 month old? If the 18 month old doesn't want to go, why take her?

Personally, I wouldn't take someone that young, but instead of going without the 18 month old, I would wait one more year.

We've had two year olds go with us twice, and they had fun. But I personally find it a hassle to have to carry all that baby stuff around Disney with me. We don't even bring a bag with us to the park any more. I guess that's one of the reason why I stopped having kids.

I guess my point is that you have to make this decision for yourself.

 

[lilmissbehaved]

if you want to leave your 18 month old at home and you will be comfortable with it; I wouldn't feel guilty about it.

I left my infant with my mother and went to disney not once, but twice.

My mother is a couple of hours away and loves time with the grandkids. I've had to adjust to letting my kids have sleep overs with her. At 3 months my mother came and stayed at my house with my daughter while DH, DS (5) and I spent a week in disney. It was august and i felt the heat would not be good for her.

The following year when she was 12 months we went again, and we had her on the reservation... I had planned to bring her, but at about 9 months she developed a total HATRED of being in the car or the stroller, so I felt it would do more harm than good by dragging her along. We left her with my mother and they did lots of daytrips. My mother was the happiest I've ever seen her and we had a great time.

Now the baby is almost 2.. she still hates the car and she's basically a terror. but at this point I WOULD feel guilty taking one child and leaving the other.. so bad mother I am is planning a long weekend just myself and the hubby. ;-) I don't feel guilty leaving them both with their nana. Hopefully my daughter will be up to the trip next year at 3.

seriously though, I would do whatever you are comfortable with and not feel guilty about it. You know your child better than anyone.

 

[tiredsigh]

I took my youngest at 18 months. It was great! My DD (10 at the time) had just as much fun if not more because she loved her brother's reactions a ton! I would do it again.

 

[frtchr]

DD is 3 and going on her fifth trip in May. DS is 17 months and going on his third trip in May. He was 15 months the last time we went, and he actually says "pirates" every time someone mentions the word Disney. So they might remember some. I have no regrets taking my kids so young, but it doesn't bother me to carry all the stuff. I do it at home all day, every day, so why not do it at Disney World?

 

[monorailsilver]

I would feel guilty so I would not be able to leave any of my kids.

My oldest was 15 months old & the pictures I have of her are priceless (one made it to the Disney Magazine). My son was 22 months & was hesitent with the characters if we were not with him & my youngest was 2 ½ & she loved it to pieces. She will be 4 tomorrow & every so often will see a picture of Epcot & say "we went there."

I could not imagine a Disney vacation with out my entire family but that is me.

Heck, I resent the fact that my sisters got to do San Francisco & Disneyland in the late 60's with out me but...I wasn't born at the time of their trip.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

I couldn't leave one child behind, but that's just me! At 18 months, I actually think they'd really enjoy it.

 

[photographymom517]

I know this is a crazy answer, but I think it depends on you and your child's personality. First, can you be away from your child for that long? Or would you feel guilty leaving him behind? I am a stay-at-home mom, so I am used to being with my children all the time...I couldn't leave them for even a weekend! (but that is just me personally, everyone is different!) Also, how does your child behave? Does he like to ride in strollers or does he need to get out & run? How does he behave during meals? If you want to do a lot of sit-down meals & your little guy likes to run around during meals, you probably won't enjoy yourself much at dinner. But if he can sit for long periods of time, I think you will be fine. I took some toys in my bag for my son to play with while waiting for food (usually just looking around the restaurant in interesting enough to them!)

We went last year with our 10 month old. My mom and I fought about it a lot because she insisted I was being ridiculous taking a 10 month old who won't remember anything. But I can tell you (and I told my son this too!) whether he remembers it or not, I will ALWAYS remember those memories & how it was his first vacation. The best part of my vacation was watching his little face light up during parades, fireworks, when he liked a ride, when he was eating (he loves food...lol) or when he'd point at something that interested him. He may not ever remember it, but he definitely enjoyed the trip. I also had a photobook made of the trip so he can look at it when he's older.

We are going this year (he will be 2 1/2 this time) and I'm actually more afraid of what will happen this time. Last year, he loved being in the stroller, would sit down with no problems at meals, liked the characters, took naps, etc. Now, when my DH and I take him to dinner, he spits food out on the table, throws food at us, wants to run around, doesn't like staying in his carseat, etc...so I am nervous about our trip! However, today I took him to the mall & he stayed in his stroller for about 2 hours with no problems at all...then we stopped to eat & again, no problems! I think it just depends on his mood!

On another note, my first trip to WDW was when I was 5 years old & to be honest, I have no memories of it at all. I look at the pictures, but the only thing I can remember is my dad standing beside a palm tree with me to get a photo.

A perk of traveling with a little one...under age 3 = free airfare, free park entrance, free resort stay, free meals, etc.

I hope that helps in some way! Traveling with a little one requires tons more planning, but I personally think its worth it in the end!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[badblackpug]

I have to agree it depends on the child. We took our younger daughter at 8 and then 20 months. At 8 months she was the easiest thing. At 20 months there were a few more obstacles but in general, not a problem. Here are the issues.

At 8 months she loved the characters, at 20 she hated them. (and stupid me scheduled a LOT of character meals) We handled it this way. We warned the host/ess at check in that she was scared, and she sat us in the back. The baby made a point of saying "bye bye" to every character that came close. They got the hint and waved from a distance. The bigger kids got up to greet them (13,9,9) by the end of the trip she loved the character from a distance. The greatest thing was seeing her soo excited at the MVMMCP parade when she saw Mickey. Yelling "hi" bouncing and waving!

Meals. She is a good eater and generally does fine in restaurants. If we planned a quieter more adult meal that we knew would last longer or have less stimulation than a character meal we planned a late ADR, fed her beforehand and she generally slept through the meal. All the restaurants let us keep her in the stroller which we kept covered. They sat us in a place where we could keep the stroller out of the way.

Stroller. She likes to get up and run. We go during a low crowd time so that she has the opportunity to walk more. She is very good about holding hands. We also tried to maximize our opportunities to get her out of the stroller. We went to play areas. We sat on a bench and let her run around while the big kids were on big rides. She was barely in the stroller at BB. She loves water.

Baby gear. Well, you tote that now, so what is new? Our stroller has a decent sized basket underneath so it was no issue. As I said in another thread after about 3 trips on the WDW bus you will become an expert at stroller packing.

We did have one really bad day in about the middle of the trip. It was cool and raining and she was just miserable and screaming. We were at Epcot WS. I just took her back to the room and left the others to explore the park. She took a really long nap and we met up for dinner.

She is a fairly easy going baby and would nap in her stroller in the afternoon, so she didn't cut into the bigger kids park time.

Again, I think it depends on your baby. I think if you have a child that is laid back and fairly easy going then go for it. She is no added expense. If she is more high maintenance and isn't very flexible as far as scheduling goes, then leave her with mom.

By the way, this year I will be doing it with a 13,9,9,2, and 10m!

 

[EKW]

Baby will have his/her turn. I don't see this being an issue unless, for some reason, you take the older children and then, when he/she is old enough, don't take him/her.

I think this is a wonderful chance for grandma and baby to bond...and for you to have a special experience that is tailored to your older kids.