So we brought a newborn on our trip

evilqueenmindy

DIS Veteran
Joined
Feb 14, 2010
Was it a little crazy of us? Kind of. A little backstory- we do a 5-day/4 night sister trip every year in early Feb. (always super bowl weekend, 4 women and my 10 year old nephew) This year our trip was from 1/30-2/3. My niece was born on December 30th.

We had a 2BR villa at OKW, and we only live about an hour from the parks, so my sister was not committed with airline tickets or anything, and actually was not totally committed to going for the whole trip until just a couple days out. We weren’t sure she would stay for the whole thing, but she made it!

So just because I haven’t seen a ton out there about bringing such a little baby on a Disney trip, here was our experience-

- villa was a lifesaver- my niece currently weighs less than a men’s bowling ball, but ooooohmygod did she come with a lot of accessories. Even leaving a bassinet at home, my sisters Honda Pilot was pretty much stuffed with all the everything Baby was going to need for 5 days. The villa gave us the space to hold all of this paraphernalia, and there was always a room to take the baby to if she needed quiet.

-Stroller is a way bigger hassle for a tiny baby- my sister had 2 wearable carriers, and those were way more convenient for carrying the baby around than the stroller, which we mostly used as a cart for the diaper bag. (Carrier really helped keep the baby calm too.)

-you can take a newborn on way more rides than you think. And they will sleep through much louder stuff than you would think.

-if you can con more adults into doing this crazy thing with you, do it- it takes a village to bring a newborn to the parks, especially if you have another kid (we had my 10 year old nephew) we would often split up, take turns holding the little princess during meals etc. I feel like if it was just two parents, you’d get tired out pretty quickly.

-manage your expectations- this is an obvious one, but you cannot do a commando touring style with a baby. We would generally go to the parks around 11, do a couple FP, have lunch, and my sister and baby would return to the villa. My niece was also getting better at sleeping longer at night, but it’s still a sleep drain (and she liked to cry for no reason from 9-11pm, or “the witching hour” as my sister called it) so a slow, “check out the 3 things you are interested in and split” is th way to go.

-don’t fear the restaurants- Disney restaurants are pretty loud, and unless you’ve got a shrieky crier (nephew could not do Disney dining until he was 2, hahaha) the baby is probably not going to disturb anyone. I wouldn’t bring the baby to a signature dining experience (she stayed home on CA grill night) but our baby went to via Napoli, The Plaza, T-Rex, Olivia’s, Yak & Yeti and Homecoming. She slept through some, had bottles at others, cried a little but not much (was beyond fascinated with the lights at Via Napoli) never had to be taken out. Of course, every infant is different, ours was fairly chill.

-be prepared for a LOT of comments- you’re going to get a lot of attention from other people. Most people were nice, some people gave us some disapproving looks, there was a couple people that felt the need to tell us they disagreed with our choice to bring her. Way more people talked to us than we were used to.

Bottom line, you know your baby best, pack your sense of humor and patience, and if you want to take your baby to the parks when they are tiny, I say go for it, we had no regrets.
 
Was it a little crazy of us? Kind of. A little backstory- we do a 5-day/4 night sister trip every year in early Feb. (always super bowl weekend, 4 women and my 10 year old nephew) This year our trip was from 1/30-2/3. My niece was born on December 30th.

We had a 2BR villa at OKW, and we only live about an hour from the parks, so my sister was not committed with airline tickets or anything, and actually was not totally committed to going for the whole trip until just a couple days out. We weren’t sure she would stay for the whole thing, but she made it!

So just because I haven’t seen a ton out there about bringing such a little baby on a Disney trip, here was our experience-

- villa was a lifesaver- my niece currently weighs less than a men’s bowling ball, but ooooohmygod did she come with a lot of accessories. Even leaving a bassinet at home, my sisters Honda Pilot was pretty much stuffed with all the everything Baby was going to need for 5 days. The villa gave us the space to hold all of this paraphernalia, and there was always a room to take the baby to if she needed quiet.

-Stroller is a way bigger hassle for a tiny baby- my sister had 2 wearable carriers, and those were way more convenient for carrying the baby around than the stroller, which we mostly used as a cart for the diaper bag. (Carrier really helped keep the baby calm too.)

-you can take a newborn on way more rides than you think. And they will sleep through much louder stuff than you would think.

-if you can con more adults into doing this crazy thing with you, do it- it takes a village to bring a newborn to the parks, especially if you have another kid (we had my 10 year old nephew) we would often split up, take turns holding the little princess during meals etc. I feel like if it was just two parents, you’d get tired out pretty quickly.

-manage your expectations- this is an obvious one, but you cannot do a commando touring style with a baby. We would generally go to the parks around 11, do a couple FP, have lunch, and my sister and baby would return to the villa. My niece was also getting better at sleeping longer at night, but it’s still a sleep drain (and she liked to cry for no reason from 9-11pm, or “the witching hour” as my sister called it) so a slow, “check out the 3 things you are interested in and split” is th way to go.

-don’t fear the restaurants- Disney restaurants are pretty loud, and unless you’ve got a shrieky crier (nephew could not do Disney dining until he was 2, hahaha) the baby is probably not going to disturb anyone. I wouldn’t bring the baby to a signature dining experience (she stayed home on CA grill night) but our baby went to via Napoli, The Plaza, T-Rex, Olivia’s, Yak & Yeti and Homecoming. She slept through some, had bottles at others, cried a little but not much (was beyond fascinated with the lights at Via Napoli) never had to be taken out. Of course, every infant is different, ours was fairly chill.

-be prepared for a LOT of comments- you’re going to get a lot of attention from other people. Most people were nice, some people gave us some disapproving looks, there was a couple people that felt the need to tell us they disagreed with our choice to bring her. Way more people talked to us than we were used to.

Bottom line, you know your baby best, pack your sense of humor and patience, and if you want to take your baby to the parks when they are tiny, I say go for it, we had no regrets.[/QUOTEusing a carrier in Feb is way different than using a carrier in August. it didn't work in
using a carrier is a lot easier in Feb than August. our daughter found neither she not the baby could use the carrier it was just too hot. didn't have a choice of when if we wanted to bring one grandson by court order that gave his birth mother the tight to refuse allow him to go with the family if he was going to miss more than one day of school. but other than that agree with what you have said
 
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I love all the information you shared. We took our DD when she was 11 months old with my extended family. Though I thought we were crazy before we left, it wasn't that bad. One thing I want to add is a shout out to the Baby Centers in all 4 of the parks. Our baby was fussy and would only take warm bottles, and all of the baby centers had bottle warmers. They also saved the day when my niece lost her binkie.
 
-be prepared for a LOT of comments- you’re going to get a lot of attention from other people. Most people were nice, some people gave us some disapproving looks, there was a couple people that felt the need to tell us they disagreed with our choice to bring her. Way more people talked to us than we were used to.

WOW, what horrible people. TBH I don't understand why anyone would think it is OK to tell you guys that you shouldn't have a baby on your vacation! Wow, just WOW!
We're taking our baby in September she will be 10 months and we have a 26 hour flight to get there. If anyone would dare to say anything to me about it they'll regret it.
 
WOW, what horrible people. TBH I don't understand why anyone would think it is OK to tell you guys that you shouldn't have a baby on your vacation! Wow, just WOW!
We're taking our baby in September she will be 10 months and we have a 26 hour flight to get there. If anyone would dare to say anything to me about it they'll regret it.

That sounds like an absolute nightmare.
 
It's really none of anyone's business if you take your baby with your or decide to leave your baby at home with a family member or caregiver. You are the parent, and can take your child with you wherever you go. The store, the doctor's office, the park, Mommy-and-Me class, vacation. If you want to go there, then that is what you should do.
 
We took our youngest when he was 11 weeks old. His older siblings were 2, 4, and 5! We had a great trip but did have to take things slow and finding a place to nurse the baby while not abandoning the rest of the family that needed me was challenging at times. We went over Labor Day and I wore the baby in the carrier the whole time pretty much. It protected him from the sun and even the stroller could not do that. The doctor just said to dress him in a thin onesie and he did great, even in the heat! We rope dropped every morning then took a break in the heat of the day, then went back in the evening.

We have a trip planned for early November...but we are expecting another little one to arrive in early October. Honestly, I don't think we are going to make it happen, mainly because of my post-partum condition. It is just so much money for us to spend, so instead we might do a short trip this May for Mother's Day.
 


WOW, what horrible people. TBH I don't understand why anyone would think it is OK to tell you guys that you shouldn't have a baby on your vacation! Wow, just WOW!
We're taking our baby in September she will be 10 months and we have a 26 hour flight to get there. If anyone would dare to say anything to me about it they'll regret it.
Meh, people just like to intrude on the lives of strangers. It was just a couple over the course of the week. It did crack me up how much attention we got tho, even little kids at the next table at restaurants, "oooooh, its a such a TINY baby!!"
 
Good for you all that you were able to pull it off.

I had a high risk pregnancy and an emergency c-section followed by a week-long stay in the hospital. So the only place we went for three months was the doctor’s office. Under the circumstances I was experiencing, a vacation anywhere, let alone WDW, was out of the question. At five months old, we were able to bring her to Cape Cod off-season.

It’s wonderful that this mother and baby were strong, healthy, and resilient enough for a vacation to WDW.
 
WOW, what horrible people. TBH I don't understand why anyone would think it is OK to tell you guys that you shouldn't have a baby on your vacation! Wow, just WOW!
We're taking our baby in September she will be 10 months and we have a 26 hour flight to get there. If anyone would dare to say anything to me about it they'll regret it.

You do you! Hope it's successful!

I know I'd behave a thousand times worse than a baby if I had to take a 26 hour flight!! LOL! No way for me!!
 
You'd be amazed how many stop and talk to you when you have little kids with. I have two and I'm still not used to it.

I will say, and this is just my opinion and really none of business to say anyway, taking a baby around crowds during flu season and before they've had most of their shots is bold. I would bet disapproving looks you got were because of that.

But Disney is super tiny human friendly. That's awesome you guys got the magical experience.
 
You do you! Hope it's successful!

I know I'd behave a thousand times worse than a baby if I had to take a 26 hour flight!! LOL! No way for me!!

LOL, yes the flights are LONG from Australia. We used to do it every year but now we have kids it's every 2 years - costs are a lot higher with the kids. Long haul flights these days aren't what they used to be. I remember going on my first long haul trip in 2001 and it was VASTLY different to the ones we take today - so much more easier and fun now.

I will say, and this is just my opinion and really none of business to say anyway, taking a baby around crowds during flu season and before they've had most of their shots is bold. I would bet disapproving looks you got were because of that.
I was thinking the same thing, that maybe people were just worried about the vaccinations. But still, not their place to judge or say anything IMO.
 
LOL, yes the flights are LONG from Australia. We used to do it every year but now we have kids it's every 2 years - costs are a lot higher with the kids. Long haul flights these days aren't what they used to be. I remember going on my first long haul trip in 2001 and it was VASTLY different to the ones we take today - so much more easier and fun now.


I was thinking the same thing, that maybe people were just worried about the vaccinations. But still, not their place to judge or say anything IMO.


Exactly - I highly doubt people were thinking "Wow, you should never bring a baby", it was probably more like "Wow, that newborn is super young and doesn't have shots yet".
 
Exactly - I highly doubt people were thinking "Wow, you should never bring a baby", it was probably more like "Wow, that newborn is super young and doesn't have shots yet".
TBH, when I see a newborn out at the grocery store, I just cringe. I cannot begin to fathom WDW. But that's my opinion.
 
TBH, when I see a newborn out at the grocery store, I just cringe. I cannot begin to fathom WDW. But that's my opinion.
Really? I was taken everywhere pretty much from day one and it is credited as being one of the reasons I get sick so little, bottom line is we have become way too germophobic in our society and kids aren't getting their immune systems built-up. Now as for WDW, that is up to the parents with advice from their doctors as WDW is definitely a unique situation, due to how much time you are being outside, etc.
 
We took our youngest when he was 11 weeks old. His older siblings were 2, 4, and 5! We had a great trip but did have to take things slow and finding a place to nurse the baby while not abandoning the rest of the family that needed me was challenging at times.

At the frozen singalong, we were surrounded with babies getting fed.
 
Really? I was taken everywhere pretty much from day one and it is credited as being one of the reasons I get sick so little, bottom line is we have become way too germophobic in our society and kids aren't getting their immune systems built-up. Now as for WDW, that is up to the parents with advice from their doctors as WDW is definitely a unique situation, due to how much time you are being outside, etc.
I followed my pediatrician’s advice which was to avoid large crowds for the first 3 months, and that’s what we did.
 
I followed my pediatrician’s advice which was to avoid large crowds for the first 3 months, and that’s what we did.
Pediatrician's are regularly wrong and that's just my opinion.
We took our first DD everywhere when she was tiny and she was fine, had her shots when needed and got her first minor cold at the age of 2 years old. We do the same with our now 4 month old, in fact we have two mini trips coming up soon before our big USA trip back to Orlando in September.
 
TBH, when I see a newborn out at the grocery store, I just cringe. I cannot begin to fathom WDW. But that's my opinion.

But how are you going to do your shopping? Not everyone has help after having a baby... that said I can understand the concern but so long as mom and/or other care givers are washing hands well it shouldn’t be an issue (they - the babies - are not touching much of anything yet). Really, it’s daycare at 6 weeks that’s the bigger issue- and again if you have to work that’s what you do.
 

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