8 wk old to Disney in the heat? WWYD?

[Starry-eyedMom]

So we are taking a trip to visit family in Florida next week. My dh is really excited about taking the two boys to Disney World. He has missed out on all the previous fun trips due to work, so I understand that this is kind of important to him.

It is HOT in Florida, so I am worried about taking the baby. At the same time, I don't want to miss out on the boys' experience. My in-laws have offered to watch the baby for the day and bottle-feed with pumped milk, but I am not sure about leaving her and she hasn't bottle-fed before! If I do take her, I'm not sure how great the experience will be. She hates the car seat (45 min ride to get there) and she still has numerous fussy periods during the day.

Any suggestions?

[Ruby2]

Oh wow, what a hard decision! I think I'd probaby skip the trip and let it be a special time between dh and the boys. If the baby has a hard time and you are stressed out, it could make the day bad for everyone...OR the baby could be fine and have a great time just people watching all day...good luck with whatever you decide to do!

[VroomieMama]

Maybe you could get the baby to get used to the bottle starting now and meet up with your in laws few days earlier so the baby get used to them?

Or, you could get a bottle and spray your baby with water lightly to keep her cool throughout the day?

Maybe you and the baby could spend most of time in water but of course, make sure you both are all lathered up with sunscreen.

Good Luck.

[jenfl]

We live in Florida, and we avoid going out in this heat, especially with a little one. It is just really, REALLY hot for them.

If you go, take lots of A/C breaks. Let DH and the older kids stand in line for the rides; go walk around in the stores instead. Take advantage of the nursing rooms in each park -- they're cool and quiet and I've even held DD in there while she was small to get her a nap in the A/C. And nurse, nurse, nurse. Keep your LO hydrated.

[Ambystoma]

I wouldn't do it, personally. It is hot in Florida now (only getting hotter), but the heat in Disney is something worse. There isn't much shade, and something about the concrete ground everywhere makes it hotter. You wouldn't enjoy the time with your other kids, because you'd constantly be worrying about your 2 mo. I wouldn't take my 4mo now, or until he was over a year, it can get so miserable down there--and I'm in Louisiana where it's already 96 degrees and humid so I know heat.

Maybe you can try a bottle, but then I'd be worried about pumping to keep up supply. I would just skip it if it were me, but YMMV.

[Nicole730]

I would go. And do what PP suggested, stay in the stores a/c and nursing rooms a lot. Have DH text you as they get close to go watch them on the rides. I definitely wouldn't want to miss something that big. And maybe you'll get lucky and it won't be too hot the day you go. You can always back out at the last minute too.

[ecoteat]

If it were me, I would feel the same way about wanting to share the experience with the boys, but it wouldn't be worth the stress and discomfort (for you or the baby) of trying to keep a tiny person safe and cool in that environment. I wouldn't go.

[Starry-eyedMom]

Thanks for the great suggestions! I'm still undecided and will take the wait and see approach about the weather.

[KatWozBlue]

I took my daughter labor day weekend and she was born July 30th, so she was 5 weeks old maybe? tiny.

I kept her in a sling and we went super early in the morning and left after lunch and spent the afternoon in the hotel room, then we went back in the evening when it was much cooler. Not sure if getting an inexpensive hotel room is an option on Disney property, if you live in Florida you can get a great florida resident rate and they are around $75 or so.

In the park, I would take her to nurse in the nursing rooms and we also went to Epcot which had a lot of indoor activities where we stayed cool. I drank a ton of water and was still able to take my son on a few rides while my hubby stayed with the baby and I even nursed her on a couple of the longer rides in Epcot.

good luck!

[fruitfulmomma]

At 8 weeks pp there is NO way *I* would be ready to be walking around DW all day. Maybe plan to spend a couple of hours in the morning or evening when it is cooler but definitely not all day.

About pumping, it is really not just that easy to just pump and give her a bottle. You most likely won't get as much out with the pump as you would with her directly feeding and you still would have to empty your breasts at every feeding while you were running around DW.

[chel]

i took my oldest dd was she was around 10w. it was in oct. i still found it awfully hot. not to mention i thought most of the rides too loud and/or bumpy for a newborn. i did enjoy having my parents along. they have an annual pass and stay in fl for several weeks, so one of them would often sit out a ride so i could ride (was with my 3 other adult siblings)

the heat will be an issue, especially if you've been in alaska?. could you take along another person to help you.

epcot is nice with a baby. lots of indoor movies - just loud, though many toddlers don't find it as interesting. magic kingdom is best for little ones, but lots of outdoor lines (i didn't go here when dd was 10w as there were no other children in our group). i find the animal kingdom just an over glorified zoo.