Should I cancel our plans?

[Elizabeth86]

We had a BIG year planned out next year, but I'm thinking now that we have a baby coming in the spring, the next year might be better.

 

1. We were going to istall an above ground pool, but the baby will be at most 4 months in the summer. I just dont see me being able to swim at all unless dh was there. I would think this would be disappointing for the kids.

 

2. We were planing on getting season passes to Dollywood. Again I would imagine we would not have as much fun with a little one not to mention the travel.

 

3. Also when baby would be 7 months we were planning a trip to Florida. This might happen, but I also remember all my kids got really fussy about car rides at this age.

 

Looks like I might be rethinking next year. lol

[HomeAgain]

1. They've come out with a new floaty called an Otteroo that goes around the baby's neck.  It looks weird, but it would allow you all to be in the pool.

 

2. Dollywood seems to be pretty family friendly.  There are a lot of things you could do with a little one, and you could do child swap for others.

 

3. Wait and see.  This baby could be different. :)

[itsheresomewhere]

They have slings for babies that are meant for the pool. Very nice and so far the friends that use them, the babies love it.

 

At that age, DD had done a lot of traveling. We drive everywhere but she had down several theme parks, regular parks, multi-state road trip, etc.

 

Personally, I think it is too far off to make a decision right now. Just wait until time is closer to make any decisions.

Edited July 27, 2017 by itsheresomewhere

[zoobie]

Will you have a deck around the pool where you can sit in the shade and nurse the baby? I generally don't (still with the younger two 5 and 3) )get in my pool and swim unless there's another adult. I can keep my eyes on the kids better from the deck. I would take out the little rocker sleeper thing and could put baby in that if I needed to deal with my toddler. I have a comfy patio set, so it was pretty much like sitting indoors. My older two were old enough to not need intervention, and they could sit on the deck with the toddler if I needed to go inside to grab something. Toddler was always in a Puddle Jumper. It was worse the next two summers. In and out for diapers and potty, and the baby wasn't overly independent. This summer is better except for the constant potty breaks for 3. 5 can run in by herself. By 4 mos, we used one of those flat floats that the baby sits down in. Some have a pop up shade. Obviously you have to be standing right by the baby in those, but mine loved it. And yes, there are water slings. Mine is 14 years old (Solarveil), and I have no idea if the company is still around!

 

I know nothing about Dollywood. I'd wait and see on the other two decisions.

[Zinnia]

My number 3 and 4 were daily pool babies. We loved it. The more chill baby would even nap in a bouncy seat near the pool so we could play longer.

[JFSinIL]

Your other kids are probably the perfect age for the pool, Dollywood, trip.  Babies are pretty portable.  I'd cancel nothing, or at most cancel just the one thing you are most apprehensive about.  Do the kids KNOW a pool was coming? 

 

Do what feels comfortable for YOU.  I vote pool waits a year, keep the trips.

[medawyn]

I definitely wouldn't cancel #1 and 3.  I might skip season tickets to Dollywood, but I wouldn't think twice about bringing a baby around with me if I didn't.

 

I hate being pregnant; I love having a newborn.  I get so much more done after baby comes, and I have more energy, even though I'm not sleeping for beans.

[Guinevere]

I wouldn't cancel anything. I take my little babies everywhere, and I love the pool that first year!

 

Edited because I'm having spelling and grammar issues this morning!

Edited July 27, 2017 by Guinevere

[mommyoffive]

Babies are so much easier than toddlers.  It is so much easier to travel with an infant who is just content to be in the carrier or stroller.   

[StaceyinLA]

I'm in the don't cancel camp, especially not the pool. I just wouldn't want to alter things for my other children just because there happened to be a new baby in the picture; that could easily turn into never doing anything at all because then it becomes not wanting to do it with a toddler, then maybe there's another pregnancy and baby.

 

I think babies are flexible. Even with some of the fussy grandbabies my daughters have given birth to, we manage to do a lot of traveling. It seems like the babies have always been great when we've gone to Disneyworld, the beach, etc., and they absolutely LOVE being in swimming pools.

[bettyandbob]

I'm in the don't cancel camp, especially not the pool. I just wouldn't want to alter things for my other children just because there happened to be a new baby in the picture; that could easily turn into never doing anything at all because then it becomes not wanting to do it with a toddler, then maybe there's another pregnancy and baby.

 

I'd definitely get the pool. Even if you are stressed with the new addition, this is a fun activity you can do without leaving the house. Prepare for it during the pregnancy by taking the kids to lessons at the local rec center through the winter months. 

 

If Dollywood is local to you, i'd probably get the season passes. Those passes usually pay for themselves in 3 visits. That sounds like a great activity you can do regularly with no planning--just throw the kids in the car and walk around to show and rides for part of a day. 

 

I might put off the trip to Florida and evaluate the planning when baby is a few months old. 

[TX Native]

I agree. The year with a baby is much less stressful than with a 1 or 2 year old that is mobile and doesn't want to stay in a stroller, car seat, or float. I would do everything this coming year and have a low key year when the baby is a young toddler. I hated going to restaurants, long car trips, staying away from home in a non-toddler proof place, or going places like theme parks or beaches with a toddler that needed watched (I mean chased by me) constantly. Before the baby was mobile was the best time to just up and go places.

 

Dollywood has a great area that is perfect for young kids tucked in a corner behind the carnival area. The kids should love the 20 min or so train ride each trip and the rhythmic bumptity bump and chug chug of the train should soothe the baby.

Edited July 27, 2017 by TX native

[wendyroo]

1. For me it would depend on the swimming skills of the older kids.  My older kids cannot be trusted out of arm's reach in anything deeper than a kiddy pool, so for me the pool would be a no.  Currently I can't even safely (and sanely) take them all to the YMCA pool by myself...even if they are wearing life jackets and there are life guards on duty. 

 

2.  I would MUCH rather take a baby to a theme park than a 1 year old.  Babies are portable and will often sleep in a wrap or stroller.  My pre-toddlers, OTOH, are little tyrants who want to go where they want to go and do what they want to do.  They get very churlish if they are not allowed to do things their big siblings are doing...and a lot of things at a theme park fall into that category.  My 1 year olds also desperately need a nap early every afternoon, but they no longer sleep on the go well.

 

3. If possible, I would wait to make this decision.  I drove 20 hours each way to Florida with an 8 months old...it wasn't horrible, but, then again, none of my babies have overly minded their car seats.

 

Wendy

 

 

[SebastianCat]

I live in FL where almost every home (or at least every neighborhood) has a pool, and the pool would totally depend on your older kids' swimming ability and trustworthiness.   I hear reports of kids drowning in backyard pools almost every week - and some of those were kids who could swim.   If your older kids are old enough (and have enough self-control) to stay out of the pool unless there's an adult available to supervise, then the pool might be OK.   We bought our current home, which has an in-ground pool, when my kids were 7 & 5.   Even though they were both pretty compliant and could both swim at those ages, I don't think I would have been comfortable having a pool when they were younger, unless we had a door alarm of some sort.   

 

I would do Dollywood with a baby without hesitation, like others have mentioned.   Some theme parks have toddler-friendly play areas, so that might also be a possibility if you put it off by a year.

 

I would wait until you know the new baby before deciding about the trip to FL.   One of my kids was fine for long car rides and would have had no problems.   My other child screamed in the car and could last approximately one hour per year of age.   She was 4 years old before she could make the 4-hour car ride each way to visit my IL's without having a meltdown.

[catz]

How old are your kids?  You have a baby right now right?  I'd be uncomfortable in terms of safety getting a pool with a newborn and a small toddler in the picture, especially if your other kids are under age 8 or so.  I wouldn't do it without a locked fence, alarm system, etc.  I know a 6 year old who was a level 4 swimmer than drowned in a busy pool.   Young kids do not measure risks well.  Even young kids that are strong swimmers need very close and constant supervision IMO. 

 

We traveled all over when my kids were small via airplane and long road trip.  That is more a personal preference thing.  In some ways it was more fun taking them before they started having super strong opinions.  LOL. 

Edited July 27, 2017 by WoolySocks

[Elizabeth86]

Thanks guys. I was just thinking about the sun. They say no sunscreen until 6 months, right?

[Elizabeth86]

Your other kids are probably the perfect age for the pool, Dollywood, trip. Babies are pretty portable. I'd cancel nothing, or at most cancel just the one thing you are most apprehensive about. Do the kids KNOW a pool was coming?

 

Do what feels comfortable for YOU. I vote pool waits a year, keep the trips.

No, the kids dont know about the pool.

[wendyroo]

Thanks guys. I was just thinking about the sun. They say no sunscreen until 6 months, right?

 

I wouldn't worry too much about that with the pool or Dollywood.

 

There are shaded baby floats for the pool, or patio umbrellas, or baby could sit in a stroller with a canopy near the pool.

 

At a theme park, baby would probably either be in a stroller with a canopy or worn by a parent in which case you can just pop a hat on him/her to keep the sun off.

 

We were always fairly active with our young babies, never used sunscreen before 6 months, but still managed to keep them safe in the sun.

 

Wendy

[Elizabeth86]

I wouldn't worry too much about that with the pool or Dollywood.

 

There are shaded baby floats for the pool, or patio umbrellas, or baby could sit in a stroller with a canopy near the pool.

 

At a theme park, baby would probably either be in a stroller with a canopy or worn by a parent in which case you can just pop a hat on him/her to keep the sun off.

 

We were always fairly active with our young babies, never used sunscreen before 6 months, but still managed to keep them safe in the sun.

 

Wendy

You would think id know all this as we have been fairly activr too with babies, but dd (3rd child) was born in fall, so she was a bigger baby in the summer and ds 2nd) was born in spring, but we didnt do things like that because ds 1 was only 1 1/2.

[Elizabeth86]

How old are your kids? You have a baby right now right? I'd be uncomfortable in terms of safety getting a pool with a newborn and a small toddler in the picture, especially if your other kids are under age 8 or so. I wouldn't do it without a locked fence, alarm system, etc. I know a 6 year old who was a level 4 swimmer than drowned in a busy pool. Young kids do not measure risks well. Even young kids that are strong swimmers need very close and constant supervision IMO.

 

We traveled all over when my kids were small via airplane and long road trip. That is more a personal preference thing. In some ways it was more fun taking them before they started having super strong opinions. LOL.

Yes, next year my kids will be 6, 5, 2 and new baby. Dont worry, we will have every possible safety meaaure im place.

[Clemsondana]

I've done Dollywood with young kids, including babies. Feasibility depends on how many adults you'll have, or whether your kids will want you to ride with them. If they're fine riding whatever rides they like by themselves or with each other, or if you have an extra adult, then you can sit with the baby. I also spent time at the splash areas feeding the baby while my little kids played (although check and see what's still there - they've moved some things around and I'm not sure where/if they still have those 'play in the water' areas). Also, the shows that are kid-friendly would be places where you can rest with a baby. In the summer I just kept a canopy up over the baby in a stroller, or put a hat on them if I was carrying. One word of warning - when I rode the train, we were all splattered with cinders. It was a bit nerve-wracking to try to gently scrub cinders off the head of a baby whose head was still soft. :-)

 

When my kids were tiny, we lived across the country from my parents and they did their first flying at 2 months (and once we flew to be near my parents, we often drove hundreds of miles in a week to visit both extended families). In some ways, we found traveling to be easier than being at home even though it was exhausting, It may depend on what type of kid you have, though.

[shawthorne44]

Definitely get the pool at the very least.  Then teach the baby to Baby Swim.  Also, make firm rules about no swimming without an adult.   

[barnwife]

Our kids are similar ages (ours are 7, 5, almost 4, and a 7 mo).

While I have no desire to have an actual pool (too much work, not long enough season in WI), that's me. We do however, have an old hot tub that we fill and use as a kiddie pool throughout the summer.

I'd be fine with the pool with safety measures in place. Our kids are well aware that if we catch any of them in the pool without an adult, it will be drained immediately and not refilled for a long, long time. I remind them of this every single time we fill it.

I think the baby would be the easiest of the kids to take to Dollywood!

[mykidsrmyjoy]

Regarding the pool, we put inan above ground pool a couple summers ago when our children were 6, 4, 3, and 1 and I was expecting our 5th. I was somewhat apprehensive about having a pool with our children being so young, but it has seriously been one of the best things we have done for our family.

My husband built an enclosed, gated deck around it and we have always been very adamant about explaining to the children the dangers of water and the fact that they are never to enter the pool area without permission. Now, two summers later the 8,6, 5, and 3 year olds can swim very well, even with no flotation devices. I am very glad that they have learned that important life skill, not to mention the hours and hours of absolute fun they have had each summer.