Category Archives: Mommy 101

GYMBOREE

When my older son reached the 5/6 month mark I started looking into classes and activities nearby where we live, that would benefit his development. One of my girlfriend’s suggest a “gym” class, as she had taken her daughter to one and they really enjoyed it. We had a few different options in my area, from mommy & me classes, to music and then I came upon Gymboree! Now Gymboree Play & Music does offer several different options, but I opted for the “gym” part. I really wanted something that was going to give my baby physical activity. We had already been attending baby story time events at our local library, where there was lots of music and reading…but I needed something to help tire him out a little more!

For me, I think we started going to Gymboree classes at the perfect time in his development, as he was just starting to sit on his own, but still immobile – unless you count his wiggly rolling around movements! The class structure was perfect, they had songs, guided us through physical exercises and movements, then a parachute, bubble and a”Gymbo” puppet followed by more songs. It was a great way for me to interact with my son, while also allowing him to explore, socialize and develop with other children about the same age as him! Of course the facility is totally child-friendly, safe and clean too…he loved just sitting and laying on the play mats. I could tell from the first how much he enjoyed it and from the way he passed out once we got in the car and for the rest of the afternoon that day, I really enjoyed it too! 😉

Gymboree offers the first class as a free trial, and then after paying a small membership fee and getting a promo discount for the monthly class charge, I didn’t hesitate to sign up. In the next few months that we went to our weekly class, he began sitting on his own, then crawling and eventually trying to stand. Now I’m sure he would’ve been learning all of those things on his own at home too, but I really liked having a guided class every week where he could work on the different skills. After 3 or 4 months we stopped attending, as I was pregnant with baby #2 and my belly was getting a little too big and uncomfortable to be in class with him, but I certainly plan on signing the second one up for Gymboree too, starting in a couple months.

A few of the other pluses for me were interacting with the other parent’s who had kids that were the same age as mine, my Gymboree location was very good about disinfecting and sanitizing the play balls and equipment, plus baby gets such a good “workout”..leading to a nice long nap…BONUS! Also, if you miss a class, makeups are easy and they also offer “open gym” times when you could bring your child in to play outside of class times.

 

Scar By C-Section

scar3I didn’t plan to have a c-section, but I did…and while I wasn’t oblivious to the possibility, or so set in my “birth plan” to be totally natural, I definitely was not prepared for the recovery and after effects of having major abdominal surgery via cesarean section. In my first pregnancy, I was doing the walking, the prenatal yoga, taking birthing classes, reading books ad everything else first-time mothers do when expecting a baby, to prepare for a “natural” delivery. There were indicators early on that the baby inside my womb was larger than average, and I monitored his growth closely, knowing that if the baby got too big, a vaginal birth might not be possible. At any rate, we decided to induce 5 days early to get things going…since measurements kept indicating the baby could be 10 pounds at birth if we waited til the due date. And, even when I went in that night to begin the induction process, the ultrasound again read that my baby was on the “border” of the size the doctor would attempt vaginal delivery or order a c-section, so we had to hold off until my doctor could give his consent. Well, since I’m not super petite or anything, and my doctor knew how important it was for me to go for the vaginal birth, he gave the green light to go ahead and start inducing. Everything was going fine, I was dilating and feeling great (with an epidural)…but when I hit 6 centimeters, we started having problems because the baby wouldn’t drop into the birth canal, and they suspected the cord was around his neck and tightening every time he tried to go down. So that, paired with another “issue” my doctor noticed, immediately sent me to the operating table for a c-section.

Okay, so fast-forward, recovery from this surgery is no fun and the healing process is pretty tough, but I’ll save those details for another blog. Right now I want to talk about the SCAR. Originally I hadn’t been too concerned about a bad scar or keloid developing because I had my appendix removed several years earlier and that scar healed so beautifully, it’s like a faint line…only noticeable when I point it out. So I figured my skin wasn’t the kind to do that! Boy was I wrong. It could have something to do with the type of stitch (I had the melting kind for my appendix and suture for the cesarean), the size of the incision and/or the location…whatever the case may be, mine wasn’t so “pretty.” Now in my case, I found out I was pregnant again when my scar was still less than 5 months new, so instead of obsessing over it, I had another baby to look forward to! However as my belly began to grow (again), so did the scar and it quickly turned into a “keloid,” and I couldn’t help but look at it, touch it and think about how to avoid the same kind of scar the second time around! The other downsides of my scar included discomfort (itch) and pain (soreness) at the site…not to mention there’s another internal incision that we can’t see! I’ve since found out that the scar continues to “heal” for at least a year and can sometimes take longer. Well, after speaking with my doctor, one of the positives of having to undergo another cesarean surgery to deliver baby #2 was that he would be removing the scar! And this time he would inject a steroid into it when he applied the stitch to try and help combat another major scar from developing.

When it came time to deliver my second son, the scheduled surgery was on the calendar and I felt like I’d be so much better prepared having gone through this once already. And while this time I knew exactly what to expect and felt more relaxed going into it, there is no avoiding the “pain” of surgery and the possibility of scar tissue posing a problem. In my case, the internal scar tissue did add some complications after delivery, but thankfully everything was handled expeditiously! The week immediately following the birth of my 2nd baby boy was again tough to get through (I think we forget how painful things can be), but soon enough I was on “scar watch.” I will say, that I was happy to see the not so nice looking original scar gone and having a smooth skin surface in the abdomen area, however after a month or so, the thing started to raise again! Ugh!!

scarThere are all sorts of scar remedies, creams and so-called solutions out there, but what really works is going to the dermatologist and having it checked out!. My dermatologist told me to stop applying neosporin, vitamin E and whatever else. She told me I should continue to use the silicone scar strips – I chose to use CVS brand “C-Section Scar Strips,” because they promote a healthy healing environment for the scar, and she also injected me with cortizone shots along my scar, to help flatten it out and lessen its inflamed appearance. Since my first visit and that set of injections I have noticed improvement and if I knew it would stay how it looks right now, I’d be fine with it…but since I’m only 4 months post-partum and the scar site still has a lot of healing to do, I’m not putting my money on it. My dermatologist advised me to go back in 3-4 weeks following the original appointment and that’s what I’m going to do.

I love my scar because the surgeries were the vessel for my 2 beautiful boys to find their way into my arms…but I don’t need it to have such a pronounced appearance down there!

 

 

Orbit Baby: The Good & The Not So Good

I am the proud owner of a G2 Orbit Baby Travel System. When I first started stroller shopping I was really overwhelmed and never imagined I’d “invest” that kind of money in a travel system, but after doing some research, figuring out what was important to me and what made sense…I ended up with the Orbit Baby G2. One of my friend’s who I had consulted for advice on how to choose a stroller said to me, “It’s your baby’s wheels,” and so why not give my child the “Lamborghini” of strollers! Some of the factors that went into my decision to go with this system were ease of use, weight, safety, durability and logistics. I needed something adjustable for a tall Daddy, and a couple Dad’s I know said they loved it because of where the seat sits and how the handles extend, plus there’s no bar at the bottom for big feet to kick when at the helm of the stroller. The 360 base is also super impressive and the fact that it’s engineered so well, a product of a Bay Area, CA company (my home) and its “green” factor pretty much solidified the decision.

A slew of celebs also rock the Orbit Baby stroller, everyone from Jay-Z and Beyonce to Kristen Cavallari…

… Brian Austin Green & Megan Fox, and how could I leave out KimYe’s baby North West!?!? Mind you, while it is “cool” to know celebs share their taste for strollers with me, celebrity was NOT a factor in my decision!

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So, I really loved my stroller as a single, I got the bassinet too, but my baby outgrew that fast. I loved it’s lightweight, smart design, easy to fold and load into the car and my Skip Hop baby bag clipped onto it really easily! The only not so good thing about it was the storage bag underneath. You can’t have anything in the bag if you fold it up, AND while it slides out and can be a shoulder baby bag, you can’t just dump things in there when you’re strolling around. Additionally, there isn’t much storage room, say if you’re at the grocery store and don’t want to carry a separate basket for a few items…you’d need the panniers (which I have too) that attach to the sides and can easily fold down when not in use. And with the panniers, it can also be tricky to fold the base unit if you leave the attached, but overall, those are minor details and the handling, rotating base and paparazzi shade made me a fan. I’ve traveled cross country many a time by myself and I would push the stroller with one hand, while rolling my luggage in the other. Using the infant seat in a rental car was also super easy to strap in without the car seat base.

Well then I found out baby numero dos was on the way…so I pondered for a half second if I needed a new system, only to find out Orbit Baby now had a Double Helix to accommodate 2 bambinos and if you had a single, there was an upgrade kit, so once again, decision made! Here’s the good…it was extremely easy to install the upgrade kit. Orbit has some amazingly easy to follow “how to” videos and the pieces fit perfectly, just excellent engineering. I thought the new handles with a tablet pocket looked cool and it’s very easy to go from single to double and vice versa with the added based that you can switch in and out in seconds. The new storage basket, while no longer removable, was much bigger and easier to put things in and take out. Note, I’m hesitant to use the tablet pocket with the iPad because as my other half pointed out, by putting it on display could be an open invitation for theft…which is sad, but true!

Soon enough it was time to put my upgraded Orbit to use…and while it works great as a double, there are some things that were not so good. First, I couldn’t easily attach my diaper bag, then a “Mommy Hook” I got couldn’t be easily attached either! After a few uses, I started referring to it as my big rig…this thing gets so much attention and while we probably look pretty chic rolling around in it, I feel like we need the back up alarm noise to let people know we are coming through. The handling that I loved and ease of use have been compromised with the additional base, as the rotating wheels on the back tend to “get caught” and start dragging because they catch when making sharp turns. I did complain to customer service and I got a new set of wheels for the back attachment and it has been a lot better, but still has issues here and there. Then, getting to the storage basket underneath can be challenging when you have a stroller seat on the main base facing forward because the foot rest blocks it. Now I love that the seats swivel and can be configured in several different positions, but since I can’t attach my diaper bag, I have to shove it in the storage compartment and when I go to grab something quickly…it’s not too easy!

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Orbit’s customer service is definitely on point, as any issue that has ever come up has been handled quickly and to my satisfaction. They actually have you send in a video or photo to show/demo what is wrong, and that’s usually easier than trying to explain it. Other pluses are the easy to clean fabric and huge sunshades on any of the seat/carriers, the wheels are durable – for big babies like mine, and with the double, an added drink holder with a compartment for a smart phone and the nesting system for storage is great.

If I had to choose again, I probably would do everything the same, but I might shop around a little more for the double. I casually looked at another double stroller, but the Orbit just impresses so much I didn’t consider some of the minor annoyances I just mentioned, and there is no way to KNOW until you start using it. At any rate, I think they’re coming out with the G3 in 2014, hopefully they’ve addressed some of the things I think could be improved upon for the Double Helix version.

 

 

Maternity Modeling

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When I became pregnant the first time around, I was signed to a modeling agency that is named, and specializes in “Expecting Models.” I figured it would be a great opportunity to possibly pick up some extra work (and cash) with my growing belly. Well, while I was submitted and considered for several jobs the first pregnancy, I did not get booked for any jobs until my second pregnancy. During my second pregnancy I was luck y enough to be in the right place at the right time! The place being Miami and the time being about 16 weeks pregnant with a small baby bump. It was a fun shoot for American Baby magazine in the Florida Keys. And — as you can see in the print (above) that made the cut, it was for a maternity swim spread! It was published in their May 2013 issue.

Now if you are thinking about maternity modeling and are interested in putting your belly to work, here are some helpful tips on how to possibly find work and/or know if it’s for you:

Getting workExpecting Models is the only one (in the US) who specifically represents pregnant models, and they have locations in NYC and LA or you can submit to other agencies if they have a maternity division. If you’re interested in getting signed, you’ve got to act quickly because it’s a small window of time that your are pregnant!
Location – For the most part you need to be in LA or NYC to be booked, as most of the go-sees and castings are held in one of the 2 cities. Since I’m based in Miami, there are occasional opportunities in the area, but I was also willing to travel to NYC for work.
Photos – Many of the women who work as maternity models are already working models and have photos to show their work. When you have a growing belly, it is important to provide current photos every few weeks, since your shape/size will be changing quickly.
Up Keep – And, since jobs can pop up very quickly, you need to maintain your physical fitness and appearance during your pregnancy to be ready to go!

If any of the above doesn’t sound like it’ll work for you, I would recommend checking local classifieds like craigslist where there may be job posts for pregnant models or contact an agency in the city you live in to see if they may have any upcoming jobs for maternity models. Good luck!

Little Man Style: 5 Ways to Wear a White Button Down Shirt

Repost from Sunshine & Rein

Every since I purchased a white button down shirt from Janie and Jack for my son to wear at his little man mustache bash (outfit shown below as look 1), it was an instant wardrobe staple. Not only should grown men have a classic white button down shirt in their closet but so should little men. Here are five ways my little man wears his.

 

Look 1: With Suspenders and a Bow Tie
 Pants with Braces: Zara (similar: here) | Suspenders: (similar: here) | Bow tie: Janie and Jack (similar: here or here) | Shoes: Sperry Top-Sider | Cap: H&M (similar: here)

 

Look 2: With a Vest (Optional: Add a Tie or a Scarf)
Vest: Nancy August (similar: here) | Jeans: Gap | Leather Belt: baby beltz (similar: here) | Shoes: Sperry Top-Sider | Tie: Nancy August | Scarf: mommy’s closet


Look 3: Under a Sweater

Sweater: Gap (similar: here) | Jeans: Gap | Leather Belt: baby beltz (similar: here) | Shoes: Vans


Look 4: Over a T-Shirt

T-Shirt: Children’s Place (similar: here) | Pants: Gap (similar: here) | Leather Belt: baby beltz (similar: here) | Shoes: Sperry Top-Sider | Straw Fedora: Gap


Look 5: Under a Polo Shirt

Polo Shirt: H&M | Plaid Shorts: H&M | Leather Belt: baby beltz (similar: here) | Shoes: Sperry Top-Sider

Facelift for Mom?

A post by 53 Weeks contributor Dr. Andres Bustillo, MD

facelift

As a facial plastic surgeon, I have seen many things in my career. You name it and I have seen it. Well, so I thought, until last week. A nice and attractive woman in her late forties came to my office to consult about a facelift. As I like to do with all my patients, I conversed with her to get to know her. This may sound superficial coming from a plastic surgeon, but I think this is an important part of “ being able to make the patient happy.” How can you realistically make someone happy if you do not know them? By getting a feel of “where they are coming from” you can better direct them “to where they want go.” She was forty-nine, happily married, worked part time as an attorney, and had two high school girls. All signs of a happy and confident woman with an ideal family support. This is an ideal candidate for plastic surgery.

I always like to know why a particular person walks through my office. What is that “click,” makes them pick up the phone and call for an appointment? Well, in this case it was her younger daughter! Her twelve-year-old daughter told her that she felt uncomfortable when her mother attended school functions because she looked older than her classmates’ mothers. This is definitely the first time that I’ve heard of a mother “dragged” into the plastic surgeon’s office.

You see, I live in a city where looks carry a person a long way. Yes, that’s Miami and love it or hate it, that’s the way it is. That’s why its common to have patients come to my office for rhinoplasty, facelifts, or eye-lifts. But never because the daughter suggests plastic surgery for the mother! I have seen it the other way around, where the parents bring the child with prominent ears for an otoplasty, but this was a first. The story goes like this…. The mother did lose quite a bit of weight recently and because of that she did have significant excess skin in her neck and fairly severe jowling (the skin that hangs just behind the chin). The daughter attends a private school in an upscale neighborhood and is very involved in school activities. It seems her friends had made some comments about her mother’s neck and chin, which made the girl uncomfortable when the mother was present at any of the activities. The daughter began to avoid those activities that involved the presence of her mother. When mom asked why she no longer wanted to attend, she replied, “because you look old and your neck looks like a turkey’s!”

So here I am today planning her facelift procedure and wondering if I would have ever said that to my mother. I don’t think so. But times are different today and so are people. It does surprise me the extent and reach that plastic surgery has in our society today. I would be interested to hear what some mothers have to say about this.

Dr. Andres Bustillo is a board certified facial plastic surgeon in Miami, Florida. http://www.drbustillo.com

Everyday Mommy Face

One of the biggest challenges of being a Mom is taking care of yourself. When we were single and unattached to these little ones, we had all the time we needed on a daily basis to primp and go, but might simply run late due to poor time management and indecision about the right color of lipstick for the day! Well, when the early morning wake-ups calls strike via crying or the cute, happy coo’s full with another day of energy, it can be easy to toss our “beauty regimen” to the wayside. I’m definitely guilty of this..I actually feel pretty accomplished when I can have everyone (including myself) fed, dressed and ready to head out the door for errands or walk by 9am! And while most days I am just fine with my pony tail and plain face, there’s always a part of me longing for the “real” me. I’m not talking about getting all dolled up and photo shoot ready, but I come from the school of thought where I want to look and feel good for myself. So while “natural beauty” is fine and dandy, my hair always seems a little less mane-ish and my face not so plain and colorless when I can do a little something! If you’ve ever met me in person you’d know I have been blessed with a gorgeous, full head of hair that these days is often mistaken for a weave! haha! Now while I am lucky to have the kind of hair people pay for…it’s a lot to deal with, on most days it ends up in the Mommy ponytail, unless it’s a special day. But this post isn’t about hair, it’s about face!

makeup

Here are my everyday go-to’s, to make me a feel a little more presentable and “like me.”

Tinted Moisturizer – find one that works well with your skin tone. I use MAC studio moisture tint, and I love it because not only does it even out my skin tone, it also has SPF and moisturizes!
Eyebrows – I may not be able to tweeze & pluck or get these babies waxed on the regular, but when you fill them in to “frame” your face, it works wonders.
Bronzer – I love giving my face some much-needed color with a touch of bronzer…I add some along my cheekbones and dab a little along either side of my chin, a touch on the nose and forehead, and I am good to go! My sister gave me a Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc that I love, and I also use MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish Powder.
Lashes – Lashes have come a long way, you can get them permed, add extensions and always wake up with beautiful eyes…but if you can’t or haven’t indulged in either of those, grab your eyelash curler & put on a coat of mascara.

The great thing about my beauty basics routine, is that aside from the brows, it doesn’t take too much precision to get it on and really you can do this in a matter of minutes. I may not get to it everyday, but on the days when I do…it feels good!

Air Travel With Baby…By Yourself!

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Traveling with a baby is easier than you might think (if you’ve never done it), especially if they’re still immobile! ha!! Seriously though, I remember Raef’s first plane ride. I was worried if we’d have enough food, would he cry, what about the recycled cabin air and close proximity to random strangers who carry germs!?! I did my online research, asked around…stressed about how to pack and what to pack, would I have enough of everything he’d need? His first flight was international from Miami to the Dominican Republic, when he hit the 2 month old mark (yes, he needed a passport), and it was roughly a 2 hour flight.

It was definitely a good thing for his first flight that Mommy and Daddy were both present, and it was probably even better for me to get a first-hand process overview, with an extra pair of hands available, for check-in, going through TSA Security and also getting the car seat and stroller to our destination in one piece! Planning and organization are key – I think that really applies to anything you do as a parent. Things you can do ahead of time include calculating how much formula/food you will need, think about bottles, containers and other baby aides that will make your trip easier. Call your hotel ahead of time, inquire about refrigerators, cribs, laundry facilities, etc… Another good thing to know is where are the grocery and drugstores in the area you’ll be staying in. For our trip to DR we’d be on a resort and I had to bring all the formula, diaper and wipes with me..the last thing I wanted to do was try and hunt these things down when I got there or pay crazy prices at the hotel gift shop, not even knowing if they’d carry what we’d need..so yeah, I brought all my own stuff!

On his first trip, everything went fine, he didn’t cry at all on landing and takeoff or through the entire flight! We did make sure we had a bottle ready to go to feed him, but if I remember correctly, he was sleeping both ways or had a pacifier, and he was fine, no air pressure issues at all. We did take our stroller to the gate and check it, but before doing so, we placed both the base and car seat in a huge stroller travel bag I purchased prior to the trip…I mean if you pay that much for it – we have the Orbit Baby Travel System, you want to keep it “nice” and make sure all parts are there upon arrival!

Now to the point of my story…air travel with a baby, by yourself, isn’t hard at all. On subsequent trips with Raef when it was just me, this is what I did:

  • Give yourself plenty of time! I can’t stress this enough, get to the airport early…that way there’s no need to rush!
  • Check in my bag and stroller. Keep your carry-on items to a minimum, bring only what you need. All that amounts to basically a diaper bag. Bring several diapers (minimum 6) and extra formula (whatever you think you’ll need plus 2 extra bottles worth, unless of course you breastfeed. TSA doesn’t open ready-to-feed formula or your bottles, but do keep them easily accessible since they do “test” them before letting you through, so you will have to take them outside of the bag..actually put them in a bin before you go through the scanner.
  • Wear the baby. I ended up using the Baby Bjorn carrier to walk through security and get on the plane, my stroller (at the time) was 2 pieces, it was much easier to get it checked in at the counter, rather than struggle to somehow hold the baby, fold it up and get it in a bag at the gate.
  • Check to see if you can be assigned a seat with an “open” seat next to it. Baby will have to stay in your lap for take off and landing, but it’s nice to have the extra room if you can get it. I think it’s made a world of difference for flights where we went coast to coast, giving the baby a place to lay/nap, stretch out and play. In all my experiences we’ve always had an understanding person in our row and I’ve never had any issues. I think we fear the horror stories and as a parent you are going to be way more embarrassed and sensitive to every noise and movement the baby makes, but really…people understand, after all, they were all babies at one time too! 😉
  • Bring a few toys, maybe new ones or one that hasn’t been played with in a while. Also if baby has a security blanket make sure that is nearby!
  • Make sure the baby is nursing or feeding at takeoff and landing…something to suck on like a pacifier also works!
  • Order and ship formula, diapers, etc.. to your destination ahead of time if you can. That way you won’t have to spend time shopping for the items once you arrive.
  • Consider using ready to feed formula and needing only nipples and collars to top each bottle (Evenflo brand fits perfect) or perhaps the Playtex drop-in liners.

Now, I’m not going to lie, there was a flight where I was “that Mom.” After our first flight to Dominican Republic, I flew solo with Raef on several cross-country flights, but then on our last flight when I was entering my 3rd trimester with Isaiah and Raef was now 9 months old…there was drama on the return to Florida from California. It was like as soon as we had gotten to San Francisco, he started teething on his outer teeth – we had no issues with his front top and bottom, but these were a different story. So actually the whole trip he wasn’t quite himself…he wouldn’t eat, take a pacifier and had vomited a few times, so I was VERY uneasy about the return..not to mention my belly was kinda on the big side by now! Needless to say, he cried, okay screamed and couldn’t sleep for most of the near 6 hour flight back to Florida. We had a open seat next to us, but he just wanted to be held. He was over tired and his gums hurt…pobrecito! In hindsight I don’t know why I didn’t think to get some Baby Tylenol, to give to him, I think I was in an anti-meds mode because my pediatrician had told me not to give him anything – but she was referring to Benedryl I had inquired about to make him drowsy for no specific reason other than we’d be flying. I did have some other teething remedies, like the teething tablets, but they weren’t working. Thankfully, we did make it home with no major incident, although I did have to endure a couple annoyed glares and unsolicited comments, but people just want to be “helpful.” I tried to explain that he was teething, that his behavior was only intensified by being stuck on a plane, but he was just as uncomfortable the day before while we were firmly on the ground. Ah yes, you will always inevitably run into strangers who want to tell you what is bothering your child, that the air pressure is making them act that way or that you should do this or that…just grin and look the other way! The moral of this part of my story, keep some ibuprofen handy (among other things), just in case.

Ultimately, you know your baby best and you need to do what will work for you. As they get older and more mobile it becomes more of a challenge because they’ll want to crawl or walk to explore and it’s much harder to get them to stay still. Another thing you can do is try to get them tired before boarding, maybe walk around or let them get some energy out…not sit stuck in the stroller at the gate..waiting…that won’t help when it comes time to sit before take off.  Think about the times of day you’ve scheduled your flights, try to find what will work when baby is least fussy! I say focus on the great things about traveling with a lap infant is you get to cuddle with your cutie the entire flight and time goes by A LOT faster!

Too Young to Disney?

I recently started contemplating on when is the right time to take my boys to Disney. Well since Isaiah is still an infant, I wasn’t necessarily thinking if it was right for him, but I decided to wonder aloud on my Facebook page to see what my circle had to say about it! Raef is officially a toddler now at 16 months, and I am so anxious for him to experience all the fun perks of being a kid and I definitely look forward to all the great places I can take him…Disney being one of them! Plus, of course I’d like to take advantage of the “free” admission while he’s underage! 😉

At any rate, a great conversation ensued with parents weighing in on with first hand experience and insight on when to “Disney,” and I’m sharing some of the best responses below…

SharminI took my daughter at 4 months old. We took her on almost every ride. We took her several times before she was two. My favorite was at 18 months when she was able to walk on her own and explore. She loved it! I think any age is okay for Disneyland

LarissaMy daughter’s first visit she was 6 months my son about a year old, even though they don’t remember it taking pictures is what counts…. I say you are never too young or too old for Disneyland

MarissaWe took Enzo every year…his first time at 18-months. We founds that the year he was 4 was the best year because he could remember everything and articulate what he wanted to do. But when he was 5 (almost 6) we went again and he could go the entire day (literally 8 am to close) without stopping and wanting to go back to the hotel to nap!

MoniqueGood thing about before 2 is it’s free:-) you can watch the shows, go to the rides like dumbo and toon town:-) its great for memories of pictures

AmyI’ve taken Zoe every year since she was born, wouldn’t change it for the world. The first year watching her just taken in the lights and her little smile was so precious! Do it! We even started a pin collection for her.

Reinawe took miles when he was 28 months old, which was just right for him to articulate what he experienced (well in 2-word sentences). i think younger than 2 would not be worth it, albeit memorable for you as a parent. sorry to be a party pooper… lol.

MichelleIt’s going to be a lot of work for you with no memories for them – go to a small fun park like pixey play land or fairy land in northern cal, I’m sure they have something like those in southern cal. Best ages for us were 3 & 5 and ever since then;) If you’re the one who really wants to go, then by all means go!

AlexDaughter was a few weeks shy of her first bday when we took her and our 6 yo son. She was all smiles on several of the rides and especially loved the bird show in the Tiki room. We were there four days BUT we stayed at the Grand Californian and that makes ALL the difference in the world when doing Disney with a baby.

After reading all the feedback from my friends, I actually decided I will hold off another year until making a trip to Disneyland or Disney World. Although everyone makes a great case for going and I’m sure the photos are a lot of fun, but since I have 2 in tow, it would be a lot of “work” and I figure I can take them to a petting zoo or local park with a few rides, and the smiles would be just as big!