Legoland Windsor with a 4month old?

[Gertrudetheadelie]

I'm hoping that some wise mumsnetters can help me here as I've never been to any theme parks before never mind Legoland!

We've been very generously gifted tickets to Legoland in March (family trip with the in-laws, nephew and SIL) so we'll be taking our 4YO and 4 month old baby.

What can we do with baby in tow?! I've read lots of the old threads but can't find much. From what I can gather, there won't be much she can go on and we'll have to parent swap to keep everyone sane, but I was hoping there might be one or two things we could do all together?

Any other wisdom appreciated too ☺️

You can see the shows. But that’s it.
everything else, they have to be able to sit by themselves.

Been a while since we went but from memory there’s the hill train, submarine ride, duplo train, fairytale boats and a mini ferris wheel (with enclosed carriages so safe). But you’re right there’ll be some your four year old will probably want to go in but the baby can’t. We used to spend lots of time just enjoying the Lego animals and buildings. So not an ideal age to go but sure you’ll still have a good time. Worst thing is the queues unless you’re going midweek?

There are a lot of gentle rides with no minimum height limit but the baby has to be held sitting next to you on the seat, not in arms or in a sling. I wouldn't have thought this is likely at 4 months. DS was 8 months the first time we went.

Thanks for the replies! I'm not sure if I should just abandon hope of joining them because it's a waste of money for an extra adult or if I'd miss the "experience" and we could tag team for some rides. It's a big deal for them (travel and a hotel) so it's unlikely to happen again - argh!

Thing is, there is a lot to look at, it’s a nice day out. Don’t turn it down.

This will be an ongoing problem for a while yet anyway as your older child will be able to do more than your younger on lots of different occasions/events/ theme parks. It always takes a bit of juggling. Just find ways to make the most of it.

It’s always useful to have someone who can sit with all the bags and coats while the others go on the rides. When we go to theme parks (not very often) Dh performs this role because he doesn’t like rides.

If you do like rides, just take it in turns who waits with the baby. Presumably MIL might be happy doing this too.

It'll be a nice family day out, vut at 4 months the baby won't really get that much out of it except for outside family time. I don't say that to put you off, but the baby will just be going along for the ride (despite not going on any!).

Your 4 year old will love it though.

Sounds like there's enough adults that everyone can tag team buggy / coat duty so you and dh get a couple of rides with the 4yo.

I'd go!

sorry @Gertrudetheadelie to jump on your thread but everyone else, is it worth going when pregnant? Can I do much with my toddler? My DH would be with us but I don’t want to stand and miss everything.

@BananaSpanner Yes. I think I was prepared for the age gap in terms of interests etc but I'd not considered theme parks so soon! I think probably the "experience" is worth it for Legoland in a way that maybe it wouldn't be for Chessington? I just have to hope that she is having a day when she likes the pushchair because that's much easier to swap than the carrier for when I want a go on something!

We went to Legoland at similar ages. Youngest was 5 months and eldest was 3. It was a nice day out. Me and hubby took it in turn to go on rides with our 3 year old. And if she wanted to go on the ride again Me and hubby swapped etc. I was also happy just sitting with my 4 month old whilst they went on the rides. So I would say still go, but you may have to go again when you 4month old is older.

Which is what we are now planning 🤣

I would still go, if someone minds the baby, you can go on some of the rides with your 4 year old. We have a similar age difference between our 2 boys and the younger one always came when we visited theme parks.

Hurrah! Thank you everyone for the positive stories. I've only ever been to a theme park once (and that was as a teacher on a school trip!) so I'm out of my depth to begin with never mind with a baby to consider!

DH is more into rides than me, but I'll start thinking about what rides I want to boot him out for so I can have a go 😃

• DH pointed out, when I told him I'd posted for advice, that I have been to a theme park that once but I'd clearly blocked it out when I wrote my OP!

Does Legoland do baby swap on rides like Disneyland? As if so, there’s an upside for your 4 year old of the baby being there, as you queue once for a ride and the 4 year old gets to go round twice, once with each parents. Our older kids loved that!!

We got merlin passes when I was on mat leave with my second and the eldest was 3/4 so did this scenario a lot. I think there is stuff to look at and you can take turns going on rides with the 4 year old.

In heartlake city there is also a baby feeding room so if you want to take baby off and just chill a while you can.

Are you going on a weekend or school holiday as the issue there is queues are stupidly long. On a school day with toddlers is great as no queue are long so you aren't left alone a lot.

You mentioned Chessington (or someone did). I think that is also good with 4 year old and baby as you can look around the zoo, go on gruffalo ride or stickman etc.

@Weepingwillows12 weekend in March so hopefully not as bad as summer?

We did it with a baby, for a Gds’ birthday. It just meant that one of us had to stay with the baby (mostly in buggy) while the others went with kids on rides etc. So mostly Granny (me) - I didn’t want to go on most of the rides anyway.

This sounds totally mad, but: take shoes (or socks that look like shoes)

We had 2 month old DD in a sling as we weren't allowed on rides (that you could go on with a baby) because she didn't have shoes on. Luckily I found some converse socks in my bag and we were allowed on.

The teenagers who work there aren't paid enough to apply common sense.

We did it at those ages and tagged teamed. We got the reserve and ride passes and only needed to buy 2 so there was no queuing and DD had a fab time, and it was surprisingly not shit for us too, dare I say almost enjoyable. Going on rides en famille never really crossed my mind tbh, especially as you sit in pairs on a lot of them so I don’t feel we missed out.

Have they paid for all of you or just DS and an adult? If they have paid I’d go and make the best of it with parent swap etc with the caveat you might not last as long as the rest of them with the baby in tow. Buy if they haven’t, I’m not sure I’d pay extra to go along but would join in the hotel etc and see the family.

we ended up doing quite a bit of divide and conquer with mine (3y age gap) and still do to a certain extent as it can often just be easier and the eldest gets to do their own thing without being restricted or disturbed by the baby.

That should be ok. The bigger queues are for rides your 4 year old will be to small for anyway.

There are a few play areas too. I think the one near the splash park is better for little kids.

Sorry one other thing. Take a buggy rather than carry baby if you can. The park is huge so it's a lot of walking and your 4 year old may get tired out too so you don't want to be carrying them both and bags!

Sorry that one above was meant to be a response to the question OP asked me. I thought I had quoted but it disappeared.

The bigger queues are for rides your 4 year old will be to small for anyway.
This isn’t really true at Legoland, unless the 4YO is very small for their age. If they’re over a metre then the only it’s only the Viking river, the big driving school and the riding adventure one that they can’t do.