Hiking Yosemite in winter with a baby?

Forester…what a GREAT name!
kudos.

If he gains a brother, there's another great sierra pass name to consider…depending on his temperament…

"Hell-for-sure" pass
;)

apparently there was a hanta virus problem at Curry Village in the past …

I thought Yosemite Lodge was essentially a motel/hotel not cabins. could be wrong about this, they might have some separate rooms.

I've go with the "Lodge at Yosemite Falls" for lower cost, but fully heated rooms. There are motel-style rooms and you're close to the food court. Are there still cabins at the Lodge? I couldn't find any online. They were nicer than the ones in Curry Village 20 years ago.

I wouldn't do the tent cabins at Curry Village in the winter. But their "Yosemite Cabins with Bath" have heat and wooden walls.

The Lodge is a short walk from the base of Yosemite Falls. Curry Village is closer to the Happy Isles trailhead. Either have easy access to the Valley-floor trails and to the shuttle-bus stops. Parking is easier at the Lodge in the summer, either should be easy in winter.

We've done a lot of travel with a infant in a chest carrier – Black Forest in Germany, Katmai National Park to watch grizzlies, and many local, winter hikes. Bring lots of baby wipes (in an inside pocket – they stay warmer that way).

I'd suggest something like a "Pak-n-Play" as a portable crib. They you needn't worry about the baby rolling against a wall heater, etc. Although either lodging option might have cribs available.

>"apparently there was a hanta virus problem at Curry Village in the past …"

Yup. It was in their "Signature Tent Cabins" We got a call from them to look out for Hanta Virus symptoms after our msot recent stay. One of the fatalities had been in Cabin 913 where we stayed. Those tent cabins had the bad combination of insulation between two canvas walls -easy for mice to set up house in. The wooden-walled cabins in Curry Village wouldn't have that issue.

Most of Yosemite Lodge is, yes, basically motel rooms, painted brown on the outside, and in a gorgeous setting. I've stayed at duplex and stand-alone cabins at the Lodge, but they've done a lot of demo to reduce the footprint in recent decades.

In the summer, usually I'm there for some death march and I want to sleep well. The lodge is much quieter in the late evening than Curry Village. That's much less of an issue in winter – not so many people hanging outside at night, drinking beer.

Just a follow up. We stayed at Tenaya lodge and loved it!! Perfect balance of cozy/baby friendly/luxurious (for the wife).
Definitely will stay there again. Only bummer is that it's almost an hour from the lodge to the valley floor. Still worth it for us though.
Btw, for anyone else with a baby, go for the backpack.
We pushed our little guy in a BOB off-road style stroller up Mist trail and it was very difficult. Like pushing a lawn mower up a hill.
Much easier with the backpack. We did that for the hike to Mirror lake and it was a breeze.