Christina,
Thanks for asking your question to planDisney!
No, you do not need to get a
MagicBand for your child under 3 years old. You will find as you navigate the parks, the restaurants, and the attractions that you are good to go. Before you ask, no, you don't have to bring some proof of age, like a birth certificate, either.
BONUS TIP #1When my girls were little, they had such slender wrists that everything would fall right off. On our first Disney cruise they had to get new kids club identification wristbands every day because they would fall right off, no matter how tightly they attached them. Then came MagicBands! What you likely won't see when you view pictures of the bands is that you can peel off the gray exterior from end to end. When you do that, it shortens the band significantly for the express purpose of fitting on smaller wrists. My girls never lost their bands once, and the bands were never so tight that they felt uncomfortable.
BONUS TIP #2
When we have visited with children who are under 3, we have either dusted off old MagicBands, or bought the least expensive ones available and let that youngster wear the band. It lets them feel like they are part of the party, even if the band is not activated in any way. Check with friends who have been before to see if they have one to spare.
Write me back if you have any questions or need some ideas for the little ones.
Have a Magical Vacation!
Doug