When did you first leave your baby overnight?
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Mines 13 months old and i never been away from him but i never had the chance to as im a single mom. I wish i could go out lol but im still breastfeeding too so that would be hard since he doesnt even take a bottle and only drinks water out of a sippy cup id probably feel safe by like the time they start to crawl to leave him if i was leaving him cus then they are mobile and i think safe from sids for the most part i think my baby started to crawl around 8 months if i trusted the person watching them id feel ok if i had enough money i might try to have Someone watch my baby in the hotel iw as staying at just in case
My daughter was probably 4 mos old the first time I left her with someone overnight.... It was only because I had to work a graveyard shift that overlapped hubby's shift, so neither of us were able to be home. After that time I had someone watch her once when she was maybe 9mos old... that time the babysitter was horrible and I've never left her overnight without me or her daddy again
Still working on it at 15 months. So I’m following
I haven't yet... she's a bit over 2. I will have to when I deliver, she'll be a few months shy of 3 and it totally stresses me out. I'd honestly rather dad stay home with her but he doesn't want to miss being in the hospital with baby #2.
I left my baby with my parents overnight at a month old and then here and there after that. At 6 months, I went to wedding and left her for a full weekend and it was wonderful to have a bit of a break (although of course, I did miss her). I’d say you should work yourself up to it and allow others to help overnight or over longer periods before the trip. That way, when it finally gets here, you can enjoy it instead of being worried or stressed!
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if your leaving baby with dad or your mom or MIL then go have fun...i cant wait to be able to do that and my child is still in my belly
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Lol he’s staying with my husband. I underestimated how attached I’d be once he came and I’m having difficulty leaving him which I know I need to get over 🙈
Err 3 weeks old with my mum and dad 🙈
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Good for you! It’s so important to take time for yourself
2 months old with my mum and her partner. She spent a day with my grandparents at 4 weeks old while I went to a funeral.
You will worry because it’s natural but just remember to enjoy yourself. If you can’t trust the person you’re leaving your baby with then don’t but if you can then let that be & enjoy yourself before you regret not doing so!
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We deserve some fun too! I wish I had a vacation to go to, anything lol
My son wAs 6 months and on my sisters bachelorette party(2 hours away) i took him with me! Yes i was stuck at the hotel for 2 nights while these giels were out but oh well. We went outto dinner then they would drop me to the hotel :)
Um I believe he was 3 or 4 months old. I didn't breast feed so that was one worry out of the way but it was with my in laws and I trust them. If you breast feed id just pump and make sure your available if they need to get ahold of you
I had my sisters hen weekend when my son was 3months (wasn’t too bad as was only 1hr away) but was 2nights away. I struggled then and was checking in with my parents all the time, but as he got older I found jot got easier. We had a 30th weekend when he was 6months and then another at 9months and i found it easier than when i had the hen weekend. Can you try him a night at a friends/parents before then? X
6 months with my sister for 2 nights
Oooh gosh.. I feel you and it’s normal to be worried and stressed.. but I can say much cause my daughter is 2 and I have never done it.. the most hours I have been away from her is like 3-4 hours..
All the responses make me feel horrible! Lol I left to Cancun for 5 days when baby boy was 6 months. I personally think it’s harder to leave them when they’re older bc they’re more dependent on mama and know what’s going on. I knew grandma could handle the bottles and naps before but now I’m anal about making sure he gets his energy out and always learning! Go have fun!
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My mum will not be taking my baby but will instead be staying with me two nights a week to let me sleep and to help if im struggling due to having autism it is going to be very hard for me but at the same time i couldn't have someone else watching over my baby for a night without me being in the same house
My daughter is almost 2.5 and I’ve never left her. When she was 14 months, I brought her to a bachelorette weekend with me in NYC. My husband came along and took care of her while I participated in the festivities. It was the best of both worlds because I really didn’t want to leave her!
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We did the same when I had a work conference. I've still never left her and she's almost 3
When I had to go back the hospital for postpartum hypertension 1 week after being discharged from the hospital
He was 6months old and I went on a Hen Do weekend. the leaving bit was hard, but as soon as you’re on your way it is amazing. I loved it. Last one standing both nights - “we don’t know when we’ll get to do this again!! Shots shot shots” 🥃. Had a hangover for days afterwards but it was fab. X
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LOVE this haha 😂
Never and she’s 14 months
At birth technically. Haha. I wasn't with him for 3 nights. I went on a hen do for 3 nights when he was 6 months old but he was with his dad so I knew he was happy.
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He’ll be with his dad too. I’m hoping he needs me less as he gets a little older. Right now he’s very attached to me and prefers me over dad, so I’m the only one who can calm him down when he’s upset.
I feel like the earlier you do it the easier it will be. The longer you leave it the more separation anxiety you will face. I think it’s a good idea to still live your own life. I plan on leaving my baby at 6 months to take a needed break and to force myself to weaken the separation anxiety. The more you do it the less anxiety you should face. I think the initial departure is probably the worse as you may feel like they will die without you but once you see that everything will be fine your anxiety will decrease the next time you want to have a little getaway. That’s my logic anyway
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For me, since he only gets watched by his grandparents it’s more of I’m gonna die without him. It’s terrible to say but when I’m away from my little one for more than a few hours I start missing them so much. I’ve tried a couple times but always end up picking them up before bed time. Idk what to do
The only thing I can say is to not give into your anxiety. Be strong and force yourself to lessen your separation anxiety. Give yourself a time limit and keep trying to extend that time everytime to leave your baby. That’s how I would take that approach.
He was about 3 years old
Our oldest is almost 3 and our youngest is 15 months. We have only left our oldest over night for a 2 nights when we had our youngest
6 months with my first. Me and my husband went to the Bahamas 🤣 my 2nd was also 6 months. We went to DR.
Around 13 months with his dad. While I went out🍷
Mine was 6 months, it was with my mother and kind of forced on to me because she lives far and had watched her during the day and was too tired to drive...I called her at bedtime and I had her understand her routine and I made sure she would check in on her in the night and I called right away in the morning lol. It gets better, but she’s almost two and I still have anxiety and try to avoid it to be honest haha.
4 months. My husband and I went on a weekend trip and his god parents watched him. But they’ve also been on trips with us in the past and knew how to care for him very well. They are our best friends and basically family. They’ve always been super hands on with helping us with our kiddos. They will be taking care of both of our kids soon too so we can go on our delayed anniversary celebration once coronavirus restrictions are finally lifted.
Birth. My first spent the first 7 months in the NICU. It was 38 hours before I could even meet him.
he was 3months
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I have 2 that are 3 and one that’s 2. I still haven’t left them overnight
5 months! And several times since then, just for long weekends, but it is SO life giving and good for the kids too to have some time apart!
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Sooo true on all counts!
It’s never easy leaving your baby! But parents need some good R&R from time to time. I get anxiety bc I have trouble relinquishing control of her routine, but every time I have left her, I come back and she’s, fed, slept, clean, and happy. If you’re leaving your baby with someone you trust, just check in with pictures and FaceTime and try to enjoy yourself! You deserve it 🥰🍷🎉
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This was really helpful! Thank you!
You’re welcome! We will always be the best at caring for our child because we know them so well. But it’s healthy for children to learn to respect others and trust other adults as well. It’s also fun for them to have new experiences with their family and friends! Even if it’s nerve wracking for us lol
It's different for every mother for lots of different reasons and you're going to stress and be cautious no matter what but what might help with the anxiety is having it happen a few times before then so you know your LO is used it and you're confident in the person who's watching them x
Mine is 18 months and I still haven't but I think the option simply hasn't come up. I will have to leave him over night with someone when I have his sibling in December so it might be a good idea for me to get him to have a few practice nights between then and whenever we are able to safely go out again.
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My guy is 21 months and still havent. I have never had anyone else to watch him nor is my spouse interested in that long. Im the only one who ever gives him a bath, gets his meals, and gets him to bed. Its exhausting and I look forward to a break one day!
Left my son when he was 3 months to attend a out of town wedding with my bf . But I was sad however not to sad because my Twin sister watched my son so it was a win win situation.
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He def knew she wasn’t you by the scent but I always wanted a twin sister !! Hahahaha now would be a great time during this 4 month sleep regression 😩
I’ve not left my son yet for longer than 20 minutes he’s 6 months x
She'll be 3 years old in 2 months. Still haven't. Do what works for you either way. No pressure to leave unless you want to.
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I’m sorry! That would be so tough! My baby is staying with my husband and I’m so grateful he’s willing to take over baby duties for a weekend. That said, we have zero friends or family where we live so no date nights until he’s older and we find a sitter we can trust.
Its good to hear how some moms have the support system to get away. I think that is important. But it is also good to hear from moms like me who havent. My baby is 21 months and sometimes I feel like I am doing something wrong in the long run. I would enjoy some time to myself, but I just havent had much support since he was born.
4months with first then 3years with second and then 2 years with third... the anxious questioning i dont think ever goes away it just becomes easier the more they go for sleepovers at grandparents etc... because you know they are happy and they come home in one piece... i would do an overnight away in the time leading up to you going away just to check you and bub are ok as you would hate to be miles away if bub wont settle or something but bubs are pretty easier going and as long as someone entertains them and keeps there attention occupied im sure you baby will cope ... and you will too youll just always find yourself wondering what baby is doing ... its normal mother instinct :)
I didn't till my daughter was almost two. I'm glad I waited I wouldn't have been ready till then.
I couldn't do it at six months old. But that's just me. Every one is different. It's possible you will be so distracted with fun that it will help the anxiety.
as everyone is saying, each case is different. mine is 7 months and i couldn’t even BEGIN to imagine leaving him over night, but that’s mostly for my own sake. i’m very attached lmao. and honestly, i personally have no desire to leave him either. i get plenty of “me time” when he naps. but i also know it’s stressful dealing with a baby and that all mamas definitely deserve a night away should the opportunity arise. do whatever you’re comfortable with and trust your gut!
I first went to a bachelorette party in Miami when my children were 3 and 18 months. I breastfed so I felt I had to wait. With that said I was pumping and dumping the entire trip pretty much otherwise I would get very engorged. It was very annoying and not very enjoyable for me . Plus I missed my babies terribly. I have a girlfriend who went on vacation with hubby when her baby was 4 months. Everyone is different
You are an awesome mama and deserve to have fun! Don’t worry about it! Just FaceTime often and you both will be just fine 😊❤️💕
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Thank you!! 😘😘😘
If you’re not comfortable with it, maybe see if someone can travel with you and your baby so they can watch baby while you go out. Everyone is different and comfortable with different things, so don’t feel pressured either way. My LO is 21 months and I’ve never been away from her overnight because we don’t live near family and I haven’t felt comfortable with leaving her.
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Let me add that flying with a 6 month old is pretty doable.
Definitely is doable! We took our daughter on a long ferry journey (turned out to be 17 hours) when she was 4 weeks and flew with her at 3 months and then 7 months and it wasn't as bad as I was expecting
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My oldest is 18 months and I still haven't left her overnight. We went to a wedding and left her with my mum for the day but hated not being able to see her before bed. I made sure I went in to get her up the next morning. My youngest is 3 months and I can't imagine leaving either of them still. Totally depends how you feel though and who he'll be staying with. Everyone is different and don't feel guilty if you do decide to go. You need time for yourself and your friends too
When he was 2.5 and I went in to have his brother!
4 months
Sis you deserve to have some baby free fun with your girls. Your baby will be okay for a few days. Just leave baby with someone you trust and check in as much as possible. It’s okay to be attached to your baby of course but you still need to have a life with experiences. Happy mamas=Happy Baby
At around 20 months
Great tip! I haven’t thought of this but will definitely have to try this out. Thank you!!