At what age did you first spend a night apart from your baby?

Question

I was quite ruthless and he stayed with my mum when he was 2 weeks old!

I would have a problem putting him into a nursery full time but other mothers I speak to have done this yet hate the thought of letting granny take him for a night!

LOL @ Goulash!

Traumatic? I hadly think so! He loves staying at his grannies and always has, I wouldn't put him through any trauma just so I could go out on the lash! LOL!

Answer 1

My little man was a about 2-3 months old when he first spent the night with his nana. He was sleeping through the night and I don't breastfeed him either; so if you ask "goulash" - I guess I am just as ruthless as you are - LOL!!! Anyway, I see nothing wrong with it as long as you trust the person your child is spending the night with. In my case, my mother, I completely trust her. Every mom and dad need a night to themselves every once in a while to "reconnect" and remember who they were/are before baby arrived. Good luck, and don't let anyone make you feel guilty about your decision...

Answer 2

My daughter was 8 months old before I left her for a night. I missed her so much! She is 2 now and I can count on one hand the amount of times ive left her overnight. Im a full time mum and cant bare to be away from her. I do try to get out as often as I can. My mum babysits or my partner stays home while I have a girlie night out. I have just recently put her into day nursery for 2 evenings a week to get her used to other children and to have a bit of fun away from me. It was really difficult to leave her in someone elses capable hands but I must say she loves going. I know there is no way I could ever put her in nursery full time. I feel for any mum that must do this to go to work. Especially when they must put them in from a young age.

Answer 3

The first, last, and only time that I have been away from my baby at night was when she was almost seven months old. The only reason I did this was becasue I had to wark third shift two hours away from my home. It was either work this one night as a waitress and make close to $200. or work all week and not even have $100. No you are not ruthless you are being a mom. I am just overly protective of my kid and I am learning to let go little by little.

Answer 4

My baby was 6 months old when he first stayed away. Only because we had no immediate family living near us until that point when my sister moved down. He now stays with her on a regular basis, and doesn't even bat an eyelid when i g!! It may be traumatic for them as some people suggest, but its good for them too! It's also good for the parents, The last time he slept at his aunties, daddy and I went to a party and it was like when we first started going out!!

Answer 5

My daughter spent the first 4 nights of her life in neo-natal intensive care.......she's now 18 months and i haven't left her for the whole night since. I breastfed her until she was 1 so it was impractical and i am still very overprotective due to her early health problems, we've been through alot. I leave her with babysitters (my mum/sisters/friend) for the evening then return whenever so i'm there in the morning. Everyone is different though. Its your child, your descion! Regarding the nursery....i worked in a baby daycare centre, it was horrible!! Much better if there is family avaliable.

Answer 6

hi my little boy was afew mths old before i left him with anyone not evan for an hour or so, it was with my mum so i knew he was fine but i still didnt like it, i was feeling sick all night and couldnt relax. he has been left 2-3 times since but i still get nervous and cant relax he is 2 now but hes still my baby and i wanted him so i dont expect people to have him. i dont think your ruthless i know i would rather leave him with granny rather then put him in a nursery im sure your doing the best for your little boy.

Answer 7

I agree with you.I'm a gran and my daughter isnt happy leaving Paul[9months] with anyone other than me or his other granny.[although he was 4months] before she even did that overnight. She knows that when he's with us he gets undivided attention but wouldn't trust a nursery the same, but then she's lucky to have both of us to babysit, some mums dont have any choice but to put the baby into a nursery

Answer 8

I first spent the night away when my first was bout 6wks she stayed with her Nan, she is now almost3yrs and is no problem staying out. Whereas my sisters little girl is 4yrs and she kicks and screams about being away from her Mum and I personally thinks its due to the fact that she never liked leaving her.
Ithink its good that kids have time away from their parents as it teaches them to become confident.
My nearlly 3yr old was nagging me to start nursery which we did a few months ago and she runs in and loves it, I feel for the other Mums who have to peel their kids off their arm and leave them crying, guess Im just lucky.

Answer 9

My child was 6 weeks old when they first had to spend time away from mommy -- but Mommy (this mommy at least) was on Active Duty with the Military and there was NO CHOICE -- I had orders and had to go. That was part of my duties -- and yes, I am GLAD to have stuck with my Military Career -- because ...

The short disaster of a marriage was just that -- short, and MY Military Career was what enabled me to provide for the care and raising and everything that my two disabled children needed -- and given that I was a Long-Term Single Parent -- this was a MUST for me.

Answer 10

With my first baby it was ages before I left him with anyone, and even then it would only be my family (and even now I will only leave my kids with family). He was 4 months when, under duration from my mum and sister I was FORCED out of the house for a night out with my partner............ and once I was out I was fine and so was my baby.

With my second child it was 3 weeks as I was going to a party (which was planned before he was born), but where I left my 1st child and it all went fine, with my second it was alot harder, it was my first attempt at breastfeeding and although I had supplied bottles of breast milk, I still felt horrid knowing that someone else was feeding my baby and it was an uncomfortable night as my breasts were filling up and they were sore and they were also leaking, and the breast pads I was wearing to sop up the milk fell out onto the dance floor!!!

With my third I havent had the chance to go out - he is 3 (YEARS) now and I still havent left the house......... no one wants to babysit my kids!!!!!! lol