How old was your baby the first time you left him or her overnight? Who did you leave him with?
Was it very far away and how did you handle it?
I'm trying to decide whether to leave my daughter with her aunt and uncle overnight. They're over an hour away.
Just curious what your experiences have been like...thanks for the feedback.
2007-02-12 03:37:49 · 14 answers · asked by Maudie 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
My little girl is 5 months old and we've left her several times with my parents til around 1am, but this weekend is our anniversary and we are leaving her over night for the first time. I think she's at a great age for it since she only has very slight seperation anxiety but she's old enough that she's sleeping through the night. I didn't feel comfortable expecting anyone to watch her overnight until she was sleeping through the night. My parents live about 20 minutes away and we just make sure to have our cell phones on when we leave her. Be sure to write EVERYTHING down so there's no confusion and make sure you have extra of everything packed. I wouldn't worry too much, parents leave their kids with sitters or family members all the time :)
2007-02-12 03:45:16 · answer #1 · answered by totspotathome 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I left both my children with my sister for 5 days when the youngest was 16 months old. We were about 2 hours away. It wasn't a problem because we spent an awful lot of time together and her children are a similar age. I was still breast feeding her 1 feed a day at that point. (I breast fed the eldest until she was over 2) So it wasn't easy to leave them earlier than that. If you feel comfortable and confident leaving her with her aunt and uncle then go and have a great time. I'm sure she will be fine. You're bound to be a bit anxious the first time you leave her but you have to do it eventually.
2007-02-12 03:45:37 · answer #2 · answered by gerrifriend 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My baby was about a year old when I left her overnight for the first time...and she stayed with some very...very...very...close friends of mine...
But, I think that if you are going to want some time to yourself every now and then...that you should go ahead and drop the baby off so that the child can use to staying with someone else....because you don't want to end up like me....I don't ever drop my kids off and my husband and I can hardly ever get a break because all of our family is six hours away....
I think one hour isn't bad....because if you needed to get to the baby...that is really not that far...
maybe you could get a hotel room the first time...and that way you can break yourself in...
But if the baby is use to seeing its' aunt and uncle it won't be a problem...if you go back home just plan to be there early to pick the baby up so you can feel comfortable .... and you won't feel like it has been forever that you dropped to baby off....
2007-02-12 03:45:01 · answer #3 · answered by LIFECOACH 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My daughter was 3 before she stayed overnight somewhere away from me. She was about 2 hours away and it was with her aunt and uncle. I kept missing her and thinking about her, but it wasn't like I was going crazy and had to go get her or something. I know that is probably a long time before staying the night somewhere away from home, but before that, her aunt and uncle were only a few blocks away, so if they babysat, we would just pick her up on the way back home.
2007-02-12 04:05:54 · answer #4 · answered by mommyof2 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My daughter was about 3 months when we left her overnight with my husbands parents. It was really really hard! But after that first time, it got to be a lot easier and the phone calls to check in on her came less and less (still a lot but not every half hour like it was initially!). His parents only live about 20 minutes away so that was really reassuring because if I decided I couldn't handle it, my baby wasn't far away! Good luck!
2007-02-12 04:33:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
When you're a first time parent this can seem very scary...however not to worry, the key thing to remember is that everything will be alright! With my daughter (my first born) she was probably 4 months old before we left her overnight with my parents and eventhough I was a little worried and began to direct my own mother on how to take care of her, it was a WELL NEEDED AND DESERVED break! My parents live (roughly) 30 mins away. With my son he was only a month old when we left him with his aunt (my sister-n-law) and it wasn't bad at all. One good tip is to find someone (or a few someone's) in your family that you trust to be the designated overnighter sitters so that you will feel confident that they know what they're doing. Good Luck!
2007-02-12 04:14:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
"If you're breastfeeding, ideally you don't want to be away from your baby at all during the first few weeks until breastfeeding is well established,. After that, you can use a breast pump to express milk, and anyone you trust enough to care for your baby overnight can feed your baby from a bottle. Make sure your baby will take a bottle before you go. If you offer your baby a bottle and she refuses it, ask a family member or friend to try offering the bottle while you wait in another room. Many breastfed babies are more likely to take that first bottle if someone other than Mom offers it. A formula-fed baby can be left as soon as you feel comfortable leaving her. "This is a matter of personal preference,.
Of course some circumstances -- for example, medical emergencies -- might require you to leave your baby sooner than you'd prefer, but as long as your baby is with someone who is willing to get up to feed her in the middle of the night, she'll be fine in your absence.
Tip: Consider leaving a shirt you've worn with your baby -- she may find the smell of you comforting in your absence.
2007-02-12 03:45:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I left my daughter at 7 weeks with my mother for 2 nights. It was 90 minutes away. I was very worried at first and called a lot, but I trust my mother and I got the needed rest I deserved. So make sure it's with someone your wife will trust and they'll understand that she may keep calling to check up on the baby. It also helps if the person you leave the baby with has raised children before.
2007-02-12 03:46:46 · answer #8 · answered by LadyDeathStryke 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
When my son was born, now 8 years old we did not leave him with anyone overnight until he was almost 2. But now, with my daughter (now 17 months old) we left her at my parents (her grandparents) house when she was 6 months old for 8 days!! (We traveled from Florida to Colorado...so it was far)
I missed her like crazy but she was just fine!! And my parents enjoyed the time that was spent with her.
If you trust the people you are leaving her with then I would say do it. You need a break every once in a while. You will be thinking of her and missing her, but it is still good to get away.
Just try not to miss her so much you don't enjoy yourself, if you know you left her in good hands, then relax as much as possible and enjoy yourself. I think back on my eight day vacation and wish I had relaxed a little more and not worried about the kids so much. I hope this helps a little. :)
2007-02-12 03:44:32 · answer #9 · answered by Rebecca44 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
My mom lives 2 houses down, My son was 6 months old b/f he stayed overnight. and was 23 months old before he stayed there and we went away for the weekend for my hubby's work...5 hours away. I called like every 2 hours at first, then before the weekend was over it was just like 3 times a day. It is hard. I know she took really good care of him but he's been in my complete care his whole life and it was difficult for me to let go. I hope that helps.
2007-02-12 03:45:21 · answer #10 · answered by Who Me? 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋