non existent social life!!

[nicg85]

Dd is 5 months and ebf from birth.
She's only had expressed milk in a bottle when she was 8 weeks old when I went to my Xmas party. Since then I've not left her for more than an hour.
She's in a good routine when it comes to bedtime but will only really settle in her crib for me and not DH.
She goes down about 8pm but will wake once or twice before settling for the night.

Friends keep inviting me on nights out and I keep turning them down.
Firstly because expressing takes ages to get a decent amount of milk and not sure if she will take the bottle now.
Secondly I want to be there to settle her to sleep.

To be honest I'm not really fussed about nights out yet. I know in a few months she will be sleeping through and I'll be able to have the odd night out.
I just feel bad letting friends down and wonder if I should start leaving her with DH or DM just so she is used to being without me.

What have other mums done when bf and going out/ leaving baby?

Thanks

[potatomama]

DS is on bf & formula & solids now, but when he was ebf (until 6 months) he just took a pre-made formula from a bottle when I left him. For months we only had the one bottle as we only needed one!
Breast may be best, but formula and bottles don't do any harm.

[dinodiva]

6 month old DD and still not left her for more than 2 hours. She won't take a bottle so not much I can do about it!

[KatyN]

If you aren't bothered then don't change it. If you find it tying them maybe try leaving her with other people. Friends etc will understand, can you invite them round to yours instead??
My son was totally happy to be left with anyone and I went out a few times, alas my daughter is a total mummy's girl so I'm rarely more than a metre away from her!! At 12 weeks I suspect it will be a while before it gets any further!!

[BuBu82]

There will be plenty of night outs when your dd is a bit older. She didn't ask to be born. Enjoy her the baby days and they don't last forever and your friends will understand. Either they've been thru it or will go thru it at some point. My ds is 3.5 and dd is 1.5, I exclusively bf both until they're 1 and put them both to sleep. I love kissing them goodnight and cuddling them to sleep. I'd rather do that than a night out any day. Plus by the time the "night out" starts, I am ready for bed! Lol. Keep doing what you're doing and don't feel bad. This is your moment x