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Is it okay to leave my very non sleeping/milk drinkng 1 year old with my sister for the night?

4 replies

goodname · 31/05/2011 11:43

So my baby (just turned 1) does not sleep well. He likes to sleep in bed with us and he likes to have milk (from me) several times. We have been trying over the past couple of weeks to be more proactive, letting him cry himself to sleep in his cot which is reight next to our bed still (DH stays in room with him til he sleeps). However when he has woken up a couple of times in the night we tend to give up and bring him into bed (anything for some sleep).
It is our wedding anniversary on Sat and my sister wants us to leave baby with her so we can have night away. I am nervous about this as he has never gone this long without milk before and have never left him over night. Also think this may be harder work for my sis than she realises! Am I being stupid or is it really cruel to leave him? I know this is a bit OTT but worried about traumatising him?
PLEASE HELP!

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thaigreencurry · 31/05/2011 11:50

I think you will probably spend so much time stressing about him that you won't actually enjoy yourself. I would just go out for the evening and leave the night away until he is more settled.

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goodname · 31/05/2011 11:54

Hmm I think this myself but my Sister is very insistent!

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heliotrope · 31/05/2011 12:08

Personally I wouldn't do this when he is used to having you there and having milk. We do similar with 11mo old, I think we're gradually getting there with him now making it through to early hours in cot, but usually ending up back in for bf and going back to sleep in our bed for a while.

I don't think it will traumatise him if you do it, if he knows your sister etc, could have a drink from a cup in morning / will survive without milk overnight, also I think they know by this age to expect different things from different people - in a way it might be easier for her to sleep train him than you!

But if it was me I would feel bad and probably stress the whole time that he will miss you and won't understand where you've gone. I would go out for an evening instead and hold her to the babysitting 'token' later when he doesn't expect to be breastfed in night.

I'm a big softie though which is prob why i'm still feeding mine at night too!

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goodname · 31/05/2011 12:34

Glad I am not the only softie. Was thinking everyone would think I was crazy, as my whole family seem to think I am!