Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Solo night away - dh not happy

367 replies

Twosugarsplzz · 13/04/2026 22:02

Hello

I have an 11month baby boy. My mum has looked after him, one on one, a handful of times and had him overnight once (just a few weeks ago). He slept through (unusual!), ate all his dinner (again unusual!) And even let my mum brush his teeth. I was shocked but pleased. Anyway, two of my close friends are on annual leave and have asked if I fancied lunch at theirs in a few days time. I agreed. I checked if my mum could look after baby (as dh working) and she said yes. I would have taken baby but their flat is very small and they have a dog who i haven't met yet. My baby boy wants to crawl everywhere and I dont know this dog. My friends live near my mums house (i live an hour away from family and friends).
As mentioned, my mum said she would look after baby and then offered to take him overnight that same day too! I said no, I was only seeing friends for lunch. But then, after a few really bad sleepless nights, I thought, I could book a hotel and stay there while baby stays at my mums that night. She gets to spend time with grandson, she offered overnight, and I could catch up on sleep! I thought about asking dh to join but its too short notice for him to get time off work and then we'd have to think about what to do with our dog etc. I would have stayed at my mums but she lives in a flat and doesnt have much room. I would be sleeping on the couch. Or my mums room with my mum on the couch (i cant do that!).
So I was telling dh my idea of booking the hotel, room service, long bath, early night etc and he is really not happy. Told me its lazy and why am I desperate to get away from baby. I told him I am not and he told me I would be hitting the roof if other way around. I said damn right, cause you dont even do wake ups so yeah. He's now pissed at me.
We started talking again and he said he was taken back by my suggestion and he thinks its pretty selfish I would disappear to a hotel. He said I wanted a baby, as did he, so I dont get to just ditch him and go to a hotel whenever I like.
He is blowing this out of proportion but now I feel like shit. What would u do???

OP posts:
HazelMember · 14/04/2026 08:07

Ally886 · 14/04/2026 07:54

She's out for lunch and taking AL so assume he will be at work.

Go to the hotel OP. My DH used to tell me to go to a hotel or mums if I was getting overwhelmed. As much it it was seen as unkind at the time it certainly helped.

In the background he needs to step up. You both wanted the baby as you say, so he needs to be doing his bit else the baby ends up at your mum's more!

Is he at work all night too?

VanessaSanessa · 14/04/2026 07:58

Amiacoolorwarmcolour · 14/04/2026 07:34

I know this isn’t the point of the thread but your dh sounds fucking awful.
Unless he changes you will end up very u happy, or divorced.
Anyway, enjoy the time with your friends op and don’t lose your friendships.

This. I have the t-shirt.

Never supported me when I had our children to have any me time. Exact same narrative, you wanted them etc etc.

I got suffocated, now divorced.

He's not a good husband or partner and doesn't give a shit about your well being.

Nip this one OP or you'll end up very very unhappy and more trapped.

Elsvieta · 14/04/2026 07:56

Well I can see how he's concerned, at this early sign that his domestic service droid may be malfunctioning. I mean, what next? You might start making him do his fair share of childcare when you ARE home. Slippery slope.

Tell him to stop being daft, and go.

Ally886 · 14/04/2026 07:54

HazelMember · 14/04/2026 07:48

What is strange is why the baby needs to go to your mums. What is the point of 'D'H then?

She's out for lunch and taking AL so assume he will be at work.

Go to the hotel OP. My DH used to tell me to go to a hotel or mums if I was getting overwhelmed. As much it it was seen as unkind at the time it certainly helped.

In the background he needs to step up. You both wanted the baby as you say, so he needs to be doing his bit else the baby ends up at your mum's more!

arethereanyleftatall · 14/04/2026 07:54

Twosugarsplzz · 13/04/2026 23:20

I get what youre getting at. If he paid more or for everything then its cheeky for me to pay for an overnight. I wouldnt do that.
I sold my house before maternity which I had been renting out for quite a bit of time and got a v.good return. So I have still paid my way with bills and have put some in savings. My work also pay above statutory. Whilst its not amazing, it's way better than nothing. Ive always have premium bonds too and win a couple of 100 each month too!! I also saved a little maternity pot before going off which he thought was a waste but it means I dont need to feel bad or justify things like a hotel stay or if I want to spoil our baby when we go out.

I imagine that is the opposite of what that poster was getting at!! If you’re on maternity leave looking after your joint baby, he SHOULD be paying for all. And it still wouldn’t be ‘him’ paying, it’s ‘we’.

Theextraordinaryisintheordinary · 14/04/2026 07:52

My husband would encourage this.

HazelMember · 14/04/2026 07:48

Twosugarsplzz · 13/04/2026 22:19

I now know dh being a twat with comments
Most of my friends dont have kids so it did make me think, is it strange if baby goes to mums and I go to a hotel?? You lovely lot have shown me it isnt 😊

What is strange is why the baby needs to go to your mums. What is the point of 'D'H then?

Flowerlovinglady · 14/04/2026 07:46

Check the hotel has a bath, many don't these days!

Amiacoolorwarmcolour · 14/04/2026 07:34

I know this isn’t the point of the thread but your dh sounds fucking awful.
Unless he changes you will end up very u happy, or divorced.
Anyway, enjoy the time with your friends op and don’t lose your friendships.

CurlewKate · 14/04/2026 07:28

Mere1 · 14/04/2026 07:16

I agree with this.

Why?

MiniCoopers · 14/04/2026 07:26

My DS is a teen now but for the last 5 years or so I’ve gone away for 3/4 nights on my own. My DH found it weird at first but I needed the quiet time from everyone, home and work, and I’d come back energised and ready to tackle the next few months. I encourage DH to get away too and he prefers to go with friends which is fine but we have no local childcare so that was how we got our breaks. DH def found it weird at first (and some of my friends were very ‘what on your own??!?’) but when he realised I literally sit at a pool in the sun, read books and sleep and come home happier he’s been supportive of them ever since.

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 14/04/2026 07:22

Mere1 · 14/04/2026 07:16

I agree with this.

Because it saves her driving and she wants a bath.
I’m guessing a hotel feels like a nice treat.

Forestgreenblue · 14/04/2026 07:17

OMG go!!! Ignore your DH!!!

Mine are older now - teens - but I occasionally travel for work and even staying in a Premier Inn feels like a spa break sometimes!!! Bloody lovely having a bath and a full breakfast the next day that you’re not having to clean up after

Mere1 · 14/04/2026 07:16

Applecup · 13/04/2026 22:05

Not sure why you have to go to a hotel. Just have a good nights sleep at home.

I agree with this.

nomas · 14/04/2026 07:10

IdentityCris · 14/04/2026 00:19

As a matter of interest, do you think he would have reacted differently if you had put this to him on the basis that it would let you have some uninterrupted time together including time for sex? If so, it would show whether he genuinely thinks you're being lazy.

This sounds like a roundabout way of saying OP should be prioritising sex with her husband over a full nights sleep on her rare as hen’s teeth night off.

Summerhillsquare · 14/04/2026 07:07

And why isn't DH simply looking after baby while OP has a break? Let me guess, he has a very important job and simply can't be expected to parent his own kid.

He's training you OP.

CurlewKate · 14/04/2026 07:03

Can the people who say the OP shouldn’t have her night away explain why not? I don’t understand…

sidneytweeney · 14/04/2026 07:03

He’s a knob. Do it and enjoy yourself. Don’t give in to him or else you’ll be setting a precedent x

PretendToBeToastWithMe · 14/04/2026 07:02

OP, I had a poor sleeper and live very far from my mum. The first night she came to visit I hadn’t slept in 4 months. She sat up all night in the lounge holding my child and rocking her back to sleep immediately every time she stirred so that I could get a proper rest 🥹. Enjoy every minute, it will be bliss.

PretendToBeToastWithMe · 14/04/2026 06:58

ReadingSoManyThreads · 13/04/2026 23:14

I know it's not the point of the post, but you said about splitting the bills, did you do this whilst you were on maternity leave or did he cover everything whilst you weren't earning?

Even if she wasn’t earning via working outside the home whilst on maternity leave, it sounds like she has been looking after his child for nearly 24 hours/day. If she wasn’t doing it he’d have to do it himself or they would have to pay for childcare. Regardless of whether she is receiving a paycheck she deserves this break and rest if they can afford it together as a couple.

Sunshineclouds11 · 14/04/2026 06:55

Every mum needs a break at some point.
doesn’t make you a bad parent. We all need to recharge if and when we can.

enjoy your night away and I hope you have the best night!

TurnipsAndParsnips · 14/04/2026 06:51

Maybe he’d like to have the baby overnight on his own instead of the baby staying with your Mum. No? Thought not.

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 14/04/2026 06:50

sashh · 14/04/2026 06:49

It is selfish but there is nothing wrong with that. Many women, particularly mothers are so used to putting others first and men, like your DH are used to that too.

Book the hotel, enjoy your sleep.

Why is it selfish?

sashh · 14/04/2026 06:49

It is selfish but there is nothing wrong with that. Many women, particularly mothers are so used to putting others first and men, like your DH are used to that too.

Book the hotel, enjoy your sleep.

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 14/04/2026 06:47

Sounds amazing.
Part of the reason you need a break is because he doesn’t pull his weight. Don’t let him convince you otherwise.

Also, don’t let him guilt trip you. Wanting a night off from parental responsibilities doesn’t mean you don’t want your baby. Everyone is entitled to a break.