To take DS to a family party and stay lateish?

[CreamOfTomatoSoup]

We are currently planning MIL's 60th Bday party. The plan is a boat trip from 3-6pm and then a meal in a restaurant (probably hiring a separate room because there will be about 30 people). DS will be about 11 months old. Currently he is 6 months old and goes to bed at about 7pm. From about 6 45 he gets really arsey and screams until he is put to bed. So how can I take him to this party? If I took him and left him to snooze in the corner do you think this would work? I think MIL would be ever so disappointed if I took him home after the boat trip (also I don't want to miss a party!). The restaurant is a 20 minute bus ride + 10 min walk from home.
AIBU to take him? WWYD?

Ours was regularly out at events at this age, she'd still have "bedtime" but would be put to sleep in her pushchair instead.

If you think he will sleep then take him. If you think he will be miserable and grizzly and screaming then there is no point in taking him.

I wouldn't, but then my DD won't sleep anywhere but her cot or car seat. Since we moved her into the pushchair from the carry cot at 6 months she has slept a grand total of 2 times in the last 3 months in the pushchair whilst walking. She would scream the place down. It would not be good.

I think wait and decide nearer the time. There is a big difference between 6 months and 11 months so anything you base your decision on now may not be valid in 5 months time.

My dd was a proper little walking toddler by 11 months, she would have loved the excitement and probably would have been okay to stay up late if she had napped in the day. There is no way she would have slept though.

Take him! Just bring a buggy with you and when he's tired just take him for a little walk until he goes to sleep and then put him in the Corner and enjoy the party.

Depends what he is like - my ds would never just flake out in his buggy so we would have had to have left him BUT if you think you will be able to settle him and he wills sleep in the buggy then take him.

It depends totally on the personality of you, your baby, and the rest of the family. I took mine to a lot of family parties when he was tiny. If he got tired and grumpy, MIL would rock him to sleep for me, and it was never an issue, (I have one of those rare lovely MIL's!) so if you think it would work, go for it!

Whereas my baby would just scream and scream and never go to sleep and made it really hard to go to family get togethers - he makes up for it now by being a great sleeper

N0t - it sounds like you are a lovely rare DIL - one that will actually let her MIL be involved with her DGC!

take him i took ds everywhere with me (well nearly)

it was easier when he was little so make the most of it. if you have your buggy can pop him in there when he falls asleep. i have a picture of ds asleep on a cushion at the edge of the dance floor along with 3 other little children at a wedding

take a buggy and something dark to drape over it to imitate a dark room.

bus ride and walk? would he fall asleep in the pushchair?

I would leave him with a babysitter.

By getting arsey at 6.45, he is telling you how important his sleep routine is to him. i would listen, as neither he nor you will enjoy.

I've always taken DS to these things. I don't see why they can only be at specifically childfriendly events. He either stays up & party's or crashes out in his buggy.

Having said that, in 5 months time you might feel completely different about leaving him with a babysitter and could be glad to have a child free evening. As others have said, I 'd leave it a few months before deciding anything,

When DS was small I also took him to everything (obviously if he was allowed). He loved it. If tired I'd just take him out of the venue and wheel him around a bit until he fell asleep.