To ask how old were you dc when you first went out out?

[Ahardmanisgoodtofind]

Annual night out is coming up and I've been called precious for not being sure if I'm going or not. I'll try and keep this short.
I go out (drinks,club/dancing)max 3 times a year. This is the only time this group of friends can get together, I've been organising for years and some have to book it off work a year in advance,we be local. Dd is ebf and will be nearly 6weeks old. I haven't bounced back. Dp will look after dcs. And will have to give formula to the baby, im worried if that will affect latch and how long will i be unable to feed for after drinking.
So how old were your babies/dc when you first went out? Do I need to get a grip and just Go?
failed at keeping it short

[NurNochKurzDieWeltRetten]

DH and I went out for a meal when my parents came down to meet DC1 when she was only a couple of weeks old (ebf but I left expressed milk). We were out about an hour and a half.

I enjoyed it but regretted it the moment I walked in the door when she was screaming and red and clearly had been in full blown screaming mode for some time, not just a bit grumpy/ fussy or anything... and my mother casually said they'd obviously had to leave her in the bouncy chair "making a bit of fuss" so they could eat their take away - for some reason I assumed that they, like me, would not leave her to cry and would hold her and take it in turns to eat or eat one handed if she cried when put down, like I did... since then my mother has outright denied they left her to cry, but she casually admitted it at the time when it hadn't crossed her mind anyone would do anything other than ignore a 14 day old screaming in a bouncy chair so they could eat a take away at a leisurely pace, even though they were only babysitting for a couple of hours max

After that I didn't leave DC1 til she was 6 months old (with DH), DC2 til 4 months old (no choice as I was admitted to hospital with bronchitis, wouldn't have otherwise) and DC3 at 5 months old with DH as I went back to working evenings, but only ever with DH. My kids started staying over with DH's parents at around 1, but we don't live near my parents and they've never babysat since that first time!

I haven't been out for drinking and clubbing since before having kids, but that's because I lost interest in doing that long before I even got pregnant the first time, it just doesn't hold any appeal any more. I went to a few hen nights but left early - its lost whatever dubious charm it once had.

I think you'd be fine leaving a 6 week old with DH as you're on the same page leaving to cry etc. wise, but you might get engorged or just be too knackered and not in the mood... I have no idea what you should do - you might regret cancelling and the evenings petering out and stopping happening, but equally you might still be very hormonal at 6 weeks and be exhausted, physically uncomfortable and not in the mood at all...

[TracyBarlow]

With number one I don't remember. At least a year old and even then it was prob only for a few hours. With no 2 I went to my best mates hen do when he was 7 mo. H stayed in a hotel nearby and I had to pop back to feed several times. No 3 is 6 months and I've not been out yet.

All mine just fed too frequently and I CBA with bottles / expressing and all that stuff.

[Lurkedforever1]

About 5 weeks and went out early evening till 3am. I expressed beforehand and dd had no latching issues and for the week before was happy being fed breast or bottle. And didn't need the comfort of the breast to get back to sleep as a general rule, just the feed. I just had a few drinks so if she did break from the rule and needed bf in the night I could have come home and done it.

[Ahardmanisgoodtofind]

I think my plan is to go fairly late, so both dcs will be fed and settling before bed, have a couple of drinks and head home by 11.if I feel like it on the day.I know dp will call/collect if heShe needs Me.all depending how I feel on the day.dp is working away that week so I may feel too tired,or just might not be able to actually leave her when push comes to shove.

[fourtothedozen]

"out" as you describe it- drinks, club, dancing- then I'm still waiting and my first born has a beard.

I have socialised a lot since DC were born usually with the family, but a boozy evening dancing in a nightclub doesn't appeal.

[merrygoround51]

Went out for a quick meal at a few weeks old but I must say I really resented the whole 'oh you must go out attitude' as I felt that put me under more pressure.

I equally dont understand that whole idea of having a 4 year old you have never once left, that is not exactly fostering an independent spirit!

[ArriettyMatilda]

Dd was 14 months old before I went out out. She'd never take a bottle and I still haven't left her overnight. I am not even sure I'd leave her over night now at 19 months. We co sleep for half of the night and if dp tries to comfort her she screams. I'd happily leave her all day though, especially with dp as there's plenty more for her to eat, drink and do in the day.

I personally couldn't have left her at 6 weeks, so don't feel bad of you decide to miss this one. It's your decision and I don't think leaving a bf baby is quite the same as leaving a ff one, although they would both miss their Mums equally!

[CeCeBloomer]

10 weeks, wedding anniversary dinner, out for two hours and she had 8oz of expressed milk for parents, it was fine but I don't drink so didn't have to worry about feeding after

[Luckystar1]

DS is 9 months we still haven't gone out . But DH doesn't drink, I can't deal with hangovers and we have no grandparents nearby to help. DS is still ebf and I'm in no rush to go out tbh! I'm totally rock and roll!

[fourtothedozen]

Having a breastfed baby was a brilliant excuse to avoid "nights out".