Taking baby out and about... opinion please?

[kateskates]

I have a three month old DS, we live in the Midlands, as do my parents, my DPs family live 2 hours away.
Since DS was born we have been to Visit DPs family twice, with one day or in London including in that as they live close by. We have also been to York for a weekend. We have a trip to Edinburgh booked for next weekend to celebrate our anniversary.
I've just got off the phone to my parents who said it was cruel of us to be taking DS out so often, he should be in the house, it's unfair on him, he gains nothing from these trips so it's all for mine and DPs benefit, we are not thinking of him.

He is the happiest, smiliest, loveliest little boy. He feeds beautifully, sleeps beautifully, is fit and healthy and so loved. AIBU in having weekends away and going out with him?

My DS is same age. He's happier out and about I think, I'm more relaxed and happier myself. He sleeps better in his sling. Why not?

My DM firmly believes that babies need to be taken out for a walk every day, and was quite concerned to hear that I’d been slacking off over winter (crap weather).

DS loves being out and about with new people and things to see. He loved the Oxford St Christmas lights. He loved seeing planes taking off from London City Airport. We’ve been away for a couple of weekends and, while he didn’t sleep well in a strange room, he had no issues at all about being dragged around Whitstable and Stockholm all day.

I did find that after 6 months he wasn’t as portable as he had been previously. He has stopped sleeping in the sling, and wants to get out and play every hour or so (both in sling and in buggy), which meant that trips out have to be either very short or need multiple stops for exercise breaks. No more long hikes with him in the sling, and Christmas shopping trips were a nightmare. I miss it, it was great to be able to park him in the sling and head out for the day. Made me much more confident as a new Mum to know that I still had the freedom to go on adventures with him.

Of course you’re doing these trips for your benefit. And what’s wrong with that? DS is three months old and doesn’t really care where he is as long as he’s safe, warm, fed, changed and cuddled. But they’re certainly not harmful or unfair to him!

Just you wait until 20 years down the line when your adult son tells you he hated being taken out at 3 months old and you really scarred him for life....... then your parents will be able to say they told you so!

My mother can be a bit like this. I don't drive and it took me a few months to get confident getting DD on and off public transport. When I did, DM started off by telling me that I was really brave (in a tone that clearly implied that she actually meant "foolhardy"), and then she started telling me regularly that she hoped I wasn't taking DD out today because I'd "wear myself out". Then she moved on to saying that I "mustn't" take DD to London because of terrorists and acid attacks and so on. I've come to the conclusion that she just wants me to be a bit dependent on her. She's the same if I start talking about meeting up with other mums - she starts putting obstacles in the way like telling me that other mums will judge me if DD has a bit of dribble rash.

So, no, I don't think YABU.

anxiousnewuser I hope our mums never meet and chat!

I think it's just old-fashioned thinking. When my second son was a baby I took him for a walk and a midwife stopped her car and told me I shouldn't have him out as he was less than a week old. I told her to mind her own business. Said son is now 27.

I brought mine out all the time,either that or i would go nuts in teh house.Happy Mum happy baby.