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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take my 8 week old to London?

50 replies

meow1989 · 16/08/2018 10:07

Curious as to what other people think;

My DS IS 8 weeks old, formula fed generally about 2 hourly in the day, delightful and smiley. He tends to nap throughout morning and be awake in the afternoon and evening. He's not had his first jabs yet as they're happening next week.

It's my DM birthday on Saturday and my sister is planing on taking her to London for a wander round all of her old haunts and to meet with some friends. I'm thinking t would be nice to go and DH can have hjm for the day, but I'm not sure I want to be so far away from DS and not able to get back quickly (live about an hour from Kings across by train so longer after tube etc). I was planning on taking a sling and the pram and possibly using his rather than tube and I figure if we lived in London it's what we'd do anyway.

Both parents grew up in London. My DF thinks the pollution will be too high and it'll be too noisy, dirty and busy. DM is worried about there not being enough places to change and feed him and that he'll be bored walking all day.

So mumsnet jury what do you think WIBU taking him with me?

OP posts:
seventhgonickname · 16/08/2018 11:35

I think DD was 4 weeks when we went to London to visit relatives,we had a good small pram but doing carrying easier(had got a sling but did later and that was used all the time.)This was when I got the all you need for a day kit sorted to a bare minimum.
Have a lovely day.

FASH84 · 16/08/2018 11:38

It's definitely doable that isn't really the issue, but have you considered that maybe your DM and DS don't want to stop more regularly for feeds and changes, and want to be able to have a few glasses of wine etc, it is DMs birthday not yours, maybe she wants an adult day that's about her. Leave DC at home and do a London day with baby another time

serbska · 16/08/2018 11:42

I'd leave him with dad, it is good for dads to get one-on-one alone time with the babies to bond and get their own way of doing things.

RebelRogue · 16/08/2018 11:49

I'd leave him with dad. Maybe your mum is trying to politely suggest you don't take DS because she doesn't want her birthday to revolve around nappy changed,feeds,pram access etc.
You need to consider this more than wether London is doable with a baby.

WhatsGoingOnEh · 16/08/2018 11:49

I'd leave him with your DH.

Well, that's what I say now but it probably isn't what I'd have done at the time as I was super-protective... 🤣

Do you think your DH could manage? Then you can have a relaxed time with your Mum and Sister. No matter how smiley and adorable your son is, it still changes the dynamic when there's a baby there. You'll have to be responsible, careful, need to warm up his bottles...

Why not trust your DH can look after his own child, and go?

FrozenYogurt · 16/08/2018 11:56

I think you definitely could take the baby to London with you, but I'm with other PPs here - the issue is whether you should take him.

Why not leave him behind with his Dad, give them some daddy/son bonding time and you can have a baby-free day with your mum and sister.

I appreciate this might be the longest/furthest you will have been from your baby but it is equally important for your DH to have sole responsibilities sometimes. It shows you trust him, and a day on his own will allow him to find his own way with his son.

Also, as others have mentioned, it changes a relaxed mooch around London into a "scheduled/coordinated around the baby day" - not really what they have in mind I imagine!

IamPickleRick · 16/08/2018 11:59

Take both my under 2’s all the time, from that age. One in the sling and one in the pushchair. If you have a single buggy it’s easier as you can go up escalators (not advised but makes life easier) where as the double means I can only go through kings cross and have to walk a lot of the way. You could even drive and park somewhere, parking is not always extortionate if you look around.

AngkorWaat · 16/08/2018 12:00

We took our 4 month old for the weekend along with our older kids. It was great. Sling highly recommended though for tube etc.

Original poster
meow1989 · 16/08/2018 12:00

Oh, DH is more than capable and I've no worries about him looking after DS what so ever! It's more that I'll miss him!

to those asking about why I'm worried about London, I'm not, it was parents comments that made me question, hence why I posted Smile although to be fair, when we venture out we have the car so buses tubes and trains would be a new experience to navigate.

I don't think it's DM not wanting to have him along as she's besotted and I don't get a look ok in when she and Sister are around! "But fair points made, the day should absolutely be about her.

Seems to be a mix of opinions!

OP posts:
LaurieMarlow · 16/08/2018 12:03

Take him if you want to. At that age he'll be no trouble at all. I wouldn't bother with the pram though, slings are a lot easier if you can manage a whole day with one.

IamPickleRick · 16/08/2018 12:07

I see you are going through Kings Cross. Thats good - it’s usually no more difficult that being a single person with no kids, it’s very easy. I love taking them up there, have some lovely photos of my little ones sitting by the Thames on the South bank!

If your dad is worried about the noise - the kids bloody love it. The white noise sends them to sleep! Grin

Oysterbabe · 16/08/2018 12:08

There will come a day when you think "why the fuck didn't I grab onto every opportunity to have some child free time?"
You'll miss him but won't your DH also miss him? Don't hog him all to yourself.

ReevaDiva · 16/08/2018 12:11

I would leave him behind and let your mum have the grown-up day that originally planned. Being 'on duty' does make the day very different in tone.

He'll be there when you get back Smile

SquirmOfEels · 16/08/2018 13:52

You'll only miss him during the train journey (when you have time to think). It's not that long a time to be away, and I wouid go and have a few hours thinking about, and doing, other things.

But if you really don't want to, then I strongly recommend doing it with just sling. Much easier for all forms of public transport, and DMum and DSis can take turns at wearing him.

katand2kits · 16/08/2018 15:06

I wouldn't bother with the pram it will be a massive nuisance. Just a sling will be fine.

dueanotherchange · 16/08/2018 15:12

DD's first trip into London proper (we live in the 'burbs) was when she was four weeks old. She survived :) You'll be fine.

Thing is though, even though they're transportable at that age, it will be about him, and feeding him, and changing him (your Mum is wrong by the way, changing a baby in London is no problem at all) but since the day is about your Mum, I think it would be nicer to leave him with DH and go and enjoy the day that's about her.

And I say that as someone who didn't leave my PFB until she was 13 weeks and that was to go to the supermarket for 45 minutes :)

Bluelady · 16/08/2018 15:15

I'd let his dad have some time alone with him. Won't he miss him if you take him? I bet he already sees him a lot less than you.

IceCreamFace · 16/08/2018 15:19

As PP I wouldn't attempt the tube at rush hour but other than that I'd go for it!

Original poster
meow1989 · 16/08/2018 17:43

Re DH time with him: we're lucky enough he's been off/is off all summer so we've had pretty equal time with DSSmilehe's said he's happy either way- daddy day or a bit of down time by himself.

I think I'll chat to mum and see what she'd prefer and go from there.

OP posts:
ReevaDiva · 17/08/2018 10:16

Honestly I think asking your mum is a little sneaky. Is she really going to say 'no, you must leave my grandchild behind'? Probably not. She'll see you want her to say yes, so she'll say yes, and it will become a 'looking after a baby' day instead of a day about her.

OP, in the kindest way, you should make the call and make the right decision for your mum. Don't put it on someone else.

Original poster
meow1989 · 17/08/2018 12:53

It's all sorted, she laughed at the suggestion that she doesn't want to have him around but said again about worried it'll be too
Much with him. So he's going to have a daddy day whilst I go outand to make up for her not seeing him tomorrow we're going over tonight 😊

OP posts:
RebelRogue · 17/08/2018 13:15

Have fun !

thenorthernluce · 17/08/2018 13:24

It’s surprisingly easy to get around London with a newborn! People are so courteous and eager to help, especially at stairs, tube doorways etc. Now is a good time to come as London is friggin empty right now - seriously, everyone seems to be on holiday! If it isn’t raining, you can walk most places, and places to eat are super accommodating of prams etc, esp in the “yummy mummy” enclaves. Enjoy!

user1471426142 · 17/08/2018 14:29

In contrast to some of the other posters I hated taking my baby into London when she was small. I have lived and worked in London for years so I’m really used to it but I had a really primal reaction to the noise, air quality etc. Don’t know why really because I was expecting to have a lovely day but I hated it.

Neverender · 17/08/2018 15:23

I took my DD to London for the day when she was 19 days old and it was a great day out. Just avoid rush hour.

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