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Original poster

Could you and your partner leave your 7 week old baby for a week?

185 replies

froggy3 · 07/02/2019 17:34

To go to an exotic resort on the other side of the world...partly business, partly holiday and leave your baby with another family member?

That's all there is too it. I'm not going into anymore details. Just wondering peoples opinions.

And no this is not me. I have my opinion on it....which is absolutely not.

OP posts:
BreakYourselfAgainstMyStones · 07/02/2019 17:37

I wasn't even out of my PJs by 7 weeks so I wouldn't.

I can't judge someone for it though. Pregnancy is stressful and they maybe just want a few days to get back to normal.

As long as the baby is being looked after by someone capable and appropriate then its really no huge deal is it?

greendale17 · 07/02/2019 17:37

No way in hell. I would completely judge a couple that did this.

Cornettoninja · 07/02/2019 17:38

I couldn’t. My partner could though.

Rockbird · 07/02/2019 17:40

Absolutely not. I guess DH could have done but unless it was essential I wouldn't have been very impressed.

crispysausagerolls · 07/02/2019 17:40

No no no no no!!!!

But I can’t leave my 7 month old for more than a few hours without missing him terribly so 🤷🏻‍♀️

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 07/02/2019 17:41

To go to an exotic resort on the other side of the world...partly business, partly holiday and leave your baby with another family member?

Yes, why not? Although is it worth it for a week? Any opportunity to put another weeks holiday on that?

Hiphopopotamous · 07/02/2019 17:42

I left mine for one night at that age (good friends child free wedding) - month leading up to it was full of pumping milk, trying bottles, getting upset about leaving him.
Was fine in the end, he stayed with my parents and had a good time, was very settled.

Neither of us would have managed a week!!

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 07/02/2019 17:42

Posted too soon - in seriousness - you would say anything to military personnel, oil rig workers, anyone with an overseas contract.

But the baby will be fine, it will have its needs met

Sciurus83 · 07/02/2019 17:42

Absolutely not, I feel funny if we're in different rooms!

CountFosco · 07/02/2019 17:43

I EBF so not possible. But DH could have without any harm coming to the baby. It's not really about the baby at that age, it's about how the parent feels about leaving them. Assuming they have the choice, there are plenty fathers who e.g. are deployed abroad and so aren't around however much they want to be.

Floralhousecoat · 07/02/2019 17:43

No way. That would be immensely distressing for the baby and should be distressing for the mother if she has bonded with baby. And of course, for the father who hasn't carried and birthed the baby, this is essential bonding period. I can't imagine why anyone would think this was ok. A holiday can be had at any point later on. It makes me feel distressed to think of a baby being left at that age.

MaFleur · 07/02/2019 17:43

I would take the baby with me, unless there was very good reason not to.

Nodancingshoes · 07/02/2019 17:43

Apparently my mum left me with my nan for a week when I was 12 weeks old. 7 weeks is pushing it a bit tho.... Personally, I still wouldn't leave mine at 12 and 8 for more than a weekend

Bryjam · 07/02/2019 17:43

I hope the new mum isn't on here reading this Sad

0lgaDaPolga · 07/02/2019 17:44

Personally no I wouldn’t but I wouldn’t judge anyone that wanted to

Karenoid · 07/02/2019 17:44

Does it matter? Not your child so not you business IMO.

Original poster
froggy3 · 07/02/2019 17:46

@crispysausagerolls I'm the same! My baby is 6 months now, the longest we have both been away from him is 1 hour 35 mins for dh bday. We planned to go to a nice restaurant but I got worried with how long the food would take to be served so we ended up going to our local Toby carvery all dressed up Grin

OP posts:
Bringbackthestripes · 07/02/2019 17:46

Nope, I couldn’t take my eyes off my IVF Baby for months I was so happy to be a mum.
But I do know someone who left their 8 week old IVF baby with parents to go off on their hols. Confused seemed odd to be TTC for so long then go through all that treatment just leave the baby the first chance they got.

GummyGoddess · 07/02/2019 17:46

Don't even want to leave my two year old so certainly not. It is upsetting to think of a baby being left in such a crucial attachment period. It will think mummy is dead and it has been abandoned.

Purpleartichoke · 07/02/2019 17:47

No. Not a chance. I’m a firm believer in the 4th trimester.

I could respect that my DH had to leave if he had a work obligation that he had absolutely no discretion over such as military service. Or perhaps we knowingly had him take a job that requires he be stationed away periodically because it was the only way to pay our bills. I’m thinking he works on an oil rig or something. But my husband has a regular boring office job and while it might hurt his career a bit, he absolutely can and has pushed back on travel that was poorly timed.

Original poster
froggy3 · 07/02/2019 17:47

@Karenoid never said it was. Just wondering wether other parents have/could. If anything I'm wondering if me and dh should try get out more to be honest

OP posts:
CountessVonBoobs · 07/02/2019 17:47

I think that is too long, and the baby is too small, to be apart from their primary attachment figure. But it's not going to cause clear and imminent harm, if any, so I would keep my mouth completely shut and stay out.

Summer23 · 07/02/2019 17:49

Wouldn’t have been possible for me as I EBF and would have missed them too much. I would take baby with me in these circumstances.

peachgreen · 07/02/2019 17:49

No. But I wouldn't judge anyone who did. Parenting is tough, we've all got to get through it in our own way.

zod1ac19 · 07/02/2019 17:50

I couldn’t but I do know a couple that left their six week old baby for a week to go skiing with friends. I was a bit shocked but think I did it well Confused

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