To take a 5 month old on a girls' weekend to Paris

[Patapouf]

Has anyone done this and has tips to make it less stressful? I know the baby will get nothing out of it but I am not ready to leave him at home with DH for 2 nights just yet and I'm desperate to make the most of mat leave.

Travelling by Eurostar, probably stay in an Airbnb. Planning a bit of sightseeing but mainly mooching about, sitting in cafés and stocking up on skincare and food or maybe not having seen the value of the pound

Friends will be hands on and help as much as they can but I'm very anxious that it will be disastrous. Baby is BF (not going well), but mostly EBM so worrying about the logistics of expressing or BF out and about. I also can't imagine trying to manoeuvre a pram on the narrow pavements. I know babies live in Paris, I did too once, but I'm a worrier.

Can I make this work? How can I pack light?

I suppose my AIBU should really be how can I be less nervous about travelling with a baby?

You really want it ALL don't you!

@exaltedwombat wtf does that even mean?!

I think the problem might be that at that age if you are stopping for food or coffee etc they want to be rocked stood up or are fussy in general, their routine being out or being in a strange place.

I’ve been many a place with all 3 of mine stood up rocking and walking about unable to join in because my baby is crying or fussing.

I took my young daughter to Paris for a weekend and it was hard work with a pushchair. Loads of steps everywhere. Lots of narrow tube barriers to negotiate. Small cafes with tables and chairs hard to get between. Wouldnt recommend it!

I would NOT take the baby - not very fair on your friends tbh!

Nope, not on a girls weekend. There is another parent at home...use that and go have time off!

Yes! Go for the day , or leave with husband .In my opinion you shouldn’t be going as very unfair on others who will have made complicated arrangements to be child free.

In my opinion you shouldn’t be going as very unfair on others who will have made complicated arrangements to be child free.

You mean those complicated arrangements to be child free that involve them not yet having children?

Pump milk and freeze. Your baby will be fine with the father. Or stay at home. Yes it's a bad idea.

Paris with a baby? Totally doable especially if end. Just plan to travel by bus as much as possible or take a baby carrier as well as pram. In the Eurostar try and ask for a square with an empty seat so you can put baby down for a nap. Pavement is not that narrow so you will be fine. Just try and find restaurants that are pram friendly (I am sure you can find that online) as that is usually the problem. The chain restaurants teens to have more room. Enjoy!

Totally agree. I work with children and if I was paying to go on a girlie weekend to Paris I’d be well peed off to find a baby there. If you don’t want to leave her don’t go

OMG FfS.. No way...

Not a baby friendly weekend at all. YABU to baby and friends.

I’ld say a trip is doable but I personally think shopping might be a nightmare, manoeuvring pram into shops, needing to go and find changing facilities, trying to concentrate on skin cream while you can hear baby waking up and demanding a feed. Sightseeing would probably be easier, baby can snooze in pram as you stroll through the museum and there will be cafes, loos and changing facilities on site. So a weekend of art and history!

Sorry OP I haven’t read the whole thread as it’s very long. I can totally understand you not wanting to leave your 5 month old, that’s a natural maternal instinct and bond. And well done for sticking with bf, it’s not easy! Just a few ideas, I have three children and have been overseas allot with them from babies to present ( 8,6 and 4).
I would 100% take a baby carrier ( such as an ergo), you can also bf with these so whilst out and about it’s allot more manageable and no pram. Use a backpack instead of baby changer type bag. European countries bf allot more relaxed and normal than the uk so try not to worry about having to bf around. You can bf tops which go over your neck and hang like a top but has a gap for you to look down and check baby is okay.
I think it will be lovely, not all girls holidays are about drinking. You will have a lovely time exploring Paris with your baby and friends. 😊

Personally I wouldn't. When DS1 was born, DH wasn't home much because of work. My parents offered to have him but I refused. DS was with me 24/7 until he was 6 months old. It made returning to work an absolute nightmare. He didn't settle into nursery for several months. Get your baby used to you not being there and make it easier on both of you. It also let's your DH have some quality time with his DC.

I would go without the baby because babies don't like travelling.
Why not mix breast and formula in a bottle like I did with both of my babies?
Dads love being able to feed their babies ..
It brings out a lovely side to men being the carer and nurturing the wee babes

OMG!!!
What a pile of crap!
Of course you can take your baby with you- your friends are happy and he’s your first kid that you’re still struggling with breast feeding.
For everyone saying the friends are just being polite well more fool them for not being honest.
I wouldn’t mind at all if I was going on a chilled city break and the focus was nice food and a catch up. If one of my friends was a new mum and anxious I’d be more than happy- surely I want my friends company ?
Bring your sling and pram. Ask where you’re booking if they have a travel cot.
Tommy Tippee does an excellent small travel steriliser or get sterilising bags.
Bearing in mind baby being 5months sterilising will be coming to an end anyway & you’ve given baby a great start with BFing anyway so he’ll have lots of brilliant immunity.
Be calm and remember if you forget anything you can buy it there .
Maybe have a chat with your friends and just be clear about what your plan B will be if wee man doesn’t co-operate.
But he will, travelling with any of my 3 at that age was always the easiest.
Babies are not burdens and can , quite nicely , be part of life as it was pre-child.

Babies don’t like travelling?????
No babies, esp EBF, don’t like being away from their mum. They want to be beside their constant.
I’ve never heard the like of it.
Only on mumsnet.

If you're determined to go with baby then travel light, buy baby things when you get there.

Make sure you have a separate room as you've said you want. Your friends are probably thinking a nice lie in with a cuddly baby during the day - they're not getting that with a 5 month old in the house! Especially if BF is still a problem (I would guess it won't be by November).

Be prepared to do all the night time stuff without help. It's fine for child less people to volunteer to do nappies etc during the day but they are unlikely to be happy doing it at night so that will fall to you.

Make sure they are fully aware of some of the things that may be difficult - getting a pram into a small cafe can be a nightmare so you'll have to get a sling or similar or your friends will be limited. It's possible they've got a very rosy impression of what a cute baby is likely to be like on holiday. If they meet the baby equivalent of Mr Hyde (which our DS managed to turn into on more than one occasion even though he was normally a sweetie) they may be in for a shock.

And don't assume you'll still feel like this in a month or so. DH suggested I had a weekend in London on my own around the time DS would have been 6 months old. I love art galleries and there was a jewellery exhibition on which I was really excited about. At the time (DS was 2 months old and had been ill at birth) I shunned the idea. Fast forward 4 months and there I was packing my bag, heading for a lovely hotel and waving DS and DH goodbye.

DH and DS had a great time - in fact they'd send me off every few months so they'd have some male bonding! DS used to love having his dad to himself when he was a toddler and I loved the freedom.

Just don't dismiss the idea out of hand - 3 months is a long time in a baby's life and you may feel more content with leaving him.

From a practical point of view,if left baby at home and if you want to continue breastfeeding, baby may not want to feed if you’re away for a long time (bottle preference). To ensure you don’t get mastitis and to ensue supply, you would need to express at regular intervals while away.

Have you ever been to Paris?
It’s a bad idea!
Leave baby with dad for goodness sake

Oops...girls weekend.
Ok, your Husband is capable, not lazy and yet you wont leave his baby with him. Yes, I agree a 5 month old breastfed baby needs his mum, but, then stay at home with your baby and don't ruin your friends getaway.
No matter how good a baby is, they are still demanding, care wise.

Erm she lived in Paris...I thought id tell you because OP will go nuts cause you clearly havnt read the FULL post 😂😂

I wouldn't do it.
I’ve lived in Paris and love it there. I took my daughter there for a weekend when she was 2. I found it really hard I get around with pushchair and also tricky to find cafes with high chairs and appropriate food for her to eat (as you could be weaning at 5 months).
Once my children were 4 or 5 it was a lot easier - save your money for then (hopefully the exchange rate will improve by then as well!).

I can’t read the whole thread - YABU. Don’t go or go without baby.