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?

Been there, done that with a friend's baby. Bad idea 💡 personally I would stay at home

Do any of your friends have a baby? The French are pretty child friendly, but I can't think.of anything more diametrically opposite than a girl's weekend in Paris and a baby.I
The mum's of the group are probably desperate for child free time. The non mum's will be clueless. Either now out or leave the babysat home. Will do you good and prepare you for the end of your maternity leave.

Sorry about the x ...I forgot myself!

I really do feel like I'm drop feeding now but the trip will be with 2 close friends, who have spent a lot of time with DS. We have all been to Paris together before for a similar weekend. They are both teetotal and last time we went we were in bed by 9pm!

Now that I know I'm batshit does anyone have any helpful advice for how to travel with a baby?

Nope, don't do it Op. Leave DC with his Dad. Taking a baby on a girls weekend to Paris totally changes the dynamic. I would not be happy if I was one of the girlfriends, having the DC will kill any spontaneity.

Oh and DH is perfectly capable I just don't want to be parted from my PFB

I’m sorry but that sounds like madness. You’ll be out of action from 7pm or whenever your baby goes to bed as you’ll have to stay with him. I would have thought a large part of a ‘girls’ weekend’ is going to nice bars/eateries in the evening, which you won’t be able to do. Similarly, if you do insist on using a pram (I only ever used slings with mine in cities as tube/Metro is fucking impossible with prams) you won’t be able to get into any of those weeny little Parisian cafes without furniture being moved. The entire weekend will revolve around accommodating you and your baby which I really don’t think is the point.

I really think your friends are being polite to your face, but secretly hoping baby will stay home with your DH.

I wouldn’t take the baby. DH can cope for two days. It will be a good bonding experience for him. Just pump and freeze a stash of breast milk so he can feed the baby. Take your pump and pump and dump while away.
I had to leave my baby at 6mos for two weeks and did that, two days is a piece of cake.

have the friends got children or is it a case of playing mummies against a stylish back drop for sm pics ?

It's lovely that your friends are being so polite. But taking a small baby on a girls weekend would be selfish and impractical.

If you can't leave the baby with DH I would see that as a big deal on its own. How has he never learned to look after his own child? He needs to get his act together.

What about the evenings? I’d be very disappointed to go on a girls weekend to Paris if there wasn’t a lot of wine involved.

I don't think you should take your baby, totally changes the dynamics of the holiday, even if they say its OK, they don't mean it, I love kids, have 2 of my own and lots of friends have babies but I would not want to go away on a girls trip with any of the children, it's meant to be a break away for everyone, don't ruin that

Don't be daft!

and then some ...

Okay, I’m going to take you and your friends at face value and assume they really are okay with it.

I travelled with my five month old and it was the easiest trip I’ve done as a parent. They’re pretty easy at that age (staying where you put them, don’t need specific entertainment, etc) Ditch the pram, just take a good sling (ergo or similar). Small backpack instead of a change bag. Accept offers of help (eg people carrying bags at airport). Relax. Enjoy it.

I wouldn't go, Patapuff, you'll have other opportunities in the future but right now it's best to stay at home with your baby or go somewhere family friendly with him, not on a girls trip. The proposed girls mini break is not suitable for a baby.

I EBF with DC3 as she was prem and found my supply really started to wean around this point (after BF for 18months with older DC). Would you consider adding in a little formula while you're away for convenience/ to give yourself a break? Other than that sorry but not many tips, I found EBF to be the worst of both worlds ☹️

Your friends sound lovely but seriously, it sounds like a terrible idea. What if your baby is fussy the whole time out of the normal routine and environment? I am sure your DH can cope.

I wouldn’t do it, how would you coordinate being out all day/well into evening with a baby? Even if you have early nights are you still going to bring DS out to dinner for example?

I think it will be fine. Just don't take too much stuff, I tended to take things I didn't need and made my own life harder.

Main things to consider - where will baby sleep, what type of pushchair to take, how you will deal with feeding and nap times.

Even if they have said to bring the baby I wouldn't. It changes the dynamics completely.
Either postpone or leave the baby with DH and enjoy a relaxed weekend away

God it would be awful and ruin the trip I wouldn’t dream of it

If you've got two teetotal friends, who love early nights and are dying for you take the baby along I'm not really sure what you're worried about?

Your lovely friend was being polite and expected you to decline -
Please don't take the baby op.

I agree it’s selfish. A baby will be much happier at home with familiar surroundings and routine.