AIBU to take 3 week old baby out for NYE dinner?

[Imtootired]

My baby is due first week in December. My friend asked if I’d like to do something NYE and I said I’d like to but not sure what I will be able to do with baby. She has found a nice restaurant in the city that has private rooms if you have over a certain amount of people and spend enough. I think she’s already got enough numbers for that so it wouldn’t be the end of the world if I do have to cancel. Obviously I have no idea how my baby will be but if everything is good I wonder if I should take a baby so young out, especially in the evening on such a busy night. There is room for the pram and we can turn the speakers in there off or down so it’s not too loud. None of our friends cause trouble or drink much at all. Although 10+ people in a room might be quite loud anyway. And my main concern is going through the city with such a small baby in a pram when it’s so crowded and there might be a lot of drunk, crazy people around. What do you think?

I really wouldn’t. You don’t know how you will be feeling, you maybe trying to establish a feeding routine, etc. There will be other opportunities to do things.

Good luck with your new bsby

What a wonderful,and legitimate excuse to avoid that awful,boozy, loud event. Enjoy your new baby,welcoming her/him into the new year with gentle ,peaceful celebration.

At 3 weeks old I was just grateful if baby was asleep never mind traipsing about to what could well be a drunken rabble in middle of night and possibly very cold weather. Stay at home.

I'm not so much worried about your new baby - congratulations in advance btw 🥰 - but how YOU will be be feeling so close after having a baby?!
I had my 3rd back in Feb and it took me over a month to thoroughly recover 😬 and be able to sit properly!
You may also find your just too tired.
If I were you; I'd play it by ear. See how you feel.
If shes a good friend; she wont mind you cancelling bc you just need more time.

My eldest son was born early Dec in HK and we took him out on NYE and many other nights in the newborn days. He slept the whole time! I’d say make the most of it while you can! But good to have an out in case you and / or baby are not up to it on the day.

I would say baby may not be in a routine and you may not feel yourself body wise.

Lol no way! Stay at home and enjoy your baby 🥰

It's New Years Eve. The other diners won't thank you, your friend won't thank you, your baby won't thank you. I'm all for believing that babies are pretty portable and you want to be yourself even when you become a parent, but you don't know how your labour will be, or who your baby will be. Keep it simple, stay home cuddle your family. You have many NYEs ahead. You will only get those early weeks with that little person once. Enjoy them.

Twinkledag. Lol no way! Made me larf 😂

A relative of mine brought their 2 week old to our wedding, he slept happily under the table and was no problem at all so as far as bringing a new born to an event I'd say it's possible. But the problem is that you are going at NYE in a city centre, if you had to leave early what provision could you make to get home safely let alone walk through the streets on that night.

I think you would be mad TBH.

You may be overdue (very likely for 1st) and you will be sleep deprived and still in maternity clothes not to mention your baby will have zero immunity at that age... what if someone has a stinking cold or flu?

Honestly it is a no from me.

This made me laugh. I was still sitting on my 'special pillow' when my first born was three weeks old. The restaurant will be noisy. Also I would be worried that a drunken person would fall over near or on the baby.
Your life will forever be different and you won't be able to do the things you used to. The preparation needed to leave the house is lengthy and just as you are about to leave the baby will poo or puke and you have to start again. Then that took so long it'll almost be time for their feed. So what's the point of leaving because they'll be screaming their head off after a few minutes of being out of the house. Also you might have been up all night because of the baby, so probably won't be able to get your own shit together, or want to. I wonder if your friends could get together at someone's house instead?

NYE is loathsome normally, and that is without a 3 week old in tow.

OP, I would imagine being tucked up, post birth, with your newborn will be the only way you will want to spend your New years eve.

I remember managing to get out for a girlie night with my then 3 week old. Managed to get dressed up, got to the house, the baby wanted feeding so off I go upstairs on my own for what felt like hours!!! Came down to attempt to join the fun and the baby pukes all over me and a newly renovated floor, grossed out my friend with the idea of wiping up regurgitated breast milk and at that point I say “right, I’ll be off then!!!” Don’t do it OP- it really isn’t worth the trauma!! Those little pesky things give you too many variables to be able to plan!! Enjoy your special time together and lots of luck. X

I’ve not read the whole thread so this could well be a repeat. The baby would probably be fine as they tend to sleep and eat at that point and couldn’t give a damn where they are so long as they’re on a parent. however, you may not be. At 3 weeks my kids have been professional eaters and we’re utter rubbish at sleeping off a human (so I was nackered), especially as one had a tongue tie (sore boobs etc). Even with no stitches this time round, I still had lochia so was waddling round with massive pads. First born- a bunch of stitches (and that’s with 2 total doddle natural births). I’d take it easy on yourself and give yourself a massive out. There is no harm in watching the telly on nye or even going to bed early.

Pumping isn’t recommended for the first 6 weeks as it can affect supply too. That’s if you find it easy. I don’t. It would take me days to build up enough spare milk to cover a feed. This is worth a look though if you need pumping resources. kellymom.com/mother2mother/what-to-expect-when-pumping/

This must be your first child to even entertain the idea of it.
So many noes here.
The noise. Think about the stress th baby is going to be under just because of the noise.
The baby may not be 3 weeks old but 1 or 2. Babies this age have colics - they can come for hours.
They need to be fed every 2-3 hours and the feeding lasts anything from 15 minutes to 45. You need a calm environment to do that and somewhere to sit comfortably. If you breastfeed it's even more demanding. If bottle feeding - you need sterile bottles and right temperature of milk.
The babies need to be changed possibly before/after each feeding. You need a comfortable and safe place to do that, a restaurant's toilet won't cut it.
You might leak milk - you'll feel like you need a clothes change every now and then.
I can go on and on and on.
The only way to attend this party is to leave baby at home with someone you trust so you won't feel bad about it (but you still most probably would).
So all in all - I wouldn't advise it and it's near to impossible anyway.
Good luck with the arrival of your baby!

It’s not unreasonable but for all the reasons outlined above you will find it really tough. So not unreasonable but realistically improbable. Hope all goes well x

Good grief! My first daughter was less than a week old when her Grandad turned 60, we had a room booked for his party and everyone made a big fuss of her (and me) if your friend is OK with the possibility you may drop out last minute depending on how you both feel, I'd definitely go. It'll be fine (despite the pearl clutching on here 🤦‍♂️)

I think exactly the opposite! Yes, go!
Doing things with a newborn is soooo much easier than an older baby or toddled. We went out for a meal with a large group of friends when our DS was a week old and it was so easy. He just wanted feeding or sleeping. I left the feeding to his Dad and made the most of my first night out post birth with lots of fizz!
We attempted a NYE meal when he was a toddler and it was a nightmare! He was noisy, bored and difficult to entertain.
Do everything you want to do while they are young and easy!!

The replies here are very overdramatic... only you will know at the time wether it's okay for you to go or not. At that age they're still very sleepy and are unlikely to be much of a problem. Not all births are horrific - I was up and about a few days after mine and that was with stitches and a 26 hour labour. By the time my DD was three weeks old I had been out to eat a couple of times and had been out Christmas shopping. Obviously if you do have a traumatic birth and long recovery you'll probably prefer to be resting at home, but if not and you feel comfortable going then I don't see why there would be a problem. Just arrange a lift back or book a cab as it will be busy late at night.

OMG no no no

I think it would depend on your 'escape ootions' I took my 9 day old to a very large 40th birthday do after a c section. He was absolutely fine although I did do the pfb thing of making people sanatise their hands before cuddling since there were so many people there. I was breast feeding which was very painful in the early days but there was a quiet room I could use, you might want to consider that. However I knew if things didn't go to plan I had a half hour cars journey to the place I was staying and a dh to pack up pushchair into car and drive. Good luck xx

And there was me feeling brave because I'd made it to the shops 3 weeks later 🤪

Yes. The baby can come late. My first was 42 weeks and I think I didn't even leave the house in the first two weeks. Massive swollen breasts, tears stitches still healing. I lived in my dressing gown exhausted from lack of sleep from waking up every other hour to breastfeed. Can not even imagine going to a party in that state. But I am sure some people can do it

I took my baby in a sling about 2.5 weeks to a party. Depends totally on how you feel and what kind of event it is. With my first I couldn't as I wasn't very confident feeding, but with second we were in the swing of bf by two weeks. Silly to miss out when they are at their most portable if you want to go (assuming all is well with you health wise).