Leaving for a honeymoon

[Whulfc86]

We got married earlier this month but our honeymoon has not been planned until September. We have an 11 year old and 1 year old who would be staying with friends who are just like family while we are away for 6 days. Our friends will also have our part-time nanny available to help if they need it.

How do we make the time away as easy as possible on the 1 year? Regular facetime while we are gone or will that just confuse them? I'm starting to feel really guilty about going on a honeymoon at all :-/

I couldn't leave my 1 yo for that long.

Are you sure you want to?

We’ve left all of ours for that long at that age. They stayed with my mum.
We didn’t FaceTime, although we spoke to her to make sure everything was okay.
Have a lovely time!

Oh I couldn’t have left either of mine at that age and still have only done 2 nights with the eldest.

But I found that FaceTime made it worse when she’s been away for a night…. She got upset seeing us when she was otherwise having fun.

Everyone is different but I would say be sure you are comfortable leaving them. You won’t enjoy it if you are second guessing the whole time.

You didn’t ask but your post made me think, not sure I could do more than a couple of nights. No judgement, no one size fits all. But only do it if you are sure.

We had to leave my daughter for 6 days when she was 18 months old (my son had to have medical treatment abroad). She was absolutely fine. There wasn’t FaceTime then but I spoke to her on the phone a couple of times but literally for 2 mins before she ran off to watch Peppa Pig or whatever. She continued to go to nursery each day so I don’t think she was that bothered.

Not sure what you’re asking. If you don’t feel comfy doing it then don’t. No way I’d have left DD for a week at 1, I still wouldn’t. But if you want to then have a couple of trial runs beforehand? Obviously reciprocate if your friend would want to!

Please enjoy your honeymoon and don't let anyone guilt you! Your kids will be absolutely fine! You're lucky to have such good friends to care for them for 6 days.

Please have your childfree honeymoon and enjoy every moment. Your children will be absolutely fine with people they know well.

I left my son with my mum for several days when he was five months, he didn’t even notice I wasn’t there.

Thanks for the advice! I know we probably won't get a chance to have a child free trip for a long time. It only became a possibility when my friend offered to watch them for us as her wedding gift to us. I know they will be well taken care of I have no worries about that, just that I will miss them as I've never been away from the 1 year old for more than a few hours.

Have a lovely time! They will be fine. I left mine at about this age for 5 days and we didn't FaceTime, thinking it would just confuse and possibly upset her. It was all fine, she was happy.

Definitely try one night away soon and see how that goes.

I have had to travel for work when mine were little, sometimes for a good week. One tip I would give you is to always FaceTime in the mornings when they are fresh and happy to start the day, not before bedtime when it is bound to end in tears.

Child free couple time is so hard to get, grab this gift with both hands and enjoy. It's 6 days out of their life.

Maybe just phone or check in with your friends.

Have a great time

I could quite happily have left any of my non firstborn children at that age! With DS1 I was perhaps less jaded about what a slog parenting is 😂

I would definitely have an overnight test run though.

This is literally the best wedding present you couple possibly be given. Go. The baby will be totally fine. If you don't fancy it, I'll take those friends off your hands 😂

Still waiting for our honeymoon... Ds was 1 when we got married, he is nearly 11 now 🤦🏼‍♀️

Surely the horse has bolted