To think that parents should not go on holiday without their little ones.

[Wolliw]

I hear it again and again. "OH and I have a holiday booked six weeks after I'm due to give birth. Baby will be fine being passed around relatives."

It's a different kettle of fish when an older child loves spending a week with Grandma, but I often read about very young children being left with someone while their parents go on holiday. The underlying theme is that some people think they are entitled to dessert their small children in the same way as they get annual leave at work.

YABU, I do quite a lot of stuff (nights/days out weekends away) just me with friends/sister but me and dh hardly ever get time out alone as gps have only ever done the odd one off night. Am of those of you have this opportunity! My parents have made it quite clear than they will do the OCCASIONAL night but no more than that.

As a result in 3.5 years mine and dhs relationship has really suffered. We had a horrendous honeymoon (spent 5 days in hurricane shelter then trapped in Mexican hotel following a declared state of emergency in Mexico v scary) and despite my parents saying they'd have ddd so we could have a long weekened this has never transpired.

We have ds now too who's 5 months so it may be some time before we're together alone again for more than a few hours.

Anyone who leaves a child this young to go on holiday, has no business having kids at all.

BINGO!

6 weeks is a bit young for a holiday, but definitely not overnight - my 10 week old DD has spent the night at Nanas, every few weeks, and she's none the worse for it!

I wouldn't do it. As far as I'm concerned getting up overnight with a child isn't something I'd be at all happy expecting a grandparent to do. Parents or possibly a paid nanny, yes.

My PIL were here taking care of 2yo DS1 overnight while I was having DS2. DS1 never gets up in the night ever, but he has a lightshow he calls out to turn on every so often. I was absolutely mortified to find out after the event that my lovely MIL had had the monitor on really loud, and after he called out the first time, stayed awake most of the night in case.

In terms of going away for a holiday, can't see it happening really. Two children are really hard work and I wouldn't want to impose that on anyone. If either sets of grandparents were constantly offering to have either one or both of them overnight, I might then consider it, but there has been a definite lack of such offers, which is of course fine, and I certainly wouldn't ask anyone who hadn't offered as both sets of parents would probably feel they didn't want to say no.

Well I don't know about anyone else, but I am having children solely to pay for the flash nursing home.

I find it a bit odd that people think leaving a child with loving grandparents for a week is such an abhorrent thing to do. I went to Spain for a week when my DD was 2. She was looked after in her own home by my mum and dad (who have her 3 days a week anyway while I'm at work and have done since she was 6 months old.) It wasn't so much that I desperately wanted to get away from DD, more the fact that my friend wanted to go on holiday and I felt that DD was too young to really benefit form a week in Spain, I was worried about the flight and the heat etc and thought that DD would prefer a week being spoilt by her GPs (she did.)

The following year I went to Spain with my friend again for a week but this time I felt DD was old enough to really enjoy it so she came along (and loved it.) Later that same year my parents wanted to take DD to Devon for the week, DD is very close to her GPs and I knew she'd love it so of course I said yes. I missed her of course but she had a great time.

This year I am taking DD to Disneyland Paris at the end of this month and then to the Isle of Wight in April. My friend and I are considering a short break in New York at the end of the year. I don't think DD would particularly enjoy a holiday in New York so I expect I will be leaving her with my parents again.

I really don't see how leaving my DD for 7 days out of 365 once every couple of years makes me an unfit mother.

Always a pleasure to invite curryfreak and her helpful comments to any thread!

Le Queen... Encourage Veterinary science... quids in.

I am concerned that I am dull as I have never left my kids (well aside from hospital stays), for more than a late night... It isn't for want of trying, but I certainly couldn't leave a 6week old. Sometimes I do want a break, but also I kind of agree with peregrine, I have a long life ahead of me without cling-ons. Actually s DD nrs school age I am kind of grieving for what I have already missed (from PND).

Not an option here anyway... so the point is mute.

Fortunately I am a dull person, so likelihood is DC will grow to be equally so...