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Parenting

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Original poster

when did you let others babysit?

33 replies

DizzyKipper · 05/07/2012 13:56

Hi all,

I was just wondering at what age you started to let others babysit your child/ren? Particularly if they were breastfed. Got a 2 week old and lots of the family mentioned casually about wanting to babysit when they met her, not had anyone get pushy yet but I know it's just a matter of time before some of them start to get a bit louder about it. I'd just like to know whether there is any 'norm' on age before you allowed others to start babysitting.

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Pootles2010 · 05/07/2012 13:59

Um less than a week, but that was because I needed to get out. He was bf, it went fine.

Original poster

DizzyKipper · 05/07/2012 14:00

Oh just in case it sounded like it, I'm of course not even thinking of letting my breastfed 2 week old be babysat - I don't even express yet and she feeds like crazy, I don't think they'd like it!

OP posts:

HeffalumpsAndWoozles · 05/07/2012 14:03

We first went out when DD was about 5 weeks, it was DHs birthday so thought it would be a good start. DD was BF too so I fed her just before leaving and left her with my DM and some expressed milk just in case, then we legged it into town had a lovely meal and legged it back within 2 hours because I got all stupid worried. She was, of course, fine but it took a good few small trips like that before I got used to it, and the time constraints of BF made it a bit difficult but we thought it was important to try where possible for a tiny bit of occasional time just the two of us. Needless to say DH was, and still is, better at it than me!

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Original poster

DizzyKipper · 05/07/2012 14:03

sorry xpost, I have had to leave her a few times with DH, but have made those journeys very quick and now geared myself up for taking her out alone if/when I need to.

OP posts:

Francagoestohollywood · 05/07/2012 14:10

We left our breastfed first born for the first time when he was about 6 weeks. We left him with both sets of grandparents and went out with friends for a pizza.

LoonyRationalist · 05/07/2012 14:14

Erm 5.1 for DD1 and 2.10 for DD2

By the time I was ready to leave DD1 I had DD2 so wasn't necessary IYSWIM.

I admit however that I am extreme when it comes to leaving them.

The answer however, is when you feel comfortable, not when someone else wants to do it.

LoonyRationalist · 05/07/2012 14:15

BTW I'm not counting leaving them with DH - that is not babysitting!!

birdofthenorth · 05/07/2012 14:30

PFB, bf, was 5 months when I left her with GP for the evening. She wouldn't take a bottle before then, expressed or otherwise. I left in tears & was nervous all night but she was absolutely fine.

fhdl34 · 05/07/2012 14:52

I think DD was about 4wks when I left her with MIL and SIL and that was for a doctors appt so was only gone 30mins. They walked her round town and she slept and I panicked the whole time

lola88 · 05/07/2012 16:18

3 weeks over night with my mum was a wreck but i needed to sleep and mum lives 5 mins walk away went great and brill to have a break. If it feels ok to you then it is ok

rrreow · 05/07/2012 16:57

Probably about 4 or 6 weeks old and then only for the amount of time we could go between breastfeeds (so about 2-3 hours). And this was with my sister in law sitting who was also looking after DS for a few hours during the day while I worked (from home), so we knew he was used to her and wouldn't be distressed by us being away.

madwomanintheattic · 05/07/2012 17:09

Whenever anyone was brave enough. In reality, from about 6 weeks with dd1 and ds1 (although I got called back a lot with ds1, ebf and a pita, tbh). Later with dd2, because she didn't get out of scbu until 5 weeks, and she was quite, um, testy. Certainly by three months I was back at work for the weekends and leaving her with dh from Friday lunchtime until Sunday night, though.

Evenings out aren't too tricky. I was just always prepared to go back if the sitter called. Ds1 was in daycare at a ski resort at 10 weeks. they just paged me if he needed feeding.

Snowgirl1 · 05/07/2012 23:27

Our bf DD was babysat for the 1st time at 14 weeks by my Dad and his wife, not sure it would've worked before that age as she cluster fed in the evenings.

Rubirosa · 05/07/2012 23:33

First left ds for an evening at 8 weeks - in retrospect it was too early and I wouldn't let myself be pushed into it again.

My 5-6 months I was very happy for him to be babysat though, and at 6 months he stayed overnight with my mum.

Original poster

DizzyKipper · 06/07/2012 11:50

Thanks all for the responses, turns out bf babies were being baby sat much earlier than me or DH were thinking, though not sure I'd feel comfortable letting her go too soon. Will just see what happens and when we're both comfortable with it I guess.

OP posts:

k2togm1 · 06/07/2012 22:17

When ds was about 11mo, and only for an hours !!

HarderToKidnap · 06/07/2012 22:23

First left EBF DS at about five weeks with MIL whilst I went for a haircut, so two hours or so. First overnight was at 6.5months with my mum.

happy2bhomely · 06/07/2012 22:36

PFB was 8 weeks, but only for 2hrs with my mum. I hated being away from him and he was 3 before I left him with ANYONE again. Not even DH. I was 17 when I had him and was determined to show everyone I was a proper mum. Silly really.

DS4 was EBF and I left him at maybe 8 months with DH. He was 18 months before I left him for an evening with MIL.

Alabama100 · 07/07/2012 09:06

I went to the doctors for 25 mis when dd was 8 weeks old and left with my sister, then the dentist was she was 10 weeks old and left ith my mum. Other than that I've not left her yet - she's 7 months and 3 weeks. She's styling with daffy for 5 hours today though for the first time.

Alabama100 · 07/07/2012 09:06

That's daddy not daffy.

BartletForAmerica · 07/07/2012 12:57

About 3 months.

I fed DS just before we left and knew he was normally fine until 10pm, so went out to a restaurant about 20 mins walk away, having left EBM and a Doidy cup in the fridge.

nethunsreject · 07/07/2012 13:01

DO it when you feel it is right. Don't be pressurised to do it too soon, or to put it off if you feel it is right.

Personally, I didn't want to be apart from my kids when they were babies - one was ffed, one bfed - but once they got to the toddler stage, I was only to happy to have someone take them out Unfotunately people are less keen then!

Ambi · 07/07/2012 13:08

5 days We went to a Xmas do, DM came round while we went out. I expressed which was hard as it was only colostrum.

CotedePablo · 07/07/2012 13:54

I left all of mine with my Mum within days of birth. All were BF, so I just made sure I was back in time for the next feed. I didn't worry a bit, because my Mum was The World's Greatest Mother. I just wish I was half as good.

juneau · 07/07/2012 14:15

The first time I left DS1 was at five weeks old. It was my birthday and my sister babysat. I'd pumped loads of milk in advance and he fed practically the entire time I was out! I think I was only gone for about 3 hours in total, but that was enough for both of us.

With DS2 I didn't leave him until he was going to sleep reliably in the evening and staying asleep. DH and I went out for dinner and left him (and DS1) with my mother. He was at least 6 months old, but that's partly because we don't live near family. I'd have probably done it sooner otherwise.

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