AIBU to have not left my DS for more than a couple of hours?

[Beesneeze82]

In the 8 months of his life I've only left my baby for a couple of hours at a time. When I have he's been looked after by his dad or grandparents. This means I haven't been on a night out, which doesn't bother me in the slightest. I've started to get a few comments though, am I unusual? Am I too clingy? He is breast fed and never had a bottle. I'm not anxious to leave him, I just don't want to!

I was the same - in fact, the furthest I ever got from DS in the first few months was about 30ft.
My mum had a real problem with it, telling me it was 'unhealthy' despite her reasoning being that she'd done exactly the same thing when DSis and I were small!

Tbh I didn't stay close because of any worries, just our circumstances. We have no nearby family, and nobody else I could have left him with, and I rarely needed to leave him with DH either as we spent our time together when he was off work. I only had mum friends locally, so no one who was keen to 'get me away from the baby' to socialise. DS was BF, I'm not a drinker and don't feel I'm missing out on anything.

I honestly don't see the problem with not leaving babies if you don't want or need to.
People will comment, but if it suits you then there's really no problem is there?

Nope, YANBU.
I didn't leave DS1 with anyone other than DH for the first 12 months of his life. And then I think the longest was 3hrs to get some clothes before going back to work, so at 11 months.
DS2 was left for 1-2 hrs from about 8 months - ie when he could reliably be fed food rather than bm.
It was horrid going back to work at 12 months.

What is the problem? I've got 2 well adjusted kids (well, lets just ignore the calls from school, but thats only this week, hopefully a blip), who are happy to leave me, but love Mummy cuddles.

My dd2 is 16 months old and I've only ever spent 1 night away from her and that was when I was having ds!!

The longest I've left ds for is 2 hours and I won't be leaving him again for a while yet!

I don't see it as odd, I know a few people who go out a few weeks after DC have been born and a few that have never left their DC for anything but essential things like medical appointments etc.

I only left our 11 month DD a couple of times with her dad. We're not bothered about nights out and we're happy to stay in or do things with our DD. She's just started nursery and is fine. She's a happy baby not clingy at all

I have a 5 week old and so far I have left him for one hour with his Dad. It's DH birthday next month and everyone is telling us to go out for the night, but I can't imagine doing that so we are planning Sunday lunch with friends instead so our DS can come along. I don't know how I'll feel in 3, 6 or 12 months time, but I can only say do what you feel happy with. If you don't want to leave him then don't be pressured to. My feeling is I've had many, many years of going out, dinners, meeting friends and it's just not my priority at the moment. DS is ;)

Didn't go out for a night with DS1 until he was a year old (we did bedtime routine and left him at 7:30 asleep). Until then, I'd only left him with DH for an hour or so while I had a driving lesson or had hair cut.

DS2 is 8 months and I have no plans to do any nighttime socialising at all in the near future.

I also got comments, usually after invites out with workmates, saying
' well, he's 5 months now so you'll be coming out' - think they all thought I was weird for staying in, but I'd had almost 2 decades of going out and doing what I wanted, I was ready to stay home and enjoy baby time :-)

Dirty and Ele, you've hit the nail on the head. I've had many a night out in the past and will again, but I'm just not bothered at the moment. I like being with and being there for my son, i'll have to leave him soon enough when I go back to work! Thanks for the reassuring posts people.