Holidays without baby?

[Grumpos]

Just wondering about people’s experience of holidaying without their young children....

When I say holiday I mean 4 days.

I’ve been dying to take my partner to NY, he’s massively into an American sport and NY would be fantastic - I’ve been once and loved it and would love to go back.

I am due in 5 weeks and realistically I know this side of the year isn’t going to happen (his bday is the end of the year) but perhaps April next year when the weather picks up in NY.

Baby would be 8 months roughly - has anyone else been fine with leaving baby with family for 4 days / nights (long haul - so not easy just to turn around and go home) or is this just unrealistic and I’m kidding myself?

I’d love to take baby of course but not sure NY would be suitable? Any expeince of a long wkend with a young baby in NY also welcome?

Thanks!

Who are you leaving baby with ?

I went away with friends when dd3 was 8 months as I needed the rest !

Do it if you can!

I would wait until the baby has arrived and you’ve gotten over the newborn stage before you make any plans OP. Having a baby is a huge, life altering, event and you don’t know yet how you both will react to it

I'm taking my 7 month DD to NY on Tuesday for 2 weeks! I wouldn't dream of leaving her at home and going away!

I know people who have but I couldn’t have. I don’t think you will know until your baby is here.

I would wait until the baby arrives and see how you feel tbh.

I would wait until the baby arrives and see how you feel tbh

Totally this

100% wait until baby is here, I thought like this when I was pregnant and now she's here the thought of even being 10 minutes away is hard, never mind hours and hours.

Obviously you are your own person and might love it, but I'd just not be able to enjoy myself at all and I'd feel really selfish (not saying you are, that's just how I'd feel) for going and it's a lot of money to spent to not enjoy it!

Would be difficult if you breastfeed.

With both my DC I would’ve been too exhausted to fly long haul anytime in the first 2 years, have a busy city break and deal with jet lag. Also had no childcare and anxiety!

DH and I had one night away, spa hotel within an hour’s drive, when DC1 was 1, on arrival DH fell asleep on a chair for 5 hours. Couldn’t wake him so went round spa alone, went for an early meal then I couldn’t stay awake and crashed out at 9pm! Pricey night for some sleep!

We left our 4 month old for 6 nights to go away with our toddler

Not sure I could have done that long with first born tho

8 months can be a tricky age as separation anxiety can kick in

I wouldn't plan until post birth

Absolutely nothing wrong with doing it but I have a 9mo and couldn't leave her for even one night at the moment let alone four in another country. I would wait and see how you feel once your baby is born, it's a big, big life change.

Realistically you won't know how you'll feel until you are over the newborn stage and settled into more of a 'routine'. And if you bf you'll need to take your pump with you!

A baby that young, no. 8 months is a tough age and unless you have a nanny or young family members who can cope with the lack of sleep and demanding days with a newly mobile baby, it would probably be quite hard. Our family has stayed with our dd from when she was maybe about 2-2.5 for an overnight or two nights. But even at 5, 4 days would be a struggle for them. She sleeps great now, but it’s exhausting and full on for them now that they are late 60s. Even 2 days would be tough now. We do plan to do a few weekends away again on our own when ds is older and no longer bf (currently 5 months), but we’d have to hire a nanny. There’s just realistically no one who could do it.

That said, you have a whole lifetime to do these things. It may not be realistic to do it when baby is 8 months, but when a bit older definitely. Of course, depends on the kind of baby you have and whether you even feel comfortable leaving them. You might feel very differently when they’re here. Weekends away together are amazing though. My dh and I have had maybe 3 of them (our dd is 5 now). It’s a rare luxury but wonderful.

My baby is 4 months and I got slammed on here for letting MIL have her overnight a few weeks ago, so I'd expect you'll get flamed for even considering it!

I would probably do it (and have been considering it) but 8 months is around about the time babies suffer with separation anxiety - for this reason I would book it last minute depending on how baby was with others, and how upset they become when you leave the room. I wouldn't want someone else to deal with my inconsolable baby who was only inconsolable because I went on holiday!

I’d say wait until the baby arrives before booking anything also.

Enjoy the trip if you do go, ( with it without the baby)

I actually think it's easier travelling with babies the younger they are as they sleep so much. Agree with PP who say wait until baby born to see how you feel.

I would take the baby. I wouldn't have wanted to leave mine for 4 days at 8 months. It was about 18 months when I first left him overnight!