Would you leave your 11 month old for a holiday?

[reluctantlondoner]

Trying to gauge opinions. Would you leave an 11 month old for a holiday? I would be leaving them with grandparents who they see pretty regularly (1-2 per month for 1-3 days at a time due to distance). Baby is tiny now so hard for me to imagine leaving them ever. Grandparents have offered to allow us to have a break together before I go back to work and because we'd be going to a wedding whilst away which might be difficult with an 11 month old. We are going reasonably far away, to a different continent (8-10 hour journey), so could not get back very quickly if needed. Also, if you would leave them, how long for? For context, I am not sure about this at all but DH is keen. Thanks in advance.

Yes I will be doing it myself when baby is 12 months. Grandparents are excited and will be DH and I first child-free holiday in 3.5 years!

I breastfeed but I've been back at work already so baby is used to bottles of expressed milk. I've also had to be away for work trips although DH was there those times.

No I couldn't have.

I've done the Aus/UK flight numerous times and I've never thought of not taking dc.

It comes down to you, it's not about capable gp's, it's about whether you are happy with doing it.

No I wouldn’t. For an evening, maybe if I wasn’t bf. Overnight with someone who wasn’t my dh, no. We didn’t do overnights away until our eldest was 2, then only for a weekend. A long haul trip is just too far.

But you can just bring them with you and it’s not too much hassle if there’s two of you. Currently on holiday with my youngest one (9 months) by myself (so not even an extra set of hands to help) and we’re doing just fine.

No sorry, I wouldn't go, but that is a personal choice.
You should do what you feel comfortable with though.
I believe it is a very personal decision and people will always judge.
If you go away you will be judged.
I have never spent a night away from my kids in 11 years, people judge me for that.

Go. I had to go abroad for work for 3 days when DD3 was 12 months old. She was fine and well cared for by my DH. Contrary to popular Mumsnet opinion - you don't need to be permanently joined at the hip. Its hard to imagine by looking at her now but aged 11 months she will past new born needy stage and will probably be up and walking and fast approaching toddler stage. She could do a lot worse than being pampered by GPs for a few days. Your little one will be fine too. Mine didn't even notice I was gone and tbh I think missed her a lot more than she missed me.

She and I can confirm that at the grand old age of 23 the experience has not scarred her for life.

How long is the holiday? How many nights?

Why not, as long as they are ok with it and you are happy with their ability to cope. Yes it's hard leaving them, but to be honest it's harder still leaving them at home when they are supposedly adults!!!

I could do 2 nights max. I've been breastfeeding at 11 months with both of mine though so in reality it would be one night.

I should also point out that my current 11 month old wakes frequently during the night and can not be settled by anybody but me. I couldn't have predicted this when she was a newborn. If I'd booked a holiday for now I would have had to cancel.

Hamzilla yep mine went through exactly the same stage. It was really tough and draining and I think a mix of teething in there too.

I couldn't have left DS at that age. He was BF and refused to take a bottle and would only settle for me in the night so I would have felt guilt leaving the GPs to deal with it. I was desperate for a child free night though (still am!). It's tricky as you can't predict now how you and your DC will be.

No way, first time I left my dd overnight I went to Paris when she was two and I'm doing the same when she's almost 3 to go to Berlin.
Can't see myself leaving her for longer than overnight for a good while yet.

From around that age to 18 months they are starting to realise that they are a separate person to you which can make them really clingy. For this reason it's a difficult age to start daycare. I would t leave an 11month old, take them with you, they are still free on planes at this age.

I wouldn't/couldn't do it but I know a lot would and I don't think your baby would be traumatised.

It would depend on how long I'd need to be away for. I was still breastfeeding at 11 months and left dd overnight at that age. Engorged breasts and expressing wasn't much fun.

The distance you are travelling makes me vote no. You will be allow helpless in an emergency.
I also think seeing GPS 1-2x a month isn't that regular in my opinion.
Having some time to yourselves is great and I've left my baby (4months) numerous times.But I just wouldn't want to be so far from my baby.

No I wouldn't.

Personally I wouldn’t, even now my little one is 2 he is very much a mummy‘s boy and still wakes at night regularly, he will usually not settle for anyone but me (not even his Daddy) and will get extremely upset. Not every child is like this of course.

I think now mine are 4 and 2 I would consider leaving them for 1-2 nights (if DS2 wasn’t still so reliant on me at night). Another continent and longer than a weekend, no way.

But I know many others would so do what you think is right for you.

It's a no way from me. I expect baby will be fine but I don't think you'll want to when it comes to it. Working parents sometimes have no choice, but that's different.

Honestly it would be easier if they were a bit younger. At 11 mo that they do tend to go through a clingy phase. I personally wouldn’t but it is your choice. If you dont feel ready then you aren’t going to enjoy it.

I wouldn't even now and they are 10 and 14 let alone a small baby.
To me holidays etc are family time. You make sacrifices when you become parents. This is just be of them...

I wouldn't but I i was still breastfeeding mine at that age. And they both completely refused a bottle

I wouldn't but as per previous responses, everyone is different. There's no right or wrong answer.

To be honest, I don't like it when my ds is out of the country without me now, and he's 13! I've never left the country without him since he was born.

I went abroad to a hen weekend when my son was 6 days old. Your child will be fine, enjoy yourself!

I’d have done an overnight in the UK but wouldn’t have felt comfortable being so far away from her at that age.