How soon is too soon to leave baby?

[purplegal]

My friends who have children told me I'd never get time to have my nails or hair done again or have anytime whilst at home to do anything. I have a three week old and he is a really easy baby thus far (not expecting this to last!) he doesn't cry much, sleeps lots and is happy entertaining himself on his play gym for ages at a time. I make sure I spend a good chunk of the day doing baby sensory, massage and having skin on skin time but I also get plenty of time to do chores etc. As he was a little earlier than planned and I didn't get any mat leave before he arrived, I would love to get my hair done (one of my unfulfilled pre baby tasks!) - would I be a bad mum for leaving him with my DH with expressed milk for 4 hours next week to get my hair done? I appreciate it's a first world dilemma and my hair really doesn't matter too much. I just wondered what other peoples opinions were on leaving a newborn for a short while. TIA!

Of course you can! I always managed a shower and got stuff done, even with two under two. And yes got a haircut as well - though I probably took baby with me.

I left to get my hair done (took 4 hours overall) when my baby was 4 weeks old. My husband felt comfortable to feed her from bottle. I started to go back to pilates from week 6 and had a night out with my friends at week 12. I also have an easy baby and a very helpful husband. From the beginning I was introducing the combination of breastfeeding and bottle for this reason. I know a lot of women like to be exclusively breastfeed but the fact I could not separate from the baby for a year freaked me out. Express your milk before the appointment, make sure your husband is confident of what to do and enjoy your appoitement! You deserve it!

Of course it’s not too soon. The baby will be with his father -,an equal parent. Go and enjoy yourself!

@Tina8800 wow your baby continued to be easy past a few weeks old?! Fingers crossed!! Hehe xx

@purplegal yes! Past 6 weeks old she woke up only once at night; she always gets express milk in bottle for nightime. After 11 weeks she slept through every single night (9-12 hours without waking up) till 6 and half months when teething started 😅 she is 8 months old now and been on the flight 8 times (some were 10 hours transatlantic). I still think it can change anytime, who knows, she might be a nightmare when starts to walk. 🤣 So I try to do as much as long as I feel it's "easy".