Leaving newborn for a few hours?

[LemonadeWorkshop]

My baby is 6 weeks old and I'm starting to think about things outside our little newborn bubble. I didn't get my hair done at all during pregnancy, I was quite OTT about being around chemicals etc so I'm currently sporting a very unattractive two-tone hairdo.

Ill need to be away from baby for roughly 4 hours if I get my hair done and I just don't know how I feel about it! Taking him with me not an option as I'll be covered in bleach. Baby is EBF so I'll need to pump enough for DH to feed him.

How old was your baby when you left them did a few hours? Aware I might be being a bit PFB 🤦‍♀️

You will feel great for having your hair done! I think I had mine done when baby was 8 weeks and I felt like a new woman.

I first left him for about 2 hours when he was 4 weeks. It was my birthday and I went for a meal with my partner while baby hung out with his grandparents. I know not everyone would be comfortable with that.

You've just got to do what feels right for you. If it feels wrong, wait a while. If it's just that you think it's supposed to feel wrong, just go.

It's nice for dad to spend time with baby. Just be aware that you might feel physically uncomfortable because you're used to feeding every 3 hours or whatever. Take spare breast pads!

Does your baby accept a bottle of expressed milk already? If not, that would be the first thing to conquer! Then go for it!

Seconding @Regenbogen22 about seeing how well they take bottles first. Some babies are MUCH more flexible about this than others.

I had to leave mine to register them! Many did during covid times. Feed them and settle them first and go at a time they tend to have a longish sleep. They may not even notice you're gone. If they do, as long as there is someone to feed/cuddle them they are likely tobe less bothered than an older baby/toddler.

Three weeks - left him with my other half for a few hours whilst I had a bath, got a haircut etc. Bottle fed though so logistically easier. Baby is now just over two months and I leave him for a whole day once a week with OH - it's so important for him to develop a secure attachment to both of us, and one way to do that is to make it so that OH can't walk towards me with a crying baby trying to hand him back to me one day a week! Honestly, it's absolutely fine to leave your baby with your OH - they're his baby too!
Have you considered just buying some ready made formula for such circumstances, rather than faff about pumping?

I took mine with me. But, I know and am blvery friendly and close friends to several of the stylists where I go. Whoever wasn't with a client had baby but to be fair I timed it for just before a feed. Baby ate and was out cold for two hours of the appointment.

I've also known women who have their oh drop baby off to them for a feed and then after baby has been breast fed.

Having bleach in ypur haur is absolutely fine. If you're worried about anything falling on baby use a cover up while feeding.

But, if you can manage the time to yourself. Take it. It's only a couple of hours and it's good for you to have some time to yourself. Everyone needs a little headspace occasionally.

Make sure you tell your hairdresser you are in a rush and book it for the time of day baby is most sleepy like morning etc.
I left my 5 week old with DH and went to get hair done. I didnt tell the hairdresser i was in a rush and she put a conditioner in my hair and then went downstairs and did someone elses hair. She ended up being gone an hour! Staff kept fobbing me off and so i went to find her myself, just tell them that your comfortable leaving for 3 hours but will be anxious after that

Won’t you be really uncomfortable if you don’t feed for four hours?

I left my EBF baby at 5 weeks with my mum to get my hair done. I had already introduced a bottle of expressed milk every other day so no concerns with him taking it and I took a hand pump to the appointment with me to express in the toilet while colour was developing, stopped me getting too uncomfortable. Was away for about 3 hours, felt like a new woman afterwards!

Could someone go with you and walk baby in the pram / go for a coffee then if baby grizzly bring them to you to be fed?

I'd be worried not feeding for that long, my boobs would've been rock hard.