When would you leave your baby to go abroad?

[arsol]

I'm a bridesmaid at a wedding next year and the plan is to go abroad. I won't be going as my kids will be 3 and 12 months.

Which got me wondering what age people think is reasonable to go abroad without their kids? I thought most people like me would not want to leave a baby under 1, but then an influencer I follow has just left her 4 month old to go to a wedding abroad which made me wonder if I was being precious. The longest I've ever been apart from my 3 year old is 3 days and around 1.5 hours drive away.

Interested in views just out of interest really to see if I'm being over anxious.

This year is the first we are going abroad without any children and they are 20&21!

😂😂

My eldest is 7. I would not consider leaving him and going abroad. I don't think there is any age at which I would do that. Not even for a weekend.

Some of us have to as our work involves international travel.

I would not do that job. I have set my life up to suit me. Others are going to make different choices.

Not even to spend a weekend with friends or your partner?

Or for work?

No. I would not want to. I have gone to a wedding once and stayed overnight at a hotel, but it was close enough to go home in an emergency. I would not go too far away to go home, or for more than a night.

Mine are teenagers and I wouldn't go abroad without them

Those who wouldn't leave older children/teens to go abroad...

Would you let them go on a school trip abroad or something like a Scout Camp?

Until they were around 7 or 8 years old!

I still wouldn't and I have a 4yr old and 2yr old.

I did a transatlantic trip when dd was 2, it was potentially a once in a lifetime opportunity, she was absolutely fine and I’m told didn’t miss us once. I wouldn’t have done an overnight while I was breastfeeding. Very much depends I think on what you are comfortable with, which is going to depend on your support network, we were very lucky to have friends and family available to have a young child for 4 nights.

No. I would not want to. I have gone to a wedding once and stayed overnight at a hotel, but it was close enough to go home in an emergency. I would not go too far away to go home, or for more than a night.

Out of curiosity, what kind of an emergency are you anticipating?

About 11.

That was with him being abroad. Another country is too far to travel at a young age, though if with the father thats okay.

In this country, 15 mins away both mine spent the night away at 6 weeks.

I've never done it as if we managed to get the money to go abroad i'd want the kids to enjoy it. They are 11 and 13. For a hen do etc id say 10/11.

Well work wise their dad works in Scotland during the week. He was in Afghanistan for our guests birth plus he's abroad up to 6 months but I think work is different.

He’s 5.5 and I only just left him for the first time for a sleepover ! I’ve taken him abroad and dad has stayed at home but I always think about the worse case scenarios (accidents) and I panic I won’t be there for him

DH and I went when DC2 was 18 months. I can't remember if we went for two or three nights. I don't remember missing the children at all although we did pop into a couple of toy shops to buy gifts so obviously they were on our minds at some level.

I'm not sure it would have been as easy before Whatsapp and video calls.

Firsts not Guests

My dd was 2yo and I left her with my mum for a week to go on holiday in Tenerife with friends. It was fine, we both had a nice time.

I left her again to go on holiday abroad when she was 4yo and it was closer to 10 days which felt too long. She was absolutely fine with my mum but I really missed her.

She's 17yo now and going on holiday abroad without me!!

think work is different.

Why is work different?

Paris Fury has just left her newborn (4 weeks?) to go abroad with her husband. She’s close to her mum so I assume the children are with her. I guess everyone is different.

We haven't left our youngest yet - she's 26m

However in May, DH and I are going away for a week and I can't wait

I am counting the days

Our two children will be with my parents who mind them every day 8-5 anyway and who are completely phenomenal, still young and more than capable of dealing with them

I love my children as much as anyone, but fuck me I need a break

Our kids don't need want or miss their dad as much as they would me. They know he's working so don't feel left out.

I'm not sure it would have been as easy before Whatsapp and video calls.

When I left dc1 it was before most of us even had mobile phones! I remember having to arrange with my mum that we would call at a particular time each day to check up on dc1. In all his, we only went because a completely unforeseen and unrepeatable opportunity arose and it was a case of if we didn't go at that time, we would never have the chance again. If DC had been old enough to miss me, I wouldn't have gone.

After they were 2ish.