Too soon to be away from 6 month old overnight?

[spongelover]

Long story short, my DS is EBF and does not self settle therefore every nap and sleep requires me. DH used to rock him to sleep but it hasn't worked in weeks so the only way is nursing him. I'm obviously very tired as he wakes up often, he's teething and going through a developmental leap which doesn't help, but he doesn't sleep through the night.

Basically, DH has suggested leaving him with his grandparents overnight so we can one full night's rest. My initial response was absolutely not because it just doesn't seem right as he's so dependent on me, am I overreacting to think it would be a disaster and "mean" to be away from him from one night?
Anyone done this with their little one and it's been successful? I'm concerned they won't be able to settle him in the night and it'll just stress him out!

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer. You'll get lots of mums coming saying they'd be happy to do this and lots saying they wouldn't.

At 6mo he will need some feeding at least once in the night probably so would you be happy for him to take a bottle?

Would you feel bad if he cries a lot of the night and gives the grandparents a difficult time?

I personally wouldn't do it and never have left DC for a night until they were at least 18mo. But... I did start them both at nursery part time before 9mo so I admit this is arbitrary. It's just what I'm comfortable with.

You just have to do what you're comfortable with.

I wouldn't do it. I know that my babies would have gone berserk, and I just didn't want to leave them tbh. Most babies don't sleep through the night at 6 months. It's normal. Maybe your partner needs to support you more in the night, so that you can rest. Do what feels right to you.

@Mumoftwo1316 thanks so much for your comment! I would feel awful if he cried for night, for both the grandparents and my boy.
With regard to a bottle, I would pump a good three full size bottles, he's not the biggest fan of them but that's how it would have to be.

I'm more leaning towards not doing it, at the very least until he's fully on solids. I think I've already made my mind up 😆 it only took one response, I feel validated thank you!

I left my bf babies from 6 weeks with GPs with bottles of expressed milk.

You will get replies saying people have never left their 18 year olds overnight.

And everything in between.

You need to do what's right for you and it doesn't matter what anyone else does.

Thank you @Blahblahblah2 !! Bless him he tries to help in the night, spent an hour rocking him the other night at 3am and it just made baby even more awake 👀 I told him just leave the settling to me lol!

@DinnaeFashYersel true, I'm expecting all kinds of answers to be honest! Thank you for commenting though, that must've been tough leaving your 6 week old but I'm sure it was for very good reason! Our reason would just be to get sleep which I don't feel it good enough in the respect of I'm not deprived, it's just broken up a lot

I'd be thinking f that, I'm not getting up in the night to pump. Be quicker and easier to feed the baby. Personally my boobs would be fit to bursting if I didn't feed all night when I'm usually up multiple times feeding.

My mother (the kids' grandmother) would be able to deal with any 6 six month old baby no matter what needs so I would be happy to let her if needed.

I would prefer to let my husband look after baby for a night or two and sleep myself and do a night or two myself and let husband sleep.
I would go to my parents' house or a hotel to sleep.

And yes, my d2 was taken care of by mother (and father) for a night (5pm-6am) then we attended a wedding.
She was bf but had started solid food and took a bottle. They had a good time and were fine .

Quite honestly, it's unlikely you'll get a decent rest or sleep. You'll be up thinking about him.

Your DH on the other hand will probably sleep like a baby 😁

What about if you stayed at their house overnight (or they stay at yours) and watch baby overnight so you can sleep but you're there if baby needs you?

Does the baby reliably take a bottle? That would be the biggest thing for me when making this decision!

It’s far too young.
Why can’t one of you decamp to another room and take it in turns to wake with the baby?
There’s no need for both of you to be disturbed throughout every night, is there?

@spongelover

that must've been tough leaving your 6 week old but I'm sure it was for very good reason! Our reason would just be to get sleep which I don't feel it good enough in the respect of I'm not deprived, it's just broken up a lot

Actually I didn't find it tough with either child and my reasons were to get a break and some sleep.

I personally felt that these were good reasons for me.

Yes I worried the first time. But I completely trusted my parents to care for my babies.

Babes were fine and I was so much better for it.

I honestly wouldn't, regardless of how unfair it would be on him, you'll still have sore breast and need to pump and you won't settle either know he needs you