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Pregnancy

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Original poster

3 month old overnight with babysitter?

60 replies

legovsfoot · 31/05/2021 09:13

Hi all, I'm almost due with LO and have been invited to an event when he will be 3 months old.

It's a bit of a drive so we're getting a hotel room overnight.

In your opinion is this too young to be left overnight with a babysitter? Would a babysitter take a baby this young? (Family not an option)

Thank you

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JustKeep · 31/05/2021 09:15

Honestly at 3 months I wouldn’t have been happy to leave my kids. It’s a feeling that I didn’t really anticipate, but it was almost painful to be away from them for any length of time. Also at 3 months I was still recovering, still breastfeeding, it just would have been too much for me. And I think most babysitters would be reluctant to take a child that young. You’d need to hire a night nanny (in England that’s about £120 a night) and they would expect their own bed to sleep in while the baby sleeps.

DonkeysNotDisney · 31/05/2021 09:19

Night nannies are super busy and well paid where I live, I'm seriously considering joining an agency. I've looked into it , the agency takes babies from 2 weeks as sole care but from newborn if parents are home. Personally I wouldn't have been up to a night away at 3 months but loads of people are.

welshladywhois40 · 31/05/2021 10:05

It's not so much the overnight but the time apart. They are so little and you will become their world.

I would prefer to take my baby and see if I can get a babysitter at the event.

There is an app called bubble you could look at for baby sitters.

TenThousandSpoons · 31/05/2021 10:07

Yes it’s too young to leave the baby with a stranger overnight.

DinosaurDiana · 31/05/2021 10:09

I wouldn’t.
If I couldn’t take my baby I wouldn’t go.

PegPeople · 31/05/2021 10:10

I think you will feel very differently when baby is actually here and I cannot imagine you wanting to leave your tiny baby with a stranger whilst travelling so far away. It's hard to imagine when the situation is hypothetical but I'd be very surprised if you still wanted to go in 3 months time.

namechangemarch21 · 31/05/2021 10:30

I think its far too young. If you're breastfeeding, you might not get on well with expressing, but mostly the baby will still want you for comfort. And you will probably struggle with leaving the baby yourself. A total stranger overnight will be an issue, you might find the baby is unsettled for literally weeks after.

Also, if you get a night nanny (a standard babysitter wouldn't do it I don't think) it would cost a fortune.

Sideofnoreturn · 31/05/2021 10:48

You won’t want to do it. It’s difficult to explain now but when the baby is here you’ll see. There is no way I’d have left my baby with a stranger for any length of time at 3 months, never mind overnight.

I’ve actually only been away from my 3 year old overnight twice - when he was 18 months, for work, and he was with DH, and when he was 2.5 when I was in hospital having DC2. I have a 6 month old now and I think I would feel physical pain leaving her for a night. It might be different if it was family but if you don’t have that option then I think you just can’t go.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep · 31/05/2021 10:53

I couldn't have done that. Didn't leave mine overnight with his own dad until he was 18 months.

Chelyanne · 31/05/2021 10:55

There will be ones who take them if you get it booked in pretty early.

I couldn't leave my baby overnight that young though. Ours have got older and older for their 1st night away and only with my parents.

sherrystrull · 31/05/2021 11:56

@PegPeople

I agree with this. You will feel massively different when baby is here. Could you take them with you?

Doyoumind · 31/05/2021 11:58

I agree with PPs. You shouldn't do it and likely won't want to.

hemhem · 31/05/2021 12:05

I struggled with the idea when I had to go away for a work event when DC was 7 months, she was still breastfeeding at night and would have been very unsettled if I was gone. In the end I dropped out of the event. I was OK leaving DC after the age of 1. It depends a lot on the baby, some will sleep but some will be up every 2-3 hours at 3 months and could be very hard to settle for a stranger.

DifferentHair · 31/05/2021 12:09

I really wouldn't.

SoLongSister · 31/05/2021 12:16

I had to leave my 7 week old alone over night but it was with my mum so I think k that made a difference.

Could you book someone to go away with you and have the baby?

motogogo · 31/05/2021 12:19

I would investigate if you can get a sitter to come to your hotel. You might feel quite different once lo arrives too

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 31/05/2021 13:14

I think it's maybe easier with family or close friends, because you trust them. I looked after my nephews and my friends baby at a similar age overnight. However another friend used a qualified night nanny, but they are expensive. And she did it for a test run before while both parents were there also. But she then had trusted childcare for future events.

Bellyups · 31/05/2021 13:17

I could never have left mine at 3 months. They were past 6 months before I even thought about leaving them with family for the evening

justasking111 · 31/05/2021 13:18

My DIL left baby with mum a lot older but it was a special event, she took breast pump with her to express milk. I know she could not have left him if he had been younger.

HoppingPavlova · 31/05/2021 13:22

Yes, that’s too young. Why not just hire a sitter for a few hours at the location of the event for the duration of the event.

xprincessxjanetx · 31/05/2021 19:48

I definitely wouldn't leave my 3 month old, it's just too young.

Kindlynow · 31/05/2021 20:46

I left mine and it was absolutely fabulous and well needed! He's 2 now and no permanent damage.. Parents need breaks, too :)

SillyBry · 31/05/2021 20:57

I think everyone saying no is a bit depressing... quite simply it really depends on how baby is and how you are.
I wouldn’t have left my daughter overnight at that age as I felt too hormonally tied... but in reality, if I’d have had to, I could as she usually slept from 11-6 by then. But it’s just so hard to know until you know how baby sleeps/settles etc.
I would be open minded until baby comes along. But don’t feel you’re making the wrong choice if you do... everyone has been quite hard line in their responses! ;-)

Lazypuppy · 31/05/2021 20:59

I left my dd at 3 months with my mum as my dp's family had a big party. I've always been quite happy to leave dd with family over night from quite young, but i would't do a babysitter at that age

HopeValley · 31/05/2021 20:59

Virtually impossible if breastfeeding I'd say. I've got a 4 month old (as well as older ones) and she won't even settle with her dad when she needs a feed.

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