How old before leaving LO?

dobrydney

Some of you probably know I'm a travel agent.  Occasionally trips come up that are free or super cheap for us.  I have an opportunity to go to an all inclusive in the Caribbean for 5 days (M-F) in May with the option to extend by a couple of days on either side.  DH would really like to go with me, since the last trip I went on didn't allow guests.  If we were just going on vacation I would totally take LO, but we will be doing various trade activities and it wouldn't be appropriate to bring her.  She would be about 5.5 months and MIL watches her 2 days a week now.  Would it be totally crazy to leave her for that long at that age?  I would request that MIL or my Dad watched her at our house.  I have to see if I even get a confirmed spot on this trip and talk to our parents, but I'm just curious what you other mommies would do.

ximenita003

That's a tough one....if you REALLY can't bring your baby then maybe just cut the vacation short to 3-4 days. I don't think I could leave my baby for that long.

[Deleted User]

I may be in the minority on this one, but the first time I was ever away from DD for a night was when I had DS.  Yeah, she was over 2 and a half.  Some of it is that I didn't have a reason to be away from her and some of it was I didn't have anyone who could babysit overnight.  But a lot of it was me being uncomfortable leaving her at night. 

I kind of wish that I had just bit the bullet and done it sooner.

So, that would be my advice- maybe do a trial run with MIL or your dad for a night or two to see how you feel about it? 

Personally, I know I wouldn't be able to be gone for a whole week- maybe just a few days? 

Good Luck!!

dobrydney

Sing2phins said:

You FF, right?  In that case, I think it's fine, though I probably wouldn't extend the trip, just for my own emotional health!

Yes, we FF.  I doubt we would extend.

dobrydney

crwjcc1 said:

I may be in the minority on this one, but the first time I was ever away from DD for a night was when I had DS.  Yeah, she was over 2 and a half.  Some of it is that I didn't have a reason to be away from her and some of it was I didn't have anyone who could babysit overnight.  But a lot of it was me being uncomfortable leaving her at night. 

I kind of wish that I had just bit the bullet and done it sooner.

So, that would be my advice- maybe do a trial run with MIL or your dad for a night or two to see how you feel about it? 

Personally, I know I wouldn't be able to be gone for a whole week- maybe just a few days? 

Good Luck!!

We were kind of thinking of a trial run.  All is still up in the air to see if I get a confirmed spot and if our parents are even willing.

barista411

I wouldn't be comfortable with being gone that long. I think it really is a personal choice but at this age there are so many things that can happen between getting sick or teething and I would be on edge the entire time and nervous something would happen and I would be too far away to help.

fluttergirlmoonchild79

I'd say a few days - maybe.  I couldn't personally do it but that's just me.  I think a few days in the Caribbean is enough anyway.

dobrydney

It's a work trip, so I'd have to go for the M-F.  I can extend, but I can't shorten it.  I'm not a HUGE fan of the Caribbean myself.  But, it would be a nice get away for DH and I without the expense.  I would be obligated to go to trade shows etc. while there so we really couldn't bring LO.  I can go without DH, I just thought it would be nice since the last trip I went on he couldn't go (they didn't allow guests).  So that's where the possibility of leaving LO came in.

I suppose if DH isn't obligated to go to the trade stuff with me, there is the possibility that we could bring LO.  I'll have to see what they say once I am guaranteed a spot....

ETA:  I realized the post contradicts itself, but kind of just throwing it out there--thinking "out loud".

Kfran84

I was about to say have your DH hang with LO while you do your required activities. Looks like you are thinking that too... That's what I'd do!

busybee0511

Honestly I would go. Heres why, everyone needs time with just their DH, a marriage thrives on keeping connected with your partner. I know it sounds like the end of the world to leave your baby, but in reality she probably wont even really understand that you're gone, and just think of how happy she will be to see you when you come back.

I whole heartedly love my 2 kids but I also know that we all benefit when we (DH and I) take some time to recharge our batteries and get some much needed alone time.

dobrydney

busybee0511 said:

Honestly I would go. Heres why, everyone needs time with just their DH, a marriage thrives on keeping connected with your partner. I know it sounds like the end of the world to leave your baby, but in reality she probably wont even really understand that you're gone, and just think of how happy she will be to see you when you come back.

I whole heartedly love my 2 kids but I also know that we all benefit when we (DH and I) take some time to recharge our batteries and get some much needed alone time.

I have to say that most of me agrees with you.  DH and I have always had this philosophy that we discussed at great lengths before having LO that we still need to have us.  Our life together existed before the arrival of LO just like our individual lives existed before we met each other.

I would prefer to bring her if that ends up being a possibility, because then we can all go relatively guilt/worry free.  And if DH doesn't want to hang out at trade shows and site inspections he can hang out with LO.  I just need to wait and see if I'm confirmed and then give them a call to see how it would all work.  It can't hurt to ask right?!

sands42

We left our daughter at age 2 for a week and I was crying by day 4.

SittingOnAMtnTop

We are actually going away this weekend.

My parents are staying at our house to watch the boys so I know they will have a blast and be spoiled rotten but ugh I'm going to miss them so much. It's going to be tough. I feel a bit more comfortable with it since DS2 has been STTN in his own crib for the past couple of weeks and I've got a good freezer stash.

DH made all the reservations and I wouldn't have planned a trip this early on, but we will have a great time and it will be good to have a weekend to reconnect and sleep in!

My parents traveled a lot when I was growing up, sometimes we went with them and sometimes we stayed at home so I may have a different perspective on leaving LO for short periods of time.

brandeeteer

I had to travel when M was only 5 days old and I'll be traveling again for a week in March. It's tough but he survived and so did I. DH had to go as well. My parents loved having the time with him.

Just FYI it was custody hearings for my two older children and court is in the state we previously lived in, a 10 hour drive.

Littlemama01

I'm a TA too!! I can totally understand your feelings because I also have a freebie trip coming up in June, 7 day Alaska cruise, (LO will be 7 mo) for DH and I. I've been having anxiety about it, and I know with 100% certainty LO is not permitted. I booked it but I'm going to play it by ear and if closer to the date I'm not comfortable with it I'm going to bail (it's free right).

I don't think 5-7 days away will hurt LO but I'm sure we will miss him like crazy.

At the moment LO won't tolerate anyone but dh or I but we are going to do an overnight test run in about 3 weeks to get a better indication on how the June trip will go.

dobrydney

Littlemama01 said:

I'm a TA too!! I can totally understand your feelings because I also have a freebie trip coming up in June, 7 day Alaska cruise, (LO will be 7 mo) for DH and I. I've been having anxiety about it, and I know with 100% certainty LO is not permitted. I booked it but I'm going to play it by ear and if closer to the date I'm not comfortable with it I'm going to bail (it's free right).

I don't think 5-7 days away will hurt LO but I'm sure we will miss him like crazy.

At the moment LO won't tolerate anyone but dh or I but we are going to do an overnight test run in about 3 weeks to get a better indication on how the June trip will go.

I'm mobile at the moment so I hope this quoting thing works! So you understand the fam concept. It can be tricky becaise it's a work trip but not.....

dobrydney

Thank you ladies! I think right now I need to see if I have a spot and if one set of our parents are even willing and go from there. I'm kind of hoping it is one of those things that just works itself out without a lot of worry on my end!

Kaymee

For me personally, that's a long time. I would bring both DH and LO and have them hang out while you're at the convention stuff.

dobrydney

So, for anyone who is still following :-) I got an e-mail this morning saying I'm confirmed and can go ahead and book air.  I was planning on calling and asking about bringing LO, but it says no one under 18.  We've decided it would absolutely be too much to extend, both too long to leave LO and too long to ask grandparents to watch her.  It would be 4 nights.  We would see her in the AM before leaving on a Monday and see her Friday night upon our return.  Right now we're leaning towards giving it a whirl after we chat with our parents.  We live in the Finger Lakes region of NY so there would be lots of things for them to get out and do that time of the year.  I should mention that all grandparents involved are retired, so we wouldn't be asking anyone to take off of work--I would never do that!

3Dewdrops

I was away from DD1 for a week when she was 6 months. It was downright depressing. (I let her grandparents take her with them to visit her bio-dad.)

DD2  hasn't spent the night away from both DH and I ever.  We will be waiting to make any trips til after DS's 3rd round of pertussis vaccine. (despite having free flights)

You know best how much you can handle.  It's convenient you'd be able to leave your LO with someone she knows!

dobrydney

DevynnMarie said:

I can't even allow my self to leave C overnight with his Dad, I make his daddy sleep here if he wants to.. so I personally couldn't do it, but if it something you are comfortable with, go for it! Do you guys have FaceTime or Skype? It might be nice to check in face to face every once in a while! Whatever you decide, good luck!

Good idea!  I finally joined the 21st century and got a smartphone once LO was born.  It's global ready and we have unlimited free international texting and I have skype on there too!!!