First night away from baby?

wawajeanne · May 2013

I've been lurking for a while and figured I'd finally post here...Hi bumpies.

This weekend is going to be my first overnight away from my 10 week old. She's staying home with daddy. I BF, so I usually do bedtime routine. And I do the night time feedings (usually just 1-2 a night) because it's just easier than dealing with pumping that amount. But she's used to taking a bottle at daycare, and we've got a freezer full of milk so no worries there.

MH is a totally capable dad, but...to what extent would you give your H "instructions" before you leave him with the baby solo for a weekend? How often do your H's fly solo with the kids? Any general thoughts?

My one concern is that he's a REALLY sound sleeper.

mben1119 · May 2013

We haven't had to do any overnights away with just one of us yet, but DH would be fine. He's home all day with DS on school holidays, and over the summer.

littlebean4 · May 2013

My husband is so great with my daughter. However, I still give him "instructions" before I go out. Guys are just different, he may not think to change her again before putting her down haha

SPIJaimie · May 2013

I would just leave a schedule of the routine you typically do. We are leaving little one overnight in a few weeks (already feeling anxious about it!) and I'm going to put a very loose schedule together. Bottles at what time, start bedtime routine at around this time but watch for cues kinda thing. Where does LO sleep? If possible you might move it close to the bed to wake him up fasteR?

pinottoparenthood · May 2013

I am assuming your husband has spent time both taking care of your baby and watching you take care of your baby. You may want to go over the bedtime routine with him, and make sure that he knows how to make a bottle. Other than that, I would trust that he is capable. He isn't going to do everything the same way that you do, but that's okay. He's the baby's dad and he can take care of LO probably almostttt as well as mom :-) just let him know that he can call you anytime he needs to and let him do his thing. I have seen that often when moms are too controlling and tell the dads how to do everything, it can cause dads to back off and not parent as actively because they don't want to be told they're doing things "wrong". I try really hard to let DH figure things out himself so that he will be a confident and independent parent, and I don't want to make him feel like I think I'm a better parent than he is.

as for the heavy sleeping, I would have him bring the monitor into the bedroom and turn it up loud if baby is sleeping Ina different room. Otherwise, it will be fine.

rjeller32 · May 2013

I did an overnight away, it was a full 24 hours. I wrote a 2 page manual, and he still ended up calling claiming she was "sick" and after 18 hours he was "almost out of milk". I left him with 40 oz. I drove the 3 hours home to find out he just didn't like how much more needy she was than DD1 when she was a baby. And he was terrified of spending any longer alone with 2 kids.

Now, he is getting better, he does occasional days with the LO's, and he only hates me slightly when it happens.

And my DH is a sound sleeper too, unless he is alone with the girl's. Then, he wakes up to the slightest sound. It's like he on high alert when I am gone haha

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