First Overnight Away from Baby

I've kept my niece once a month for the weekend since she was 1 month old. (my sister and BIL were spending a weekend at the lake the first time and after that it just became a tradition. They liked being able to go out of town and I enjoyed my time with my niece) She is now almost two and they have moved out of state so I no longer have my "Londynn" weekends and I am very sad :( I had a great bond with my niece and loved it! So, no it's not too early nor too long! Go and have fun!

First, in answer to your question, I think he'll be just fine.

Second, at 11 mos he's probably eating some solids that will help "tide him over" until you get home.

Third, work NOW to get him used to you being gone....have dad give one bottle a night, leave him with a sitter/Grandma where you're not home and they have to take care of him, feed him, and eventually put him down for bed. As much as you can get the person who will be watching him while you are gone on your trip, the better. Each time, let the "sitter" do more. So right before your trip the sitter has him for dinner, bath, bedtime so it's not such a "shock" for either of them for his first overnighter.

Best of luck

The overnight isn't that big of a deal. Just be sure that you have someone besides YOU put him to bed a couple of times before that night, and also make sure that he will TAKE a bottle (you didn't say if he ever has... some BF babies, if they are BF exclusively will NOT accept a bottle no matter what is IN it...).

We did something like that when our first child was around that age... only we left him with my parents at their house. Everything was absolutely FINE.

Go and have fun! I left my first the first time (and I was a SAHM) at 4 months for 4 days -and it was the best time! I missed him terribly, but I also felt like my old self again. I'm a BIG believer in parents getting away together and on their own with friends. Kids need to see that and kids also need to learn that mom and dad are coming back, but it's ok if they're gone sometime!

You already have some great responses here. Just wanted to tell you that I traveled a few times while still nursing babies. And it was always a pleasant homecoming and we'd starting nursing as before. Which I was not expecting. I was expecting that the baby might reject me or forget after being away, but not so. After the excitement of being home wore off and all was quiet, we'd start nursing again.

I also thought I'd wean them around 1 yr, but went 2 yrs with one and 3 yrs with my 3rd baby.

Enjoy the concert!!

I think it all depends on WHO you ask! If YOU think everyone in involved can do it, then do it! I haven't had my 2.5 yr old stay the night away from us yet, but we haven't needed to. She will stay with very close friends (virtually another set of grandparents) when we have baby #2 in a week and a half.

My SIL sent her 2 month twins to a babysitter overnight (and has since a few times since then...they were born in Jan.) just to get a break.

Just think ahead and prepare him for what you can and then HAVE FUN!

I don't know what is "too young". My older son was 2.5 before we let him spend the night at G&G's. We left our second son at home with G&G while we went away when he was 21 months. I just had no interest in leaving them when they needed me so much, especially for food. They never took bottles so it wasn't an option for me that early.

My son was only a couple of months old when I let him stay overnight at my mom's. She has kept him a handful of times overnight since then, and he is 2 now. She frequently babysits for a few hours at a time. I am a SAHM too, and my husband travels 75 % of the time, so I am truly the primary caregiver. It was hard to leave him, but I am glad I did. My husband and I got some much needed time together, I got to sleep a little (except when I woke up and had to pump) and it got it over with early. I know it will be different with a babysitter, I would not have done that so early. But I don't think 11 mos is too early as long as you do truly trust the babysitter and there is plenty of support for them and all. Good luck deciding!

I think it would be fine to go. If anything he would learn that no matter what, you always come back. It is so important to have some time with your husband. Going away geographically is sometimes the only way to focus on one another. I left my children when they were babies with my sister and I took care of hers at times. Now we are all close with our nieces and nephews.

GO! Pump the the milk and go! He's young, and believe me you'll miss him a lot more than he'll miss you. The 'trusted' baby sitter should put your mind at ease. Relax, enjoy, you deserve this.

It is not too long....but I know it will be super hard! Mine are almost four and 18 months and they have never been away for a night. I haven't had a really good reason to, either. So, don't worry about, your baby is in great hands, and you and your husband have tons of fun. Enjoy your night!

He'll be just fine!

We're going to Vegas one month from yesterday (YIKES!) and my son (my youngest of 4 and the only boy...totally a mama's boy) will turn 6 months while we're gone. We'll be gone for 4.5 days. He has some issues with the bottle because he's just not use to it. I'm a SAHM and there is usually no need for him to take a bottle. I don't go many places that he can't go with me. I started right after we booked the trip (about 2 months ago) pumping like crazy to amp up my milk supply. As a result, I now have about 125 oz of milk in the freezer (my goal is 150), and my milk is letting down about every 1.5 hours, lol. I have just eased my own fears by knowing that I am leaving plenty of milk for him, even if he chooses to not eat solids while I'm gone...its still touch and go with the solids. I also know that no matter how much he protests the bottle, he will not starve himself, nor will Grandma allow him to starve. He'll eat when he's hungry, and they'll (him and grandma) will figure it out. I NEED this time with my husband, and I know it will be beneficial to everyone...especially my 4 kids when I come back rested and refreshed.

This trip is a HUGE leap for me. Last summer we left our (then) 14 month old daughter for 3 days while we took the older girls to Kings Island and I was a blubbering mess for about half of the 4 hour drive there, not to mention the weeks leading up to it, lol. Turns out, Grandma did just fine, and everyone survived!

I agree with Mom on the go. I havent left my 3 year old yet, but only because I havent needed to. My cousin is leaving her 6 month old over the weekend soon to run a marathon, (dont you just hate her? hee) and he'll be fine. Just make sure he's used to whoever is watching him, so it wont be a big shock. Liz is leaving her son with her mother and he's used to Grandma watching him sometimes during the day, so it wont be a shock to have her watch him longer.