Hi everyone,
I need to leave my 3 1/2 months old son with my parents for 2-3 hours this Sunday so I can go out for a brunch with friends to celebrate by 30th birthday. I never left him with anyone before and he is exclusively breastfed on demand. My mom is staying with us this week and we tried to give him a bottle - he took it yesterday but refused to take it today. I am all nervous he won't take it when I am gone. I even thought to cancel the restaurant reservation and have everyone over at our place... but it's hard to clean and cook with a small baby... Any advice on leaving a baby for the first time? He is also 17 lbs... do you think 4 oz of milk will be enough to leave for 2-3 hours? Thank you, ladies.
We went out for about 2 1/2 hrs while my parents babysat. Our son took a bottle and drank 2 out of 3 oz I left. Then he took a nap (40 minutes) and then woke up and played. He did not cry at ll. And my hubby and I had a wonderful time at the brunch with friends.
If he is hungry believe me he will eat. You are stressing over nothing....I know that is easy for me to say but relax. Go have fun and I think you will be amazed to find everything will go smoothly while you are out.
Oh...and happy birthday!
He might not take it but he will be perfectly fine for 3 hours.
Been there, done that with my 5.
When mine was 4 weeks (the first) I left for a whole day due to a possible emergency surgery. It was so sudden. Turns out I was OK after all. In the meantime, husband fed him breast milk I'd left in the fridge and then started going through the frozen stuff. I was lucky I had all that in there. He did take the bottle. My other babies, not so much, but they were never in the position to take it or starve for a whole day! They adapt. Trust me.
feed him before just before you leave and if he gets hungry he will take a bottle from someone else..(probably will not take a bottle from you)
he will be fine. he might just take a big old nap most of the time you are gone.
I would suggest getting him used to a bottle so you can leave him on occassion. my son took a bottle of pumped breastmilk till he was about 4 months.. no problem.. then he refused milk in a bottle.. but he would drink juice in a bottle.. about once a week.. I would have a sitter for a few hours.. and he could survive nicely on some baby food a a juice bottle. moms do need a break once in a while.
He's going to be fine! Nurse him right before you leave, and chances are he won't even need teh bottle. If he does get hungry, I'm sure your parents will be very calm and snuggle with him as the offer the bottle. If you are not there, he really will be more likely to take it.
If you don't have more than 4 ounces, buy a small bottle of the premixed formula, just in case. If he's really hungry and the 4 ounces isn't enough (which it really should be, but you never know), your parents can give him the formula just this one time. I really think you will feel better and enjoy yourself more if you know that he has enough food and he won't starve.
Even if he refuses the bottle all together, he will be fine!!! You can nurse him as soon as you get back, and he will be fine!!!
Try to relax and enjoy yourself. You deserve this.
Who gave him the bottle. Did your mom give it to him or you? The reason I ask is neither of my boys wanted a bottle from me. They would take it just fine from anyone else. If that still does not work feed him before you leave. And if you will only be gone a few hours he should be fine. If he gets too hungry they can offer the bottle and if he doesn't take it he's really not all that hungry. Or you can take the baby with you. A baby that young should be fine in a restaurant.
He will not starve in 3 hours. He may take a bottle from someone other than you, but he won't have to in that short time.
I needed to go back to work when my daughter was 12 weeks. She refused a bottle every day (6 hour days) at daycare for four full weeks. She was perfectly happy there unless they tried to feed her! The fifth week, she took a bottle and was fine from then on.
By now you two should have a schedule of sorts. Feed him before you leave and enjoy your time away. Grandparents and baby willl survive. Go and enjoy your break. You should be back by the next feeding in about three to four hours.
Happy holidays.
The other S.
PS No time like the present to get him ready to spend time away from you and know that you WILL return.
GO!! He will be 100% fine for a few hours. I nurses both mine, and yes it's normal to be anxious about leaving them, but he will be fine. Babies will eat when they're hungry. In an emergency, they can feed him with an eyedropper or a tiny cup. Yes, babies can sip out of little cups. Even newborns! Sit them upright and hold the cup up to their lips, tip a bit and let them sip! Enjoy your outing and don't worry!
