If you had a 12 week old and a

[joenali]

Two year old and you and your DH were going through some hard times ( not necessarily relationship wise) etc, would you take someone's offer to babysit for a few hours so you and your spouse could either go out for dinner or catch up on some things, etc. would you do it? If so, given you have a 12 week old, how long would you feel comfortable being gone? An hour, 2 hours?

[thinkofthesoldiers]

Probably not. Not because I don't appreciate the offer, but because I feel like a mooch for accepting.

[mommytutu]

Yes you should go. A dinner with no kids would do wonders. 2-3 hours would be my max for that age.

[cinderbella]

Yes, I definitely would. A few hours is nbd.

I guess my answer would depend on if the baby is nursing or not...... Or if he/she would take a bottle. But I think 3-4 hours is a good amount of time.

[snickers]

What tamb said!

[jaycee]

My 12 week old was a total nightmare. He would scream and scream if anyone else watched him besides me or DH. So, I personally wouldn't have accepted the help because I probably would have received a call in 30 minutes to come home. If I had a normal, happy 12 week old then sure I'd accept the help.

[SKP82]

At 12 weeks, no I wouldn't have felt comfortable leaving my baby. But, she was nursing every 2-2.5 hours and wouldn't even let my H comfort her at times.

If you want to offer this to someone, offer it and let them decide if they are comfortable with it.

[daisybuchannan]

Depending on who offered.

One of my bffs? Yes.

A well intentioned friend that I don't really hang out with often? Probably not.

[SKP82]

Apr 18, 2014 20:52:29 GMT -5 mommytutu said:

Yes you should go. A dinner with no kids would do wonders. 2-3 hours would be my max for that age.

She's not asking for herself.

[Birdie]

I've left my 7 week old son for a few hours with both Grandmas, but he's FF so they were able to feed him. If he were nursing I wouldn't be able to be gone for more than an hour or two.

[jfh]

Does the babysitter know what they're getting into? If so, I absolutely would. My son was EBF and I think at that point I could leave him for a few hours with a pumped bottle on hand. But, if the person offering was just being friendly but had no idea what it means to care for a 2-year-old and a 12-week-old, then I would be more hesitant.

[Deleted]

I dropped off my not-yet-12-week-old earlier and won't be picking her up until Monday.

It's not even to heal a relationship.

It's for Coachella. :-#

[shopgirl07]

I definitely would. I didn't breastfeed so I would take my time and go for a few hours.

[VeryViolet]

I just watched my friends 2 month old and 2yo a few weeks ago and it was nbd. The baby slept almost the whole time and I put on Sophia the first for the 2yo. I would definitely take a friend up on this offer. I wouldn't stay out for forever but I would feel comfortable leaving for maybe up to 3 hours.

[tulip]

YES!!

If I knew the person and felt trust with them, hell yes. I was crazy nuts, over everything with DD but any future child will be pawned off with whoever is near me (that I know and trust) This sounds like it was offered, accept and enjoy.

[papie]

Probably not. I wasn't confortable leaving them for a few hours before 5-6 months. Too stressed at the idea that they may wake up and want the boob.

[Deleted]

Apr 18, 2014 20:52:50 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

If I trusted the person, sure. I'd take my time.

Yep. Ds did an overnight with my SIL at 6 weeks old.

[Gato]

Yes.  My memory is a little hazy, but I'm pretty sure we went out for the first time when DD1 was around 3 months.  I think it was for 2-3 hours, just enough time for a nice dinner about 2 blocks away.  Two of our child-free friends watched her, and she cried the whole time, which was so unlike her.  She was a pretty mellow baby, but not that night.  I felt so bad about it, but they did offer.  We were really grateful. 

[Deleted]

Yep, I would leave them overnight at that point depending on the person.

[karmasabiotch]

It would be nice to go out on a date with my H. You should go it,

[sandyapples]

Yes!

[sunshineluv]

I have an 8 week old and a two year old. DH and I have been on two or three dates since she was born. Each time my mom watched the kids and gave her a bottle. She is breast fed but will take a bottle. So my answer is yes, for a few hours.

[nsl]

I'd have been uncomfortable leaving my babies with a caregiver who didn't know them well at that age. I'm totally neurotic, but I know I wouldn't have been able to enjoy myself or turn my mind away from baby-related worries long enough to do any actual relationship work.

[eav2c]

I do have a 12 week and 2 year old and absolutely would. I EBF but would be willing to leave for 2-3 hours willing it was the right person. MIL has watched my kids for several hours as needed.

[rex]

yes! i left L with a babysitter at 3 weeks old.

[starlily]

Yes, for 3-4 hours.

[Yankees21]

If it were someone I trusted, sure, for a few hours. My son is only 5 weeks but H and I will probably have a date night in a couple of weeks. I pump so he doesn't have a problem taking a bottle or else I wouldn't be able to be gone very long as he's eating every two hours during the day.

[bugandbibs]

Without a doubt if I trusted them. My pump and I are good friends so I would have no trouble leaving a bottle. Without that option I would leave for 2 hours after a feeding.

[Deleted]

Well, now.

Apparently there are some advantages to being lactationally challenged.

[renna]

When I was nursing I could be gone from DS for 2 hours. If I liked the person offering to babysit then heck yeah I would take them up for 2 hours of sitting and sharing an uninterrupted meal with my husband!