WWPD re:trip away from baby

[Beener]

DH and I are celebrating our 5 year anniversary this October. Luke will be 6 months and is BF but will also be on solids.

DH has to go on a work trip to New Orleans and suggested last night that he extend it, fly me down, and we make an anniversary trip out of it after he's done with the work component. That way, we only have to pay for 1 flight and we can probably squeeze a day or two of a hotel in on the corporate dollar. 

But, I'm worried about leaving Luke. DH suggested a 4-5 day trip but I said no way. Maybe two days?

WWPD?

I really love BF and don't want our BFing relationship to end. Here are some facts:
- I will be able to stock up plenty of BM before I leave for him.
- So far, he's done just fine with bottles.
-My MIL who watches the kids when we are both working will watch the kids so they will be very used to their caretaker.
- When I left Emmy in September when she was 5 months old for one night for my brother's wedding, she started to self wean. Two months after that and she wanted nothing more to do with the breast. I think this is what scares me the most. I don't want the same to happen to Luke. 
-My must-reach goal for BFing Luke is 6 months but I'd ideally like to go 1 year. 

So, should I go? If so, for how long?
Or, should I just say screw it and we can celebrate our 6 year anniversary with a trip next year?

[helicase]

If it were me, I'd go on the trip. You can't know whether L will react to be being away from you like E did. Don't eliminate an awesome opportunity because of a "what if"

[TrudyCampbell]

I think if you want to go, then go. He will be totally fine and I think it would be really early for him to start weaning at that age.

That being said, I could never leave Ruby even for one night at that age. I don't think there's anything wrong with doing it, I just know it would be too soon for me.

[jg183]

If you want to go, I think you should- but not for 4-5 days... maybe just the weekend. I don't think I could go that long at 6m but I know others have.

Would you do a trial one night first?

[melmon0417]

I say go for it! You will have so much fun, and Luke will be so well taken care of.

[kdrake8]

Jul 30, 2014 8:12:59 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

I think if you want to go, then go. He will be totally fine and I think it would be really early for him to start weaning at that age.

That being said, I could never leave Ruby even for one night at that age. I don't think there's anything wrong with doing it, I just know it would be too soon for me.

I could have written this.

[jg183]

Beener
 when you left E at 5 months how did you feel about it? besides the weaning, were you fine with it or a mess? I think it's so different for everyone so it's hard to know how it will be- especially because things will be so different then.
will you be back to work too?

[bigapple]

I spent my first night away around nine months, and C happily attacked the breast when I returned. Same at 13 months, 15 months, 18 months...

I'd do it! We left C when we went to NOLA last year for a wedding, and we had such a fun baby-free weekend.

P.S. You will love the shopping there! Magazine Street was the most fun I've ever had shopping. Seriously, my husband and I went so crazy that we had to ship clothes back. The boutiques had adorable stuff that was reasonably priced, the staff was friendly (not pretentious like the boutiques around me), and most of them had self-serve beer and wine for shoppers. AMAZING.

[Beener]

Maybe we will just go for a weekend. I know I couldn't do more than two nights away, not just yet. If he does start to wean, though, I'll be so mad at myself. This is my last chance to nurse a baby!

[Beener]

Jul 30, 2014 8:33:20 GMT -5 jg183 said:

Beener
 when you left E at 5 months how did you feel about it? besides the weaning, were you fine with it or a mess? I think it's so different for everyone so it's hard to know how it will be- especially because things will be so different then.
will you be back to work too?

Yes, I return back to work at the end of August.

When I left Emmy, I did pretty well. This may sound terrible but the thought of leaving her was worse than actually doing it. Once I was having fun, I kinda forgot about being away from her.

[browndog]

If you want to go then I think it will be a really fun trip. If he does happen to begin weaning when you return (perhaps coincidentally) and you know you would feel guilt/regret then I would stay home anddo a trip next year.

[Deleted]

Jul 30, 2014 8:12:59 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

I think if you want to go, then go. He will be totally fine and I think it would be really early for him to start weaning at that age.

That being said, I could never leave Ruby even for one night at that age. I don't think there's anything wrong with doing it, I just know it would be too soon for me.

This is me too.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with leaving a 6 month old for 4-5 nights, but I couldn't have done it with A.

[Deleted]

I say go for a weekend. 5 years is kinda a big deal. And I know for me, that after 2 kids, we could use a little couple time.

[TrudyCampbell]

For our 5 year (January) we are taking a family trip and just getting a babysitter for a night or two of the trip. Just an idea!

[The Foozzler]

I wouldn't have a problem with something like 2 nights. Is your only hesitation the BF aspect? Just because E weaned early doesn't mean he will and it doesn't mean it was linked to you being away from her.

[imimahoney]

I think going away for a weekend is a great compromise. 4-5 days seems like such a long time, plus you'll have to pump and dump and that seems like a massive pita.

Go for the weekend and have a wonderful time!

[sunshineluv]

Jul 30, 2014 8:35:37 GMT -5 Beener said:

Maybe we will just go for a weekend. I know I couldn't do more than two nights away, not just yet. If he does start to wean, though, I'll be so mad at myself. This is my last chance to nurse a baby!

 I would go!!! I love new orleans!!!!  If it were me I would make a long weekend out of it, so three nights.

 I had to go on a work trip when A was 3 months, it wasn't the most ideal, but I wasn't misearble and that was a work trip! She latched right back on when I got home, no problems. 

 I would miss my kids but not so much that I wouldn't love a quick romantic getaway with DH.

 We are going on a 5 anny trip in March, but A will be a bit older then, and I am dreaming of being done bf-ing for the trip, so that's a bit different. We plan on 4-5 nights somewhere all inclusive.

[formerlyllizzyb]

I couldn't do it. There's plenty of time to take trips in the future, IMO. But that's just me!

[thedahliharpa]

I think you would really enjoy the trip more if you wait a year.

[spaghetticat]

Sorry, but I think it would too much for you. Would you be able to relax while wondering if BFing was going to be a problem? I would wait.

[shevacc]

Jul 30, 2014 9:01:20 GMT -5 thedahliharpa said:

I think you would really enjoy the trip more if you wait a year.

I think this is where I'm at too. Then you could go for 4-5 nights and drink whenever you want too without timing around pumping.

[jsillyfun]

I would not go. I also still have not left may overnight though bc she still nurses motn and I don't want my mom to have to deal with her sobbing all night.

[christidee]

Jul 30, 2014 8:12:59 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

I think if you want to go, then go. He will be totally fine and I think it would be really early for him to start weaning at that age.

That being said, I could never leave Ruby even for one night at that age. I don't think there's anything wrong with doing it, I just know it would be too soon for me.

All of this. It sounds like a great trip, but I think it would be too difficult for me to do. If you do go, you will have a great time, but if you don't, you might regret it. Tough decision. 

[Deleted]

Go. Enjoy.

But I left my 3 month old for 3 days. So keep that in mind.

[breezy8407]

I can't comment on the BF'ing component.

We went on a trip for 5 nights in March and I was a wreck the first day. I really didn't enjoy it until the 2nd night and my kids are much older. I don't regret going, but I don't think we will do something like that until they are a few years older. I really want to go somewhere for our 10th (in 3 years) and leaving two 5 year olds behind seems easier.

We did a weekend away as our first adult trip last summer, so the kids were about 14 months. I think it was a good amount of time.

Anyway, I like the suggestion of only a weekend or postponing to next year.

[careyalis]

I think you should go and enjoy yourself--the kids will be fine! They are with someone you wholeheartedly trust and he will be used to takin bottles by then because of work.

[PatBenatar]

I would go for a short trip only because I hate pumping.

Then maybe next year you can go for a longer trip.

[Beener]

Thanks for all the advice ladies. You're right Emmy weaning might not have been because of my brother's wedding and in my head I just associated with that. I think I may go for two nights, provided that he does well when I go back to work in August.

[laurack]

I don't know if I would go mostly because of the logistics of having to carry the pump and pump all the time and store the milk etc. It just seems like to me it would be more work than it's worth.

We will be in Ireland for christmas and I was thinking we'd go to a hotel for a night and leave the kids. William will be 8 months. I'm hesitant even about that. At 8 months he may still eat a lot so I have to pump the milk for the whole night away then pump while I'm away etc.

[laurack]

OH and I am not a fan of sex or being touched romantically right now so that is clouding my judgement lol