When if ever will you spend a week away from your LO?

[SJ]

I haven't done more than 1 night away yet (DH has done 4) but we are both doing 4 nights away soon at 5.5 months.

I have no plans to leave her for a week, but would do so if a good reason came along.

[SJ]

Nov 29, 2014 0:15:44 GMT -5 @starry said:

the only good reason we have is that I want to have fun with my husband prior to hypothetical child 2.

I think that is a very valid reason.

[biogirl21]

If we had the money and the childcare I would be planning a weeklong cruise for this summer for our 5 year anniversary. Sadly we have neither of those things, nor the vacation time to do so.

Don't feel bad! Parents need time to themselves sometimes. Life truly isn't all about the kids, even if it often feels that way.

[spk926]

DH has done 10 days (hunting trip) but the most I've done is 2 nights for a girl's weekend when she was 13 months. That was really hard for me.

We're planning on TTC this summer and I don't think we'll take a trip away before then so I'm not sure when the first time I'll leave DD for an extended amount of time is. I don't judge others that do though!

[sparty04]

We did 3 nights at 5 months, 4 nights at 11 months, and 6 nights at 16 months. The alone time is amazing for our relationship, and DS gets grandparent time. Win-win

[chicago]

We are going away for six nights a few weeks after her first birthday.

[starlily]

With DD1, at just shy of a year.

My next planned weeklong solo trip isn't until March 2016. womp womp. I'd go sooner, someone next year, if I had somewhere to go.

ETA: For both of us traveling together, we did an overnight alone at around a year. Realistically, it's unlikely we'll have another adults-only trip anytime soon. We just don't have anyone that can watch the girls for something like that.

[Deleted]

We're planning a 13 night Europe trip next spring. Dd will be 2.5 years old.

[scribellesam]

We did 5 nights at 17mo. Have fun on your cruise!

[djc315]

We just did 7 nights. Vacation was 6 nights, but I dropped him off at my parents the night before so we didn't have to wake him up early to drop him off there on the way to the airport.

I felt super guilty because I didn't really miss him until the end of the trip, but I just told myself that it was because I knew he was in good hands. I could have easily done another 2 nights.

ENJOY YOUR TRIP. When we got back, my H was talking to my dad about planning our next vacation with N, and my dad told him that we needed to make sure to take a trip without him every year. I don't know if we will necessarily, but my parents usually did, so I won't feel guilty about it!

[turtlegirl]

We did 3 or 4 nights at like 14 or 15 months. I was already pregnant with #2. It was a vacation to see friends.

I think I did 5 days for work when DS1 was a year old. Combo of DH and grandparents picked up the slack.

Another work trip away when kids were 3 and 1.5 ish years old.

Overall, don't stress. It's way harder on the parents than the kids most of the time.

Have fun!

[anaps28]

I've done 5 for work a few times and 5 for fun. It's one of those double edged swords where you need it but then you feel like your missing a limb.
Go recharge and enjoy. I just went from 1 to 2 and I feel like I need a vacation already...

[h]

We left DS1 for 6 nights when he was 23 months to go on a kid-free vacation before TTC #2. It was great, and I definitely don't regret it at all.

I have not been away from DS2 or DS3 for more than 3 nights, but that is largely because no one in our life wants to watch three young boys for longer than that. I think we will shoot for a week long vacation without the kids for our 15th anniversary in August 2016. By then the boys will be 9, 6, and 3, and I think the grandparents would have an easier time managing them. We will definitely do a few 2 and 3 night kid-free trips between then and now, though.

[jena]

We only did 2 nights away when dd1 was little, not quite 2. I don't know that we left ds at all as an infant or toddler, but they would both spend the night at my dad's house about one a month, which is a thrill for them.

We went away for 6 nights this summer when kids were 7, 4, and 21mo. They were fine. It's actually really easy now because they are so enthralled with their grandparents that they don't mind us leaving. Drop off at daycare is often more emotional than when we left on our trip.

[rootbeerfloat]

I've left DS with H for 4-5 days. The first time was at 14m.

I haven't left DD for more than a night; the first time will probably be next year.

H and I have only done a weekend away, and it was when we just had DS. We don't have anyone to watch two kids for an extended period of time.

[rbp]

Well we have already spent a night away at 3.5 months! I wouldn't be averse to doing a week away around a year.

[jene]

I have done three 3 night trips away for work, my first at 4 months old. H will be doing his first 3-4 night away in January when he goes hunting. If we had someone willing to watch him, we would probably consider a week away around a year or so

[lulu21]

I think I'm going to have to in January. I'm not happy about this. My IL's will be at the house watching J.

[mlvmd]

I've only been away from DS1 at night three times. Once at 2.5 for two nights, once at 3.5 for three nights (both work trips), and for five nights at 4.5 (Europe with DH). It is hard to get away overnight since DH works at night so he has to take leave or my mom comes down.

The trip with DH was because we knew it would be awhile before we could get away for that long with DS2 coming so we wanted to take advantage. DS1 had such a great time with Grandma that I felt completely fine.

[stealthmom]

We were apart for 6 weeks due to necessity when stealthson was 20 mos. That was horrible.

In 1.5 years stealthson will be old enough to go to overnight camp. That is probably the next time it will happen.

[anna7602]

We've done two weeks way this year. One for a "babymoon" in February and another in July so she could spend a week at the ILs just because.

Last year, we sent her to overnight camp with her school at age 5 and went to Corsica ourselves.

Eta: my ILs won't watch DS until he is talking and potty trained, so at least 2 more years. Probably more. And that's if they are even up for watching 2 kids. We took advantage of only having 1 while we could.

[KKD]

The first time we did more than an overnight was when DD1 was 4 and DD2 was almost 2; we went away for five nights. The longest we've been away was six nights just last month; the girls were 6 and 4 and DS was 14 months. The youngest we've left any of them was when we went away last winter when DS was only five months; that was hard for me but it was an important company trip for H so I had to go too. We've taken one or two trips each year for the past three years and would love to do more and/or longer trips but it's a lot to ask of the grandparents especially now with three kids.

Don't feel guilty – it's perfectly healthy to take some time away from your kids. Enjoy it!

[rupertpenny]

I went away for a week in October when B was 13 months. I was awesome.

She was still at home with my H though (and our nanny, who I'm sure did like 95% of the heavy lifting).

I would feel comfortable with H and I both leaving her for about a week now if she could stay with grandparents. Our only option right now though is the nanny and I think that would be a lot to ask.

[greycat]

We've had 2 nights away (1 night at a time). I would love to go away with MH but we don't have anyone that could take DS for more than a night.

[thebreakfastclub]

I have done a couple of nights at a time since 6 months and hope to do a longer trip this summer.

I have never really missed DS when he is at daycare or when I am away. I need breaks.

[mcfelix]

Have fun and try not to feel guilty!!

DH and I went to Vegas for 4 nights when DS was 10 months while my parents watched him. I went to visit a friend for 5 nights while DH and DS stayed home. No guilt. Both trips were great for my mental health!

[Deleted]

Nov 29, 2014 0:20:34 GMT -5 SJ said:

Nov 29, 2014 0:15:44 GMT -5 @starry said:

the only good reason we have is that I want to have fun with my husband prior to hypothetical child 2.

I think that is a very valid reason.

This is absolutely a valid reason. I know my child two turned into child 2 and 3 and my kids were less than 2 years apart but seriously, enjoy the time with your husband because you will be back in the trenches of survival again for a while with kid 2.

[Deleted]

I was away from j for 5 nights when I was on hospital bedrest with the girls we won't be away from the kids together until the girls wean.

[chickens987]

DD was born 9/2012. 3/2013 I was gone for 2 nights. 7/2013, 5 nights. 11/2013, 7 nights and 4 nights with a week between (that was the only trip for pleasure). 3/2014, I was gone for 8 nights for work and that was too many, but it was due to circumstances and not length.

[ilikedonuts]

I've just done the 2 nights in the hospital when DD2 was born. I am a complete neurotic spazz though.

Go enjoy yourself!