https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 14 May 2026 08:00:10 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760438 Thu, 20 Jul 2017 16:24:41 +0000 bubbletrouble 2760438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I left my 8 month old baby for 7 days. I knew months in advance that I was taking this trip so I had time to prepare my freezer stash. He did fine with the bottle! He was a little resistant to breastfeed when I returned, but it only lasted a day :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760422 Thu, 20 Jul 2017 15:53:10 +0000 snowjewelz 2760422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: I was somehow assuming (since this is my own situation) that she has enough in the freezer to feed her for the week while she will be pumping to make up for it. If that's not the case, I don't even know HOW one can make a a week's extra on an already mediocre supply! That really would be so stressful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760415 Thu, 20 Jul 2017 15:34:22 +0000 PawPrints 2760415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really feel like the people suggesting you leave her - maybe are missing the fact that you'd have to build up an entire week's stash in just the next few weeks. That sounds extremely stressful. If you're trying to make it to 12 months of breastfeeding and you don't have a stash built up, I really don't even feel like it's a legit question. Gotta take her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760412 Thu, 20 Jul 2017 15:23:34 +0000 psw27 2760412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I left my oldest for 5 days at that age to go to a wedding. It was amazing! I really got to feel like my old self a little bit and relax with DH. We only had one child at the time.... However I totally get you on the grandparent willingness to watch in the future if the trip goes bad... My MIL had a rough watch of our oldest last year and now I think that bridge is burned. If my LO was still waking up at night I wouldn't expect anyone to watch him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760352 Thu, 20 Jul 2017 13:10:22 +0000 birdofafeather 2760352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>for a 5 night trip at that age, i would feel more comfortable bringing a 9 month old (i've left both my girls younger than that while EBF for 2 nights). so if it were me, i would probably leave them all but cut the trip to 3 nights, but be gone as soon as i could in the morning to as late as possible in the evening, so 4 days, 3 nights. kid free vacations don't come along often, so i would do my best to make it work without them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760263 Thu, 20 Jul 2017 10:28:41 +0000 snowjewelz 2760263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmmm... This is a tough one! I think if I went on this trip without kids, I'd shorten my trip though so grandparents don't have to deal with all 3 for so many nights. </p> <p>With that said, how is the baby at night? Still wakes to nurse? Do you cosleep? Can anyone put her to bed? Those are all things I'd have to consider. I imagine your oldest will be fine so they're just left to tackle the younger 2....</p> <p>To me, bringing a baby will still be a lot more work than pumping. I don't have great supply so I totally get it; but if you're mostly staying at the bed &amp; breakfast, maybe you can just plan it out so that you are able to pump in between each "activity"? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760231 Thu, 20 Jul 2017 09:04:10 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2760231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd leave the baby and enjoy child-free time. I don't think you can compare pumping to having a baby along with you. I'd do it in a heartbeat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760229 Thu, 20 Jul 2017 08:25:58 +0000 kayla0416 2760229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I left my ebf baby with my parents for 2 nights at 8 months, BUT she was sleeping through the night. I don't know if I'd want to inconvenience parents with night wakings, but if they offered, I would definitely consider it! I think it will help to have her older siblings there too, so I'd be more comfortable with that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760202 Thu, 20 Jul 2017 06:29:27 +0000 Adira 2760202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I kind of think it depends on what you're going to be doing while on vacation. I left my 5 month old for 2 months to go to a wedding and it was fine, but it was annoying to have to return to my hotel room every 3 hours to pump, but it also wasn't too inconvenient since we stayed the whole time on the hotel grounds, so I could easily go back to my room to pump and store the milk.</p> <p>If you wanted to do any sort of day-trips while on vacation, I would think that would be easier to do with your baby than having to deal with figuring out how to pump on the go and store milk. It's doable, but also a pain, in my opinion. I always liked the ease of just being able to nurse and not deal with needing an outlet to plug in my pump, a private place to pump, and a place to store the pumped milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760201 Thu, 20 Jul 2017 06:24:05 +0000 Pumuckl 2760201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're in a similar situation and we'll take the twins and leave the big kids with the grandparents. Like you we feel we don't get to spend much one on one time with them so it'll be fun and still feel like a vacation when you don't have to deal with all 4. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760197 Thu, 20 Jul 2017 05:53:53 +0000 pachamama 2760197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd either take the baby or shorten the trip. I hate to say it as I'm sure you need a break! but worrying about her eating and pumping constantly would really suck. It's hard traveling when they're young :-/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760159 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 20:09:22 +0000 tysonja 2760159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>is it possible to leave baby for 2-3 days with the grandparents and then have her join you for the last 2-3 days? it sounds like you are staying fairly local to where they will be staying :). might be best of both worlds :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760153 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 19:26:34 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2760153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Leave the baby and enjoy some childfree time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760151 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 19:18:18 +0000 KayKay 2760151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd leave the baby. All of mine have been relatively easy going and happy, but it's still really nice to not have to work around naptimes, bedtimes, etc (and I'd be nervous they wouldn't do well if we were super off-schedule for 5 days...). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760150 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 19:13:59 +0000 Charm54 2760150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would leave the baby and enjoy a kid free vacation :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760147 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 19:09:50 +0000 gingerbebe 2760147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would leave the baby. They are often more flexible when they have to be. But I would cut the trip to 2-3 days and be clear that your folks can call u back early at any time. I don't personally find pumping that big of a deal if there's a mini fridge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760132 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 18:07:33 +0000 ElbieKay 2760132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would take the baby because I really really really really hate pumping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760128 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 17:57:00 +0000 LemonJack 2760128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's a hard call! If you were only going to be gone a couple of nights I'd definitely say to leave her, but five nights might be a little hard, although I suspect it may be hardest on you!</p> <p>I think a lot of this depends on your baby and how you think she'll do. I do think that if it's possible to go alone, it would be an excellent opportunity for you and DH to reconnect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760123 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 17:38:09 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2760123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I personally would leave her if you're leaving the older two. But take that with a grain of salt- I travel monthly (although they are with their daddy and grandma, and very used to this routine.) I will be leaving #3 at a young age too. I would think with 3 kids it would be good for you and your DH to get some alone time, and 9 months isn't that young. BUT if your lo isn't used to being without you at all, I might not, because separation anxiety at that age could be more difficult than, say, at 4 or 5 months. Also, I only BF/pumped with #1 for 6 weeks, and FF'd #2 (medical reasons), plus started my traveling schedule when LO2 was already over a year old, BUT with #3 I plan to combo feed and I think there will be some degree of pumping and dumping, and some storing of milk.</p> <p>Ultimately it's what you are comfortable with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760116 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 17:19:08 +0000 matador84 2760116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends on your feelings at the point you're in in life. With my LO1 and LO2, I wouldn't even have considered taking a vacation (and never did) and not bringing them along. With LO3 coming, I would honestly probably just leave them behind because they will be just fine and I know at the point I'm at in my life now I REALLY need a vacation. I nursed for 13 months and 29 months so I totally get it, but honestly, there comes a point when it's nice to adult for a weekend and not have to worry about child-anything! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760114 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 17:13:45 +0000 Calibee 2760114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: I left my exclusively breastfed baby for two nights at eight months old. She was not a big fan of the bottle at the time, and pumping to get enough milk to leave with my parents was pretty annoying. As was pumping on vacation--although I did not pump as many times per day as my baby would have been nursing and this did not affect my supply upon return, it just left me really full between pumping sessions. </p> <p>That said, it was so fun to be kid-free for a few days! I would do it all over again--actually, I plan to. I'll be leaving my then five month old and two and a half year old for two nights this fall. Personally, I think the hassles involved are worth it for a chance to get away with your husband to reconnect without kids around. You can focus on each other, focus on yourself, and come home to the kids fresh and recharged. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760110 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 17:05:39 +0000 PinkElephant 2760110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pinkcupcake: Aside from my feelings of attachment to DD3, I'm worried that if I leave her and she's inconsolable, it will impact my inlaws desire to take all three kids in the future :) :) :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760107 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 16:55:41 +0000 PawPrints 2760107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I wouldn't really want to leave a baby behind for multiple nights at all before 12 months due to the nursing/pumping hassle. I'd take her with you and try to do some nice evenings out if you can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760105 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 16:50:22 +0000 pinkcupcake 2760105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At that age, I would def take her. I have a 1 year old and I can't imagine leaving him overnight (he nurses all day and needs me to put him down at night) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760104 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 16:48:16 +0000 PinkElephant 2760104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pinkcupcake: @snowjewelz: @PawPrints: Eek sorry! Was not being very careful while I typed that :) She's 9 months old. We'd originally thought beach trip, but it's just not prime season for any of the places we'd go, so most likely it'll be to a place in Canada not too far from Niagara Falls - about a 2.5-3 hour drive from where we're leaving the big girls. The resort is an upscale bed and breakfast, but not exclusively no kids. She's generally a very easy going and happy baby, so meal times shouldn't be a (huge) problem, and I'm open to using UrbanSitter/Care.com to hire a sitter for 1-2 nicer dinners if needed. </p> <p>I'm also very open to leaving her, I just feel like pumping enough to sustain supply will be annoying enough/put hitches in our plans similar enough to having a child along that I wonder if I might as well bring her. It might be fun to do something alone with her; I don't imagine we'll have too many chances to treat her like an only child in this way until she's much older and her big sisters are away at school! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760096 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 16:24:17 +0000 PawPrints 2760096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How old is she? </p> <p>Based on the info you provided, if it were me, I'd take her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760089 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 16:09:02 +0000 snowjewelz 2760089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Where are you going? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760079 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 15:56:01 +0000 pinkcupcake 2760079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How old is she? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-to-take-the-baby-or-leave-her#post-2760073 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 15:53:14 +0000 PinkElephant 2760073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My in laws are going to watch DDs 1 &amp; 2 while DH and I take a 5 day vacation in a few weeks. They've offered to watch DD3 as well. As much as I'd like a kid-free holiday, I am feeling like it just might not work. Although she eats 3 meals of mostly purees, DD3 is still nursing at least 3-4 times per day and an additional 1-2 times overnight. I don't have a great milk stash, but with a lot of work I could probably get enough in time, assuming we do mixed formula/breastmilk bottles (which she has mostly been rejecting recently if they are too formula-heavy). I'd like to breastfeed for at least one year, so I would need to pump while away. </p> <p>What would you do? Take the baby, or leave her at home (and possibly cut it to 3-4 days to make the milk thing more manageable)? </p>