Help me make a decision

[GreenGranolaMama]

nak... so my Dad and Stepmother were going to take DS for a while tonight so that DH and I could have a date... we haven't done anything together in MONTHS and I really could use a break.

However, my stepmom just called and said my teenage step sister stayed home from school today with a stomach bug... they said they still want to take him, and she could stay in her room and not hang out with them and the baby (although I know germs are not so easily confined sometimes... )

My Dad and stepmom have such busy schedules that I don't know if we are going to get another opportunity in the near future... he is still breastfeeding and has never been sick. WWYD?

I feel like an awful Mother for still wanting them to watch him, but DH and I really need some time together as we have kind of been on the outs lately. Thanks

[Ruthla]

How sick is sis? Is she still actively vomiting, or did she stay home from school because she was throwing up last night? If she's "out of sorts and not well enough for school" but not "throwing up and spewing germs everywhere" then I'd be more likely to take the risk.

Breastfed babies tend to be well protected against GI bugs- this is unlikely to cause the baby any serious harm, although there is a chance of the baby being uncomfortable for a few hours or days (and making your life miserable as well.) Is the chance of the baby being sick (and having to care for a sick baby and get no sleep) worth it for the "date night" with DH? Or do you think that any mental health benefits of baby-free time would be destroyed by dealing with a sick kiddo afterwards?

[lilylumos]

I agree with finding out how sick she is. I'd probably still let them babysit if she wasn't really bad!

My DS had a stomach bug a couple of weeks ago (spewed from a loft bed, but that's another horror story) and nobody else in the house got it, including my 15 month old DD who is still nursing.

[sunshynbaby]

I might feel more comfortable if one of them came to my house to babysit instead of taking the baby to the house where someone is sick.

[_ktg_]

I agree with everyone else - find out how sick sis is, and then go from there.

Personally I'm in favor of a little time-off (if the sister is not actively vomiting or otherwise) as mentally that pays off huge in dealing with l.o.

[GreenGranolaMama]

Hey Mamas, thanks for the advice- so we ended up going out to dinner and it was fantastic DS had fun at my parents house. My teen sis was 'miraculously' better and thinks it was something she ate at a friends house that made her sick... yeahhhh anyway, thanks again for the input!