Should I take 4mo on a biz trip?

[cymbeline]

I am supposed to go to a trade show in Las Vegas in a few weeks. I don't have a booth, I'm attending as a buyer to try to make some contacts and look for new products. My youngest is now almost 4 months old, and I am totally stressing about going.

I will leave on a Weds. night and return two days later on Friday night. I have not been able to pump a thing, so we give him formula every once in a while (but not for two days straight) and he hasn't had any negative reaction, but he isn't really used to the bottle nipple either. I'm terrified that I will ruin our nursing relationship if I go.

DH is totally behind my going alone, and I think secretly he is hoping this will help them bond a little more, too. I've been thinking about taking the babe with me. It would be very awkward, and would probably hurt my networking abilities... I think I would operate professionally at about 50%.

Any thoughts, suggestions???

[Kreeblim]

We took a 9 month old to a convention where we had a booth. Babies are creatures of routine, and he was REALLY out of whack due to the travel, sleep disruption, lack of usual surroundings etc. I was sleep deprived, unable to hold to an actual schedule, and others tended to be very kind, but to take us much less professionally. Food and diaper breaks while trying to talk business were stressful.

You can do it if you really want to make it work, but this is a situation where you might end up feeling stressed out no matter which way you go. The best situation would be if your DH or a friend could come along for the trip so that you are not completely seperated, but are still able to act in a professional manner during the day. Believe me it is worth EVERY penny of an extra plane ticket.

[batsister]

I would say this depends largely on what your responsibilities will be and on your baby's temperament. A couple of months ago, I took my then 3.5-month-old to an academic conference on my own. I had a friend hold him during my own 15-minute talk, and during one other talk I really wanted to hear, but otherwise, I wore him and attended sessions when he was quiet or asleep and stepped out if he got "talkative." It didn't seem to hurt my networking, as I could talk with people between sessions, have meals with people, etc. just as easily with a babe in tow. I WAS really really tired by the end of it and attended fewer sessions than I otherwise would have, but overall it went well.

Is your baby happy to be worn for long periods of time? Is s/he generally quiet or talkative? Is there a possibility of someone (a family member or friend) going with you and watching your baby during some of the time? Could you look up a babysitter local to the place you're going to watch your child during times you really need to be baby-free? These are some options I would consider if I were in your shoes. Whatever you decide and work out, good luck!

[mckittre]

Is your baby OK being held by strangers? That could help a lot. I took my 9 month old on a month-and-a-half-long book tour, but my husband was with me, so I could run the show alone if necessary. Either way you go, your baby will do fine, I'm sure.

[askew]

I worked with both of my babies. When DS was little I traveled every month for work, but I would have child care arranged when I got to where I was going. MIL and SIL helped, DH came to my conference. It was tough. The week I went to a conference I thought DH might kill himself. He texted me constantly about how bad it was going and DS was 13 months old already!

With DD I bring her with me, and she does fine. She is 6 months now and has worked 2 days a week with me in the field (I am in sales) and come to two conferences that were each 2 days. As long as I feed her every two hours or so, she will happily lay on a blanket on the floor checking things out, and sleep in the mai tai while I walk or eat lunch.

I found it much easier to work with baby than to leave baby. When I left DS I worried about him, and he did not take it all that well. With DD I just bring her, and it is much less stressful to have her with me. I would totally bring her to a trade show.