How to prepare DS (10 mos) for my first evening away?

[acupuncturemomma]

He'll probably be fine...But, if there's anything I can do to make it easier on him, I'd like to know!

He is 10 months old, and I have not left him for longer than a couple of hours. I'm planning to go rock out with my favorite band in the city (2 hrs away) and I'll probably be gone from about 4 pm-2 am.

I have a tiny bit of milk frozen from when I had mastitis and had to rent a pump, but otherwise, no breastmilk stored. Should I try to have more on hand for him? He does still nurse a ton, although he eats "real food" well too.

DH will be with him, and grandma is coming to help with DS and DD. It's just that I have been his primary caregiver, so don't know how he'll do without me.

Any point in having DH try to put him to bed before the day comes just to see? Normally DS nurses to sleep in the Mei Tai and then I transfer him to the bed.

I'm almost thinking DS can manage for one evening...and that trying to plan for it is somewhat pointless.

[toughcookie]

Originally Posted by acupuncturemomma

I have a tiny bit of milk frozen from when I had mastitis and had to rent a pump, but otherwise, no breastmilk stored. Should I try to have more on hand for him? He does still nurse a ton, although he eats "real food" well too.

Any point in having DH try to put him to bed before the day comes just to see? Normally DS nurses to sleep in the Mei Tai and then I transfer him to the bed.

regarding the first point: PUMP!! if you don't have a pump just do it by hand if you can. if i was in your shoes i'd have a bag with a few ounces - nothing major - in the freezer earmarked for that, just in case he falls to pieces ON THAT ONE NIGHT. better to be prepared than get back to an exhausted, exasperated DH!

regarding the second point, it seems like a good idea. we have very recently (15 days or so) instituted bedtime routine, so i can have some freedom when DH gets home. it consists of dinner with boobs, then a daddy-only dinner of purees/chunks, bath with daddy watching, books with daddy. the routine has made a huge difference! he goes down easily now. it is really only the routine that we've been working on, and what a difference.

what you also need to consider is that your DH might have to get up to feed him before you get home, right? can he do that successfully from bottle?

[hakeber]

I would pump. I typically leave 16-20 oz for a peroid of 6-8 hours, though she rarely eats more than 16.

Have a great time and try not to worry. I'm sure they'll be fine.

[kismetbaby]

I have now left my LO (same age) with DH for bedtime 2x in the past 2 months. . .I was very worried the first time, but they did fine. Even though I am always the one to do bedtime normally, they figured out there own rhythm. Does your LO like being in a carrier? that's how my DH got my DS to bed. . .since he is used to nursing to sleep I wasn't sure how it would work, but DH just wore him in the ergo when he was tired and he fell asleep like that.

As for the milk, kinda depends I guess. My DS has never been partial to a bottle, he'll take a little bit, but isn't wild about it. So both times I have left some milk, but it hasn't been needed. My DH would make a bottle. but report that DS didn't really drink it. So for us, it seems better for DH to feed him food and then comfort him in other ways. But you should probably have some on hand just in case.

I'm sure it will be just fine!

[hakeber]

My dh wears the babes to bed as well! He pops them in the carrier and walks the halls singing the theme song from the Flintstones...it's so cute!

[CookAMH]

The only thing we did was to have DH put our DS to bed once or twice before I was away from him for bedtime the first time, so that wasn't a new thing that night and I wasn't available. It worked fine. And he really will be fine with you gone . Have fun!

[acupuncturemomma]

Thanks, mamas!

Maybe I will rent a pump again (which is a PITA) so I can leave more milk--then I have that angle covered. Although DS has never had a bottle. I was assuming he'd drink the milk via sippy cup, so don't know how much more than the tiny bit I have frozen he would drink. Isn't it a tricky thing to introduce a bottle? Is he likely to guzzle ounce after ounce if he's never had a bottle before?

Yes, DS loves being carried and DH has successfully put him down for naps via the ERGO, so I think that'll work ok! Not so sure about what'll happen if DS wakes up after going to bed...No boob there next to him in bed to help him get back to sleep.

Can't believe I'll be out alone! DH and I have only gone out once since DD was born (she's almost 4!) Unhealthy, yes. So this will be a real treat, though I'll wish DH were with me.

[hakeber]

Originally Posted by acupuncturemomma

Thanks, mamas!

Maybe I will rent a pump again (which is a PITA) so I can leave more milk--then I have that angle covered. Although DS has never had a bottle. I was assuming he'd drink the milk via sippy cup, so don't know how much more than the tiny bit I have frozen he would drink. Isn't it a tricky thing to introduce a bottle? Is he likely to guzzle ounce after ounce if he's never had a bottle before?

Yes, DS loves being carried and DH has successfully put him down for naps via the ERGO, so I think that'll work ok! Not so sure about what'll happen if DS wakes up after going to bed...No boob there next to him in bed to help him get back to sleep.

Can't believe I'll be out alone! DH and I have only gone out once since DD was born (she's almost 4!) Unhealthy, yes. So this will be a real treat, though I'll wish DH were with me.

You could put milk in a sippy cup, too. doesn't hurt them. That's generally how DD takes it now. She's 6 mo. She takes a bottle at night with dh (I sometimes take a night off to get tipsy with my girlfriends) and we notice she controls the flow by pinching the nipple with her fingers.

Your DH will figure it out! Have FUN!