Work trip to Hawaii -- wwyd?

[Anonymous]

So I have the "opportunity" to go to Hawaii for a work trip in early November. After reading about the horrors of major time differences and the effect on babies' sleep, I'm convinced it is NOT a good idea to bring DS and subject him to a 6-hr time difference. He'll be 9 mos at the time. My parents live near San Francisco, so an alternative is to stop there on the way out, leave him with them (which they would LOVE) for a couple of days, then stop back and pick him up on the way home. While I would love to bring DH and go to Hawaii on the company dime, it's all sounding like more trouble than it's worth with the pumping, potential effect on my supply, air travel and logistics craziness. Plus, will he have stranger anxiety at that point and freak out to be left with his grandparents he hasn't seen since he was 3 mos? Leaving him at home with the nanny during the day and DH at night is an option. I could also just refuse to go without major consequences -- just a disappointed boss. What would you do?

[Anonymous]

Have you ever flown with him? I think dropping him in SF seems like a huge hassle. But that's just me. Also depends on how good your parents are with babies and whether they have the stamina etc. Assuming you think they'll do fine. I'd personally leave with DH and the nanny unless your husband's job is crazy or something and could impact his ability to manage the baby. If he's never stayed home with the baby alone, it's probably a good opportunity to make sure he is up to the task and give him confidence for the future.

[Anonymous]

i would your hubby and kid to hawaii. no better time to travel than while they're still portable. we flew a ton in my daughter's first year of life and suffered no horribly ill effects of jet lag.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't go, but I am admittedly not on the "fast track" and can get away with not traveling for work because I can live without the promotions, etc.... I just think pumping and dumping for an entire week would make it not worth it at all. That being said, Hawaii is wonderful and maybe you'd have to pump and dump anyway due to all the Mai tais!

[Anonymous]

17:18 again - right I would take the baby and DH if you can get some time on the weekends and if he is okay hanging out alone all day with the baby etc. What are the pumping concerns with taking them that wouldn't be there if you didn't take them?

Also, just an FYI, I had a rude awakening that flying with a 10 month old is a lot more work than with a newborn-4 month old. We flew a lot early on and it was pretty easy b/c the baby didn't do anything. This time, I had to plan ahead with a lot more tricks to constantly distract him. The 3 hr flight to Florida was tiring.

[Anonymous]

Just bring the kid and hubby - how bad can anything be in Hawaii?

[Anonymous]

I would take the extra effort to take your son to SF to stay with his grandparents. If they haven't had a chance to spend a lot of time with him, they would probably really appreciate having this week. When grandparents live far away (and especially if they are still working so they don't have lots of flexibility), these chances mean a lot. This seems like it could be a win-win for everyone. You get a little time away to relax and focus on your career. DH gets a few days alone to eat take out and hang with his friends. Your parents get to be hands-on grandparents for a week.

[Anonymous]

9 months is also a good time to wean. You could start a little while before you go and use this as an opportunity to make the change.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to sat that 9 months is actually NOT a good time to wean unless you are really wanting to wean.

I have traveled coast to coast with my son. The time difference sucks but it's not terrible. Bring DH and you can trade off. The transition BACK is much easier than out there, but we've done it 3 times and it only took a day or two. Really, it's not that bad. Promise!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would take the extra effort to take your son to SF to stay with his grandparents. If they haven't had a chance to spend a lot of time with him, they would probably really appreciate having this week. When grandparents live far away (and especially if they are still working so they don't have lots of flexibility), these chances mean a lot. This seems like it could be a win-win for everyone. You get a little time away to relax and focus on your career. DH gets a few days alone to eat take out and hang with his friends. Your parents get to be hands-on grandparents for a week.

I've done this with my kids and it has allowed for great bonding with my family. They are super close partly because I took opportunities like this.

[Anonymous]

The difference between a 5 hr time change and a 9 hr time change isn't that much. The kid will be messed up regardless. Personally I would drop him off in SF.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, difference between time difference between dropping him in SF and taking him to Hawaii. Not 9 hr.

[Anonymous]

I have a week-long work trip in january to hawaii. DH and I will drop off then 2.5 yo DD with granparents in LA and then spend almost 2 weeks in hawaii. part business, part vacation. grandparents could not be happier about the idea.

[Anonymous]

Make it either a solo trip or a family trip to Hawaii. Have fun. Either way you will have a blast!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The difference between a 5 hr time change and a 9 hr time change isn't that much. The kid will be messed up regardless. Personally I would drop him off in SF.

Why? I don't understand the resistance of so many posters to the idea of having a 9 month old visit with his or her grandparents. The OP doesn't indicate that she thinks the grandparents aren't up to the care.