I'd be taking baby with me too. Newborns need antibodies. If your baby has a fever and is <3 months old, they are supposed to go to the NICU. You should not be traveling. The safest way to travel is to at least give baby your antibodies.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone with two kids who I didn’t leave until they were 2+ years, I think you are making a good decision to go help your dad. You will miss your child, but it’s only a week and I think you will really value this time with your father. Whatever you decide, sending you good thoughts.

In response to your question (sorry), as much as you can, try to prep meals, clean the house a bit, and have laundry done before leaving. That’ll make the days a little smoother for him.

I agree with all of this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone with two kids who I didn’t leave until they were 2+ years, I think you are making a good decision to go help your dad. You will miss your child, but it’s only a week and I think you will really value this time with your father. Whatever you decide, sending you good thoughts.

In response to your question (sorry), as much as you can, try to prep meals, clean the house a bit, and have laundry done before leaving. That’ll make the days a little smoother for him.

I hate that anyone expects a new mom to do all of this so that her husband doesn’t have to do anything but care for their newborn during a week in which mom has to travel and be caregiver to someone else. Caring for your 8-9 week old baby (who has been described as “easy” and already sleeping through the night) in your own home when you’re on leave from work is not going to be any harder than traveling, not getting to sleep in your own bed, and being caregiver to someone having serious health issues. A sickly older parent may actually be more difficult than an easy baby. OP’s Dh will be in the comfort of his own home, living his (new) normal life while OP is dealing with a family emergency so urgent that it necessitates her leaving her newborn and going to someone else’s home during a pandemic. It seems like her Dh should be trying to have the house picked up, laundry done, and a meal planned for when OP gets back home.

OP, if you’re the one handling a family emergency while your dh (whom you described as being perfectly capable of caring for your easy baby by himself) stays home, why do you feel you need to do something to make his week easier? Is there some reason beyond the fact that mothers always put everyone else’s wellbeing ahead of their own?

I doubt your father would want you leaving your newborn for a week to tend to him. There is a brand new person who needs you the most. Hire someone to help your father or have your husband help your father.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d hire a babysitter or get a family member to help your DH. The same as what I would have wanted if my DH had to leave for a week!

OP here. Why? My husband is capable of caring for his child. He is a grown man, not a child. Why do you feel men can't care for their own kids without a babysitter? He is very capable of handling our son for a week.

If that is so why are you asking us for ideas? Cant he figure it out if he is do smart and capable?

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This is not a debate on whether I should go. It's for tips on how to make the week easier for my husband and the baby.

Sorry op you arent a dictator and can control whag people write or think. Im sure your dh can handle taking care of your baby without you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 8 weeks I would not do this. If YOU needed life-saving surgery I would do it, otherwise no. If somebody is dying, they are going to die. Your baby's life has JUST started. They don't have vaccines, they only have the immunity they got from being inside your baby and maybe if you've been nursing. Somebody else can help with the family emergency. You have to prioritize your newborn.

Sorry. I know this sounds harsh and isn't what you want to hear. But it's absolutely what I would do.

I agree with the PP. At eight weeks I’m bringing baby with me, and if it’s an emergency that can’t be handled with a baby in tow, then I am not equipped to help either. Unless one of my other children were in dire circumstances I can’t imagine it.

I agree. The baby would be coming with me, no question.

The baby would prefer to stay in her routine, engaging and learning with her loving and capable dad!! Bringing the baby would only benefit the mother.

That said, pumping sucks so I'd much prefer to have the baby with me for that reason. But don't guilt trip this woman for absolutely no good reason.

Np. No baby would want to be away from his mother! How could you even think that if she brought him it would be only for her? For shame!

I get you think you have to do it but i would try to hire a vacation caregiver over leaving my infant. Your baby does meed you more than your dad. Sorry@

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 8 weeks I would not do this. If YOU needed life-saving surgery I would do it, otherwise no. If somebody is dying, they are going to die. Your baby's life has JUST started. They don't have vaccines, they only have the immunity they got from being inside your baby and maybe if you've been nursing. Somebody else can help with the family emergency. You have to prioritize your newborn.

Sorry. I know this sounds harsh and isn't what you want to hear. But it's absolutely what I would do.

I agree with the PP. At eight weeks I’m bringing baby with me, and if it’s an emergency that can’t be handled with a baby in tow, then I am not equipped to help either. Unless one of my other children were in dire circumstances I can’t imagine it.

another +1

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This is not a debate on whether I should go. It's for tips on how to make the week easier for my husband and the baby.

Husband and baby will be fine- I think the week will probably be physically/emotionally hardest on you. From a practical standpoint, even if you’re used to pumping/nursing, shifting to pumping only for a full week could be tough and result in plugged ducts/potential infections. You might try lecithin supplements to mitigate. I found occasionally switching to a hand held manual pump could also help unblock plugs. Prepping frozen meals seems like overkill to me since I’m sure your husband is capable of throwing something quick together or ordering delivery, but agree on stocking up ahead on whatever things he might need for the week.

Lots of posters likely just have jealousy that you have the ease of a 50/50 partner who can care for your baby. If DH is on leave and won't be juggling work things then just send him to the store ahead of time to shop for extra diapers and supplies and easy meals (better to send him to stretch since he won't be running around when you're gone and he can get what he wants) and do whatever tidying/laundry/etc can be done so he can chill and enjoy the baby who might be a little off without you nursing sometimes.

OP here. This is not a debate on whether I should go. It's for tips on how to make the week easier for my husband and the baby.

Anonymous wrote:I’d hire a babysitter or get a family member to help your DH. The same as what I would have wanted if my DH had to leave for a week!

OP here. Why? My husband is capable of caring for his child. He is a grown man, not a child. Why do you feel men can't care for their own kids without a babysitter? He is very capable of handling our son for a week.

Anonymous wrote:You should not leave an 8 week old. Your husband can go take care of your father for a week.

Why? The baby literally doesn’t know better.

I’d hire a babysitter or get a family member to help your DH. The same as what I would have wanted if my DH had to leave for a week!

You should not leave an 8 week old. Your husband can go take care of your father for a week.