Party With 8 Month Old

[Kempton]

Hi. Wonder if anyone can advise me.

We are going as a family to a party tomorrow evening. We are taking the baby with us and I just wondered if any mums could give me any advice on how best to get through it with a baby.

The party is in the evening and is going to be a noisy affair, with a live band and dancing. I already have a pair of headphones for my little one that we used at a festival.

I'm in two minds about whether I just make sure the baby has a really chilled day with loads of naps so he's really happy come evening time and can stay up a bit later than usual, or if I try and keep him awake and do shorter naps in the day, so he's knackered at night time and will sleep through. Or do I just stick to normal day routine and put him to sleep at his usual time in the pushchair and hope and pray the headphones work their magic??

I just want to stress that this is only my second night out since having him, so I want to enjoy myself but I won't be able to if I know my baby is unhappy, or he's fussing and crying loads. I will be breastfeeding but also plan on taking expressed milk so I can have the odd drink. And I'm hoping hubby will let me relax and let my hair down as much as possible, though my baby does love the boob to get to sleep.

I just wanna stress that this night is so important to me as it's been so tricky lately with teething and so many sleepless nights. I really need to feel like myself again and be able to relax a little... I'm not just someone over thinking things!! But of course I adore my boy and I won't enjoy myself at all if hea stressed out and overly tired/grumpy.

Thanks in advance (please help me wise mummies!).

[Hidden]

We had a family party last week too with DJ and obviously very loud. Even if you plan to try and do loads of naps etc it never goes to plan lol. I wanted my LG to have a later nap so she didn’t get so ratty as the evening wore on but that didn’t happen. We were only planning to stay until 9pm anyway. She was absolutely fine as she had lots of attention and enjoyed looking at everything.

Just take loads of toys and maybe an iPad with his fave programme on? If you can get him to nap loads that will probably help xx

[Kempton in reply to Hidden]

He's such a big baby lol. If he's not in bed by 7 he's such a drama queen. I'll try and do lots of naps then but you are right... It never goes to plan! My mum will be there so I'm sure she'll help and hubby has already said he'll make sure I have a good time 😆

[Hidden in reply to Kempton]

Aw I’m sure it will be absolutely fine. Hope you have lovely time xx

[jupiter1234]

My little one is 7 months and we had a family party. I just kept to normal things during the day and hoped for the best at night she did go to sleep her normal time 7pm but did wake up at 9pm ready to party with everyone as she wouldn't go back to sleep luckily she did go back to sleep when we got home at 11ish and slept through til 8am.

Hope you have a fab night.. I'm sure all the family will want to spend time with the little one too.

[Kempton in reply to jupiter1234]

That'd be the dream... I'd love him to join in but he's so grumpy when he's tired. And you're right, the family will defo help me out! I feel more chilled and excited now 😆

[Hidden]

Mine could sleep through the noise but they were older I don’t think I went out with them that young that I can remember. I’d probably just keep the day routine the same and hope he’s tired he probably wake up but go back off.

[Kempton in reply to Hidden]

Yep I'll keep to the normal routine then. Lots of naps, a nice walk and tonight mummy is ready to part-ay! 😂

[Major2116]

You're putting so much pressure on yourself hun. It's not like you're going out on the town and leaving your baby at home.

We took our 7 month old to our friends surprise 30th and he was fine. We didn't change his routine or anything in the day and he had a nap while we were at the party. There was a DJ and everything there.

He doesn't like to miss anything so we did have to walk him round the car park for a few laps haha xx

[Kempton in reply to Major2116]

It's really just because I haven't been out in so long I want to be able to enjoy it and not be stressing that he'd tired, grumpy, hungry. But I feel ex cited now as daddy has reassured me that we'll be there together so all the pressure is not on me

[Hidden]

All of the above. Also, dont worry about taking expressed milk with you, its perfectly safe to have a few drinks and still nurse, the amount of alcohol that makes it into your breast milk is tiny and you would literally need to drink so much you wouldn't be safe to hold the baby for the alcohol in your milk to be enough to be a concern. Kellymom has some great, peer reviewed, articles on alcohol and breastmilk xx

[Kempton in reply to Hidden]

It's also because my outfit is not breastfeeding friendly!! I'll have to take my top off entirely (but going to wear a vest top underneath). I know that's a bit silly of me but I want to look nice for a change (I've not quite got to the point of yummy mummy yet) and I didn't have time to go shopping sp borrowing something off a friend that is not breastfeeding friendly but is glamorous

[Kempton]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Baby had a little snooze at the party but was well up for joining in until gone 11!

No lie on for any of us This morning but we had a great time

[Hidden in reply to Kempton]

Glad you had a lovely time xx

[Flowersz]

I wouldn't worry and stress, keep the normal day routine as it normally is and then in the evening just make sure uve got his normal bedtime routine out him down in the pram with a blackout cover over it so he will think hes in his cot. We did this with my nearly 3 year old even recently on hols in Wales and she slept through a live magical act and two live bands there were kids running around too n she didnt miss a wink of sleep carried her out of the pushchair into her bed wen we got back about 11pm from the onsite club. She had one night up and running round in the club too as she had a late long afternoon nap n was really well behaved not at all grumpy which meant mummy could enjoy a drink or two as well. Enjoy ur party and dont stress let the family help too it's great to have many hands they make light work x