Husband Won Vacation to Las Vegas...

I'm casting my vote for "go and have a good time." This is a rare treat no matter how you look at it and the kids will be fine.

I would go in a heartbeat! You'll have a wonderful time. I think part of the reason my first marriage failed was because I didn't spend enough time doing things like this and spent all my time with the kids. Please go!

She is 11 months, not a newborn. She will be just fine and it will give your parents a chance to bond with her and your son while you get to have a FREE vacay with your hunny! Bring the kids back a special something from Vegas and go have a kid-free blast! :) When we went to Vegas for a week this summer (with our little 3 ones) we ran into a couple our same age who came there without their kiddos - I must say I was a little jealous because there is not all that much to do in the evening hours while keeping your kids safe (in my opinion) but SOO much to do if you are there as only adults. You guys will have a blast. GO. :) :)

Go! Go! Go! Have a blast and enjoy a trip alone with hubby! Your parents will take wonderful care of your babies, I'm sure. How many opportunities like this do you get? Not too many...so GO!! Vegas is so much fun, you will have a great time. :)

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

The anticipation of leaving them is ALWAYS worse than when you actually do it. Don't get me wrong, you're gonna cry!!! But YOU WILL ALSO HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME. And you will get some much deserved R&R, time to reconnect with hubby, and you will come home a BETTER MOM for your babies. And they will get some very delicious time with the grandparents, who in all likelihood, will spoil them rotten and love every minute of it.

Have a wonderful trip!

Go Go Go! You will have a great time and it is only 3 nights. Your kids will have fun with their grandparents!

I went to a conference for three nights once when one of my kids was around that age. It was great. I pumped enough milk for the baby and brought my pump with me, I had to pump about every 4 hours or so. My position on this has always been: you should want your kids to be comfortable staying with someone else, just in case they HAVE to at some point. This is a perfect opportunity for you to get some time alone with your husband AND let the kids learn they can be without you for a few days and be ok. If your parents are ok with it, all the better.

I say GO!

Yup, go and have fun. Opportunities like this don't come often. 3 nights is not that bad to be away and should be tolerable for your parents.

I say go!
My husband and I travelled for lots of business things when the kids were little and they did just fine with it. They got used to it, in fact, and we missed the kids more than they missed us.
3 nights will seem longer to you than to them.
Go with your husband and have a great time!
Like I said, my kids got used to it so there was never an issue of crying or clinging (except on my part) but once we were gone, I had a great time. My kids were loving being with Nannie and Grandpay and in no hurry to go back home.

Have fun with your husband. Your kids will be fine. It's not every day you get a chance to go to Vegas with your husband.

You will miss your kids, no doubt, but they will be just fine.

Have a blast!

Go and have a good time! Its only 3 nights and who knows when the chance will come up again!

Hi C.!

I would go to Vegas. I think it's important for you to go because it's time for you and your hubby to be together. You probably don't get a ton of time, just the two of you.

I can't speak to the breastfeeding issue because I haven't had to deal with that... I'm sure other people will touch on it though.

Good luck to you.

I would go in an instant! =) Who knows when else you might get some alone time.

GO!! GO!! GO!!
as to your concern about leaving your baby for that long, they are the grandparents and can handle any situation..better than just a sitter or a friend., they have unconditional love for those kids just like you do.
GO!! GO!! GO!!

GO! have a great time in Vegas!

I'm sorry but this is a no brainer if you are comortable with your parents wathching your kids...GO! ...and DO NOT take your 11 month old to Vegas. If you do that, you might as well take your 4 1/2 year old and parents and make it a family trip (I have done that before). You can do that anywhere...Vegas is all about the night life for adults, it's not for kids. Go and enjoy some time with your hubby.

I left my 4, 2 and 3 1/2 month old for my husband's company trip toCancun and was freaking out about it up until I got to the airport....the pumping, my parents watching the kids, my parents doing night feedings, missing them, etc. They were fine and my husband and I had a great time even though I had to pump every three hours. We came back refreshed. Your 11 month old who will be 1 next month will be fine. Go on the trip and have a great time...IT'S VEGAS BABY!!!!

GO GO GO GO GO GO GO...did I say GO!!!!!

Good Lord...do not look a gift horse in the mouth! You have a free trip and people who will WILLINGLY watch your children. I would give body parts to have either much less both.

GO!!! :-)

Go and have fun! What a great opportunity. One of the best things you can do as a parent is strengthen your marriage and having quality alone time is critical. Three days is such a short trip. We just left our kids for a week with grandparents and everyone had a great time. If your parents offered, they're ready. Just be sure to give them a good "kid instruction" sheet, a medical authorization form, pediatrician #, etc. so you feel reassured they have all they need. Then go and have a terrific time!

Take the baby. That's what I'd do.

My husband and I have left our autistic twin boys with my mom or his mom, quite a bit when they were infants (and we still leave them with either his mom or mine, when we want to go away for a few days). Our boys did just fine. Truthfully, they're more used to my mom than they are my mother-in-law. The husband and I just recently went to Vegas this past March and left our sons with my mother-in-law. They did great and had a lot of fun bonding with their grandma.
If I were you, I'd see it as a chance to spend some quality alone time with your husband AND a chance for your kids to bond with their grandparents.

Go, My husband and i just went on our first alone trip in over 7 yrs. We have a 6 yr old and 1 1/2 yr old. Let me say AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!! Long over due. Deffinately go! You have plenty of time to start stocking up some milk and she's almost a year anyways. Maybe she will be when you go? Then she can have cows milk. Its hard leaving a breastfed baby, but the kids will be fine. I left mine with my dad and my baby didnt even cry for me once. The nerve. LOL

That is a tought situation. I know moms that have flown their daughter from Arizona to Oregon to let the daughter spend the entire week with grandparents. I couldn't do it, and never have as a mother, but moms do it. If the grandparents have agreed to it, then I'm sure the kids will be fine. Just call as often as possible and get assurance. I think that is just too long to stay in a hotel with kids. Just leave lots of milk and food. I'm sure the son will be helpful also. Or, take a friend to help watch the kids in the hotel. Good luck on your choice.

I faced that for a work trip when my first child was 4 months old. My husband, ironically, also had a different business trip the same week, so my mom had to fly out to help (we have no family close by).

I did take my pump as I was gone from Sunday-Thursday. I dumped the milk because it would have been impossible to keep refrigerated and safe for him, but I kept my supplies up.

I don't like leaving them (now have 2 kids ages 2 and 4). But, my job requires travel over night ~once every quarter. We skype which helps.

Your son will likely be perfectly OK. You'll probably have a harder time. Only you and your husband can make the decision. Is it not possible to take your son with you? If so, it would certainly be my preference.

Good luck with your decision.

It makes perfect sense why you are uneasy about going, that is a big decision and it's always tough to leave your kids (even if it is with your own family) for more than a few hours if you aren't used to doing it.
I have a 16 month old and 3 1/2 year old and I have to travel every year for work (I work from home but have to go out of town once a year). Each year I have to leave for 3 days. My husband watches the kids so I know it's different but I am telling you because I have exclusively breastfed both my kids and while I was away I pumped. When I came back they took back to nursing completely fine. I spoke to a lactation consultant before I left and she assured me that once you already have a good bf relationship established it's okay to take a break for a few days and baby should be just fine to go right back when you return home. And, she was right!
In fact, I am still nursing my 16 month old.
I would love to think that if I had an opportunity to go away with my husband (without kids) that I would take it. You will be nervous initially but you may find that you and your husband can really use the quality, alone time. It may do wonders for the two of you to just be the two of you again :) If you do go, I hope you enjoy yourself and if you don't go I am sure there will be an opportunity to go in the future when your kids get a little older so try not beat yourself up either way :):):)

I think it depends on how much you trust your parents to be able to take care of them.
We would leave our kids with my parents with no problem but we wouldn't with my husband's mother. She is a very sweat lady but she has some medical problems therefor we only feel ok to leave the kids with her if we are near by (we live very close to her house).
If you trust your parents I would absolutely go, have fun and sleep as much I could.

GO. If you and your husband haven't had a vacation, this wil lbe really good for you both. If you are concerned about being gone three nights, come home by yourself a day earlier. At least you'll get a little time away and some time to yourself

I'd take the baby with me or stay home with both. The 4.5 year old might be OK with your parents, but not the baby. You would likely be miserable if you left her anyway. About 3 years ago I flew with our then 23 month old from PHX to LV to meet my husband who had a business meeting there. We spent the weekend in LV and flew back as a family. It was really a lot of fun. Of course we only went to "kid friendly" events and restaurants. We walked the strip n the afternoon, went to the M & M factory, a carnival, and a few other things. Then it was out to a fabulous Thai restaurant one evening, and another family friendly restaurant the next. Our expectations were different than most who go to LV. We didn't have any interest in bar hopping or gambling. We just wanted a fun family adventure. Never regret it. My husband and I both believe that separation early in a child's life is not ideal for building trust and security. So, if we can't take our kids with us when they are babies and toddlers, we just don't go. Before kids we used to travel all over Europe, and we figure that day will come again. But for now, we have 3 precious little bundles that need us. Best wishes in making a good decision. R., midwife Mom of 3

Do you trust your parents? If yes, GO!

Take the pump and ask for a mini-fridge in your room, so you can bring the milk home with you. Be prepared for your bag to be searched by TSA officials who don't know what a breast-pump is! : )

I hope you go and have a great time.

p.s. In this answer, I am assuming your baby knows your parents all ready. Otherwise, yes, it would be a tough age for a 3-day split. But if the baby knows them, go go go! : )

Go. When my son was a baby, we knew we were going on vacation around when he was 15 months old and my husband wanted me to wean him by then so we could have an overnight away leaving my son with parents (who we were visiting then). Oh how I agonized over it! Oh how my son did NOT! LOL. He was perfectly willing to quit drinking milk (he didn't go to "regular" milk either) but up until then, it was such a hard struggle for me, but really it wasn't a big deal. Now I realize she's only 12 instead of 15 months but if you want to continue nursing, bring along your pump and it'll be fine. She may be thrilled, or, she may not care less, when you're back for her to feed from.

Go have fun! Your kids will live, and so will you, and you'll be rejuvenated & happier parents for having that away time together.

I think you deserve it!!

I traveled to Europe for work when my little boy was 11 months old and my parents watched him for 5 nights. I was also nursing, although at that point, he too was on solids and not taking as much milk.

I brought my breastpump and pumped several times a day while I was away, and my parents gave him frozen breastmilk and supplemented with some formula.

Although it was REALLY hard for me to leave him (he was my first born and it was my first time away), it was a wonderful bonding experience for him and my parents, and it went extremely smoothly.

I am currently leaving my 16 month old and 3 year old with my parents for 3 nights this weekend for a wedding, and I'm hoping I don't completely wear them out lol!!

Aren't grandparents wonderful!!? I say GO and have fun :)

K

If you are feeling really uneasy but need the break, is there anyway you could go for 2 nights and come back early? Its always hard to leave our babies, I think mothers guilt is on of the hardest things we do to ourselves. I honestly would say go for it, once oyu get away you will enjoy yourselfs and its a paid vacation, whats not to love, but do what feels comfortable to you. ((HUGS))

are you kidding???GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have grandparents who OFFERED.....you kids will be just fine.
We have a 3 1/2 and 5 1/2 y olds and asked my inlaws to watched the kids for 2 nights so we can get away for our anniversary (for the 1st time in 6 years).....guess what they said NO :(
have a great time!!!!!!!!!!

I guess I'm the voice of dissent here. As a breastfeeding mom whose kids didn't get a drop of formula, I wouldn't have left my 11 month old for 3 nights. I would have likely developed a plugged duct and mastitis, even with pumping, as pumping is not a good mimic of a baby's suck. I did leave my 12 month old for one night. And then 2 nights my 15 month old. Actually, I would probably have been more willing to go than my husband would have been. He would have thought that much too young.

So with that background, I'll tell you what I would have done! I would have gone with JUST the baby and left the older child with grandparents. It still would have been a great trip and a vacation from the usual. And a little easier with a baby I could wear around in a sling to explore. I would also have looked into any babysitting options at the hotels or facilities there for a short dinner date or outing with just my husband. Whatever you decide, you need to be OK with. Don't be pressured either way by anyone!

Go! The exact same thing happened to me when my daughter was almost 10 months old. My husband's work sent us to Disneyland for 4 days. I was also breastfeeding and had never left my daughter overnight. My mom offered to watch both of my kids and we went! I pumped a whole bunch ahead of time and then brought my pump with me. It was easier than I thought it would be. I did worry about what was going on at home, but I was having fun with my husband and I really needed that. I completely trust my mom and figured that she would handle anything that happened. I did pump while I was there and had no problems getting back to normal once I got home. I almost felt more guilty that my 8 year old didn't get to go to Disneyland than leaving the baby! Go and Enjoy!

Take the baby with you. You could also take your parents so they can watch the kids at night. My daughter (5) loves, loves Vegas. There is so much to do there for kids now. Secret garden, MGM exhibits etc.

I'm with Amylee. I also completely breastfed both my children (no formula, no bottle even). I absolutely would not have thought of leaving my breastfed baby for 3 days.

I was in a somewhat similar situation when my good friend asked me to be in her wedding party. She lived in another state and asked that no kids be at the wedding. I told her I'd have to decline being part of her wedding (or even going to her wedding) if I could not bring my baby. It became an issue, but she ended up letting me bring my baby. I was thus able to continue breastfeeding my daughter and take part in my friend's wedding. My husband would bring her to me when she was hungry, or distracted her until I was available. (Both of my kids refused to take the bottle, despite our efforts, since my husband did want to do some of the feedings.)

In your situation, I would stay home with the kids. I don't know how much longer you'll be breastfeeding, but my kids self-weened at 13 and 12 months old. If your baby follows a similar schedule, it won't be long until you and your husband can go away for long weekends together without the kids. I would wait. Besides, I would not want my baby to be exposed to second hand smoke.

Your husband should still go. It would be good for him to get away after working long days like he does. Maybe he can take a guy friend in your place and make it a guys night out kinda thing. You can do the same with your girl friends when your kids are less dependent on you! I've gone to Hawaii with my best friend and left the kids home with my husband (and MIL) for 5 days. I think they were 3 and 5 at the time, but you don't have to wait that long.

Anyway, those are my 2 cents. I hope you are happy with whatever decision you make.

I would GO!!! Take your pump with you, and have a great time! If she's 11 months old, I'm guessing she isn't nursing as frequently anyway, so it's not like you're going to be pumping every 2-3 hours. It'll be great for your marriage, and you'll be so happy you went. You baby will be fine, and your parents will be fine. Enjoy the time with your husband!

I say GO! Like yours, my husband won a trip from work but it was to Lake Tahoe. Our kids were almost three years old and 1 month old. Like you I was worried with the breastfeeding part and leaving our kids. I made sure to have had plenty of breastmilk pumped for our son while I was gone and I pumped every 3 hours while on the trip. It made it a little easier leaving my kids with my In- Laws because my mother - in - law is a labor & delivery nurse so I knew my babies were in the best hands possible. My youngest did exceptionally well and took back to nursing right away after I returned with no problems. He never had formula and did better than I thought he would without me. Our almost 3 year old loved all the attention he received from his grandparents and he did well too. My husband & I both got the husband & wife time that we so much deserved & needed. For us, it was worth every minute and we ALL survived! Honestly, I think it's harder on the Mommy then the kids. They learn to adapt easily and do just fine in their environment. Again, I say GO! Enjoy Las Vegas without your kids, have a great time with your husband, and get rejuvenated! You may need it, because who knows when your next chance will be!