The Best Parenting Advice Ever

The best parenting advice isn’t always what you would expect.

In the first few months after my first son was born, I couldn’t imagine leaving him with anyone. Despite the sleepless nights, puke, pee, greenish-yellow poop, and screaming, I loved him more than I’ve ever loved anything in my life. Thankfully, my friend had given me some advice 6 months earlier.

The Advice: Get Away

When I was 6 months pregnant, a friend gave me some advice. My friend told me to book a weekend away now for when my son was going to be 3 months. “Make it non-refundable”, she insisted. After the baby was born, she predicted, I wasn’t going to want to ever leave him. She suggested I rip off the band-aid and get away when he’s a baby. I’m a rip-off-the-band-aid kind of gal, so I took the advice. We booked a trip to Vegas, a short flight from our Colorado home.

When my son was about 2 months old, I knew she was right. The thought of going on our trip was heartbreaking. Even though my mom was watching him, I couldn’t bear the thought of being without him. I wanted to cancel but my husband insisted we go. I could tell the sleepless nights were wearing him down. He could use a break. I did it for him.

D-Day

I balled the whole way to the airport. I was a hot mess. We hit the airport bar before the flight so I could numb my heartbreak. When we got to the Vegas hotel, we asked the front desk for the quietest room in the house because all we wanted to do was sleep. And, that’s all we did for 36 hours – sleep, order room service, watch movies, and more sleep.  Totally lame by my pre-kid standards but it was glorious.

During those 36 hours, I missed my son terribly. But, when we got back I realized he didn’t even know we were gone! He was perfectly happy, sound asleep in my mom’s arms as we walked through the door.  I was so excited to see him and I felt great, too! I didn’t realize how tired and stressed I had become. I went for my husband but I think he made us go for me.

The time away taught me that my baby was not only ok being left with a sitter, but I was actually able to be a better parent because of it.

So, the best parenting advice ever? Leave your baby with a sitter once and a while. I’m not saying leave your baby all the time. And, you definitely don’t have to go to Vegas. But, just a nap or run will do you wonders.

Still have doubts?

Here are another 5 important reasons to leave your baby with a sitter or 10 humorous reasons parents use babysitters .

If you need help finding a sitter, the best way to find them is through friends which you can do with Sitter. It’s free to join.