Tailgating with 3M Newborn?!?!

Question

I’m at 34 weeks pregnant/ a FTM + some of my family and friends want me to plan to attend a tailgate in early September, when baby should be about 3 months. I am planning to BF. My one family member suggested I get a baby sitter for the day— Am I the only one who feels like that would be the last thing I’d want to do? I really cant imagine leaving my baby for the sole purpose of going to binge drink at a tailgate! I understand the need for baby sitters for certain occasions (eg work, adult-only weddings etc)  or even a date night, but it just seems like it would be really irresponsible to get one for a tailgate, IMO. 
 
If I went, I’d bring baby and absolutely limit drinking. However, as a FTM, i have no idea what to expect at 3 months. I’d be worried about her overheating in early Sept, how I’d BF in front of people (that’s something I know I’ll need to get over quickly), etc etc etc. 
Since I’m going to be new to this parenting thing, I’m just wondering if    I’m being reasonable here or not ... I don’t think a few family members and friends will “get” a lot of parenting stuff at first so I think I’m going to need to be more assertive/setting some boundaries.

Answer

It might be kind of loud and rowdy for a baby. I wouldn’t expose my baby to a bunch of drunk people, but that’s me. To me the responsible parent thing to do is stay at home with your baby and forget about partying for a while. If you really want to go, get a reliable and trustworthy babysitter. Like an adult family member, not a teenager who would be in charge of watching your three month old while you got get smashed.

Answer

I’d just take it day by day. You’re still a person that deserves an identity. I’m a FTM too due in November so I have no idea either what to expect, but if you want or need a day out then you take it girl. You’re not out at a bar at 2am getting hammered. You’re hanging with friends tailgating - you don’t have to binge drink and you don’t have to stay the whole time. I can’t think of why anyone would be upset with you for leaving early to be with your little one.

Answer

I had my first baby May 1st and by September when football season rolled around, I was ready to go to games. My husband and I would drop her off at my moms house with bottles and milk I had pumped. We tailgated a little, but neither of us are much for drinking, so that just wasn’t our focus. We picked baby up after the game. The hardest part for me was how much my boobs filled up with milk while we were gone haha. But it was all fine. There are only 5 home games so it wasn’t like we did it constantly.

Answer

I flew across the country to go to the Super Bowl when my daughter was 3 months. Too each their own!

Answer

You’re being a mother!!!! There are so many woman who just ditch there kids to go get drunk... not saying all moms do. But I have a relative who came to visit for the week and she has 3 young girls (5,2 and 1) she left all the of them with my mother over night and didn’t get home until the next morning. That was on a Tuesday.... then on the Saturday she went out again!!!!! And I had all three girls plus my 4 puppies which is a handful! When my puppies don’t have manners and the 2 year old is scared of dogs. She didn’t get to my house until 4 am.... yes I understand mothers need there freedom too but if your coming to someone else’s house don’t show up at 3 am or 8 am the next morning. My point being, go out have fun! Just if you feel like you don’t want to then don’t go, let them tell you that you’ve changed and just say I’m a mom now and can’t be doing childish things...

Answer

I think by then you might be ready for some adult time, maybe just don’t go crazy drinking so that you’re able to go home and take care of your baby if you miss her. 
There’s nothing wrong with getting a sitter to go drink, it only looks irresponsible if you’re constantly doing it.
I went to a wedding reception for a few hours 2 weeks after my daughter was born. I was under 21 so wasn’t drinking but I was sooo stressed out as a new mom and it was nice to get out.

Answer

I mean is it like really rowdy? Or are you guys just kind of casually drinking and playing games like bags?
I would have felt okay bringing my 3 month old to a casual thing, but probably not to a really rowdy event. You could also feel totally different than I did.

Answer

Personally I wouldn’t. Babies take literally all of your attention, you wouldn’t have fun.

Answer

Since nobody mentioned this, I think it’s important to point out if you do end up leaving baby at home, you would absolutely have to be pumping/storing, which would be an even bigger pain than just bringing the baby! 
At 3 months pp there’s no way I could go even 5 hrs without feeding or pumping! Everybody is different though. I wouldn’t want to be uncomfortable or risk my supply but that could just be me. 
We plan on taking our LO to a Cubs v Brewers tailgate in Milwaukee but I either won’t drink/have maybe 1 Redds, and the people we go with aren’t rowdy, I also got LO noise cancelling headphones for the game. It’s more of a family thing when we go so it’s important for us to have her with.  I also don’t have a problem feeding in public and will drive separately and head back early with LO. 
Hope this helps mama

Answer

I don’t know how crazy the tailgating event is but if it’s not super over the top  rowdy and loud I say bring the baby. Make sure you nurse the baby to stay hydrated and bring some shade so baby is not directly in the sun. I feel as long as you are not drunk and are able to care for your child there’s no problem. . . Unless it’s crazy loud and rowdy.  Bring a muslin blanket if you want to stay covered while nursing. Just because you have a baby doesn’t mean you have to change your lifestyle totally... yes obviously we become more responsible such as staying sober versus doing drinking heavily .  You can go camping, tailgating, hiking, swimming, whatever with a baby! Have fun.

Tailgating with 3M Newborn?!?!

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