Overnights away from the baby
When your baby first spends a night away from you, for example with grandparents.
When is it okay to spend a night away from the baby?
In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: Comfortable in the early months; After about a year; Only with grandparents; Not until school age. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: 6–12 months.
- Evidence
- Your call
- Best settled
- 6–12 months
- Part of
- Learning & the wider world
Overnights away from the baby: what are the options?
Parents usually land on one of these 4 approaches.
1. Comfortable in the early months
You are happy to spend a night away in the first months.
2. After about a year
You wait until the baby is about one.
3. Only with grandparents
You go away overnight only if grandparents are caring for the baby.
4. Not until school age
You do not spend a night away until the child is at school.
Overnights away from the baby: what does the evidence say?
Your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.
The only research is about separated parents and is disputed
Sources
What else is worth knowing?
A night away can restore a couple and can be hard for a parent who is not ready. Breastfeeding and the baby's sleep affect what is practical. There is no right age.
Questions to ask each other
- When would each of us feel ready to leave the baby overnight?
- Who would we trust?
- What would we need to see first?
More in Childcare and early learning
First published 2026-10-03. Last updated 2026-10-05. General information, not medical advice.