# Overnights away from the baby

**When is it okay to spend a night away from the baby?**

When your baby first spends a night away from you, for example with grandparents.

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.

- Area: Childcare and early learning
- Evidence: Your call
- Best settled: 6–12 months
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/childcare-and-early-learning--overnights-away-from-the-baby

## Overnights away from the baby: what are the options?

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:

- [Warshak consensus report](https://www.5thjudicialdistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/family-court/family-court-services/14-2014WarshakConsensusAttachment.pdf)

## 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?

---

General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=childcare-and-early-learning&topic=childcare-and-early-learning--overnights-away-from-the-baby