Let me just say, that I still haven't had a night alone with my husband since the birth of our second child and it's been 4 months. I can understand the need for some alone time (I did have it with our first child).

However, Nicole Richie's definitely abusing that - I was willing to cut she and Joel some slack since it was the weekend of the Grammys when they were first out... but since she continues to be seen out and about, it just seems like she'd rather not change her life to make Harlow a priority.

It's more of the Britney syndrome - kids as accessories, not as children.

I'm really not sure how feel about it. My daughter's grandparents literally beg for me to go somewhere so they can babysit. I rarely ever do it because I want to be with my daughter but I can understand the temptation.

I don't see why people think a parents social life should die because you have kids. I don't see anything wrong with parents getting out once a week if they are home and spend enough time with their child/children otherwise. To the people who don't want to, then fine you don't feel the need, but that doesn't make other couples that have social lives wrong.

With our first daughter we had a break just about every weekend. Now that we have our second we barley ever get out. We certainly aren't suffering, but it was nice while it lasted with our first.

I just think some of them should use their time out a little more tastefully considering they constantly have people watching them.

I think this is the lifestyle of someone who has tons of help and not breastfeeding! All I know is that the first few weeks of a babies life are overwhelming for mom and these women don't look overwhelmed. So I guess good for them!

this is just another example of the breakdown of values in society. Hmmmm... should I be home caring for my child who is just weeks old or out dancing on a table?

I don't begrudge anyone me-time, but this is just not the best example to be setting.

I guess it depends on the person/family. We left James the first time alone at 3 weeks old to go for dinner (he stayed home with my mum--she was visiting). We have had a babysitter since he was a month old and have used her 3 times-once for a party at the Moulin Rouge. Not the same as dancing on a table, but hey, different folks...

Personally, I hated leaving him at first so I don't know how these new mums handle it but I think it healthy to have a family life and a social life as long as you aren't neglecting the home life!

I think you people are putting unrealistic expectations on others. Having a baby does not mean you have to kill off the part of you that likes to have a good time. >:( Yes there are girls like B. Spears who are partying constantly but that's a problem whether you have kids or not. There is *nothing* wrong with going out and living it up with your friends, and it has nothing to do with your ability to be a good parent.

I see nothing wrong with going out either. Does that mean I've done a lot of it? Nope. I think we have been out 3 times since she was born and she is over 8 months old. Personally, my husband and I thoroughly enjoy spending all of our time with her. My husband particularly enjoys it because he works a lot, so on the weekends he would much rather be with her than out with our friends. Perhaps that will change when the second one comes along, but I kind of doubt it.

Regarding Nicole... Her daughter is still very young, so I don't really understand how she can be out all the time (if that is really the case). For me, the first few months were the most difficult when it came to leaving her alone. My parents had to force me out the door the first time we went out. But again, that's just me...

If that's what she needs to do to be happy, then fine. I don't know what kind of mom she is when she is at home with her baby so I don't think it's fair to judge her because she has a little fun. I wish I could do that. I wish I had a consistent good sitter/ nanny and the ability to let go and party like I did before I had a child. Maybe I will again in the future, but now, when I go out I miss my child a lot and I feel guilty getting drunk and being even a bit irresponsible (not saying that Nicole was being irresponsible).

I can see going out with friends, but usually you want to be with your baby SOME of the time! I am looking at you, NICOLE!

I agree with you luckyme. My daughter is 1 and my husband and I still stay home with her. Its all a matter of priorities IMO.

I think if your baby is sleeping and you and your hubby can sneak out for some fun, what's the harm? I think they said Nicole and Joel were only out for 45 minutes - hardly a big night on the town. She might be more sleep deprived from it but that's her problem.

And even so, I think it's good for babies to be around other people sometimes - to socialize them and let them know other people exist besides mommy and daddy, especially if it's family.

What is supposed to constitute beign out "all the time"? Do they go out every weekend? so. Every night? not so great. But tabloid is supposed to be the moral authority? Who's to say that they don't feel guilty when they're out just like other new moms?

Oh no! she went to a club for 45 min, danced with her friends and had a good time...I'm sorry are you not allowed to do that after you have a baby?

A friend of mine would schedule something each week (dinner, dancing, etc) with friends from the time her daughter was 4 weeks old so that (at least once a week) she'd have a reason to take a shower and dressed and leave the house. I was hardly for a long night out - but just to be out.

Just when I thought she had changed for the better...

both of these are out way too much to be hands on with a new baby.with my kids i didn't even have the time for dressing up when at that stage.breastfeeding and resting to keep up your milk supply and night time feeding was so important for bonding with my kids.silly selfish girls.

From what I have heard their baby sleeps in 3 hour periods so they go out during that time. Of course leaving the baby with a sitter. You never seem them during the day so who cares if they are out for a few hours at night. They need a life too. Im sure they are not neglecting the baby

My husband and I have my parents watch the baby usually once a week. Couple time is important for your marriage. Nothing could be better for your baby than keeping your relationship strong. Don't be so quick to judge unless you know for SURE exactly where they're going and for how long. All we know is what the tabloids report.

I think just because you have kids, it doesn't mean that you can't go out and enjoy yourself. Having said that, I think out dancing in the club while you juuuust had your baby is a bit much.

It's a bit harsh to label that "inappropriate".

So you can't dance on a table because you have a kid? They're people who probably get helped for babysitting, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, cooking, so why not enjoying you free time in a club if you want to?
That (or showing your nursing boobs like Christina Aguilera) doesn't make you a bad parent.

If I had, had a nanny, heck yes my husband and I would have gone out for short periods to dinner or a movie while the baby was sleeping. There is nothing wrong with what they did.

I don't think there's really anything wrong with going out... It just depends on the situation. I mean, my son is 4 months old this week and I haven't gone out yet, but that's because I work 8 hours or so every weekday, so I want to spend all the time I can with him weeknights and weekends. It just depends on the parent.

One of the hardest and noblest roles in life is the role of mother...stop judging! As a mom to little ones, sometimes its so easy to get so caught up with the kids that you forget to take care of yourself, your marriage and your faith. You are a better mom if these other things are well taken care of too. Remember, these women are NOT like your middle class American...their bank account alone allows them freedoms and benefits that a simple working class mom could only dream about...so stop judging something you don't even understand. If every mom was given a chance to have some free time, knowing their child will be well taken care of for a few hours, I would say at least 9/10 moms out there would say yes. Well, maybe not with your first kid (when moms tend to be more neurotic that normal-I know I was), but with each subsequent kid, you learn that you need a break too! Being a mom is a full time job, but even people who work full time are given a break too! Let these woman enjoy themselves and trust their "mommy instincts"!

My MIL lives with us so we're lucky. We've gone out about once a week since he was 6wks old. Even if it was to cruise Target for an hour. Like another poster said it's good for the marriage. At home with the baby it's hard to focus on each other. And just because you have a baby doesn't mean you should no longer spend alone time with your spouse nor does it mean you can't have fun or see you friends. However if you're out all day every day well then yeah it's a problem.

I don't know that I would want to leave my baby that quickly, yet in their defense, they can't exactly take their new babies out in public either. These parents know that should they step out with their babies, people will be all over them. This will happen eventually anyway, but most new parents are weird about even a couple too-many people being around their little ones. Imagine hundreds of people! I do think they have a responsibility to protect their babies. And, like some other people said, we don't know the whole story, and they do have much more help than the rest of us!