How to navigate later than normal nights

So my little one is 5 months at the end of this week and we are very fortunate that we have a baby who sleeps very very well at night time (12 hours), she has a very solid night time routine of bath at 6.30pm and bed at 7pm. Up until now any evening events we've kind of avoided taking her to, just from fear that one night could throw things into disarray but we obviously can't do that forever. Thursday we're meant to go to a family birthday (husbands side) but we just found out it starts at 6pm which means food probably won't be until 6.30/7ish and then it will be cake and other stuff, and it will probably go on until late and I'm honestly stuck on what to do. I know there will be a lot of people there as well, there's usually about 13/14 of us in total at these things and that includes 2 children who are 6 and 8 years old and they are very lively and loud. We have a very chilled home and my LG does tend to get overstimulated quite easily and isn't a big fan of lots of noise. I've said to my husband do you think we could go for 5.30 to see them before everyone arrives and then maybe I could dissappear with little one at 7ish to put her to bed and we miss bathtime and I just get her down. The only other alternative is we just don't go and my husband goes which I'm fine with but I think his family will take offence as it won't be the first time we've done that since she was born. I'm just feeling stuck because I don't want one night to ruin her good habits, and I also get overstimulated quite quickly and I can just see it being that she's screaming, the kids are running around, loads of people are drinking and shouting and I'm just really worried how it will affect me and my daughter but I obviously don't want it to be that I'm just being overdramatic. Does anyone have any suggestions?

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I had a similar situation a few weeks ago with my husband’s dad’s birthday My husband’s sister has three kids who are quite hyper and don’t really have a nighttime routine and their family functions as a result always run late I made it very clear to my husband’s mother in advance that I would not be attending after 7 pm I dropped by at 6:15 stayed for 45mins and then that time they did family photos and a cake And then just after seven, my husband and I left came home and we gave my son a bath. My husband put him down and then he went back to his dad’s birthday dinner and I enjoyed an evening in front of the sofa in peace to watch Netflix of my choice!

How far away is it? I'd take 2 cars. That totally eases any pressure you might feel, as you can leave at any point without having an impact on his night. Is it a meal out, or a meal at someone's house? Is there an option to take a travel cot and stay the night if someone is cooking for the family at their place? First time around I'd have not gone. This baby I'm not sure. We've just booked flights for Jan and they depart at midnight so even at 8 months that still might throw a spanner in the works for us 😂

I think it’s unlikely one night could ruin a solid routine. We’ve had a bedtime routine since 12 weeks old and since then we’ve been on holiday with loud shows, taken her out for a late meal (only once) and we’ve had other nights with a late transfer to bed and she’s always handled it really well. I think it definitely depends on your baby and I was also really nervous but it was absolutely fine! That being said if it’s worrying you too much then maybe a compromise would be good, I.e going earlier x

Id honestly go. Take baby and put baby to bed in their pram at the normal time. Then transfer to cot, with a little feed when you get home. We went on holiday a few weeks ago and were out late every night and did exactly that and we're home now and back in our 6pm bath/7pm bed routine. X

@Rebecca Exactly the same here!

Don’t let the baby control your life. Babies need to adapt to you and what you have going on. I avoid evening things that aren’t necessary like I wouldn’t plan an evening meal with someone just for the sake of it but someone’s birthday/a party im absolutely going to. I tend to add in an extra nap and then that pushes your wake window a further 2 hours etc x

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