Debating weekend swaps of children ... pitfalls?

[NotQuiteCockney]

I'm debating trying swapping kids for the weekend with a friend - him and his partner would take all four kids one weekend, and we'd have all four another.

Our kids are 3 and 6, their two are 4 and nearly-3. They do all get along reasonably well, and we know each other's kids pretty well.

I think I might suggest a 24-hour swap first, each way, as a trial, before we do a full weekend, particularly as either couple might want to go away for the weekend. We do live close to each other.

Has anyone done this? What problems did you run into?

[bluejelly]

Sounds great to me. Never done it though

[fullmoonfiend]

24 hour swap first, definitely for teething problems. We do this quite often with two other friends (we all have 2 boys, ranging from 3 to 10).
Also, make sure you all know each other's fundamental ground rules (ie, my friends' children are not allowed suagry anything after say, 3pm as they go mental)

Other than that, the kids all love these mad sleepovers, (we generally put the older two togetherinone room and younger two in another) and we adults benefit as none of us are able to easily find babysitting.

[NotQuiteCockney]

I think we are probably ok on ground rules - the two youngest kids go to a childcare co-op, where both me and the other dad do shifts, iyswim. And we have minded each other's youngest for a few hours here and there.

I think we all do ok for babysitting, but not for weekends, or weekend days, off.

[sandyballs]

Great idea. I do this with a friend and it is great, gives you some real quality time as a couple.

When it's my turn to have all the kids I try and make sure we have a very very outside, physical kind of day so they are all absolutely shattered by about 7.30 .

Agree with trying it for 24 hours though, before the whole weekend, particularly as yours are younger than mine (6).

[fullmoonfiend]

Sounds good. the only pitfall I can see is that the nearly 3-yr-old might get anxious in the middle of the night. I'd ensure the first couple of times you do it, that the couple concerned don't go away, but are nearby just in case. After that, enjoy your free weekend

Last time we did this, we went to the other couple's house, with our boys as we also had responsibility for their 9month old baby girl. They were off to a posh hotel wedding. We felt it would be easier for everyone if the baby was in familiar surroundings. Was great fun!

[NotQuiteCockney]

She's a pretty happy little girl, the nearly-3-year-old. And I have quite a good bond with her, thanks to the co-op. It means I spend four hours with her (and a lot of other kids) once a week, and have done for over a year.

[lemonaidtreasonandplot]

Sounds like a good plan, but I agree a 24-hour trial would be advisable first.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Well, I've mentioned it to the friend, who looked thoughtfull. He'll talk to his DP, and we'll see what we feel up to.