Is this true?

[HeyBungalowBill]

My cousin and her long term partner split when she was pregnant.

Her daughter is 6 months old and he is wanting overnight contact with their dd but my cousin has been told by a friend you don't have to allow it until they are two?

It sounds extremely unlikely to me and I'm not sure her friend is correct and maybe it's something that happened a long time ago?

[caramelwaffle]

Highly unlikely.

The MNetters over on MN Legal are a friendly and knowledgeable lot.

[HeyBungalowBill]

I thought the same, I thought it was only up to 12 months and that was if you were exclusively breast feeding.

Thank you for the suggestion I will ask for the thread to be moved!

[EllenMumsnet]

Shortly moving this to Legal Matters at the OP's request.

[titchy]

Well if he's having good quality frequent contact and baby isn't bf at night there's no reason she couldn't stay overnight. It's about what is best for the child, and the mother's view doesn't trump the father's view.

[STIDW]

Agree it's about the child. The child has a right to see and know both parents and both parents have equal responsibility so they need to agree arrangements rather than the mother "allowing" contact. It isn't a decision for the mother to make on her own.

Perhaps the friend is thinking of the advice in the CAFCASS literature which says some under threes may struggle with overnight contact. That's not the same thing as overnight contact not being allowed until a child is two. Under threes can cope with overnights fine particularly if both parents have been involved in childcare including during the night.