Is 19 months to early to sleep away from home? am panicing!

[Tamba]

On friday ds1 (3) will be staying at my moms as they are going to see little red riding hood at the cinema. the only time he has stayed away from home is when dhs nan was in hospital and were were there durung the night with her. He was fine about it and enjoyed it (I have a 5 yr old brother so they had fun together)

So, dh thinking he is being helpful arranges to have ds2 (19 months) stay at his moms on friday too, so that we can go out to the cinema and have some time just the two of us, which sounds fab and is very thoughtful of him but -

hes my baby! i want him here with me! hes never stayed away from home before, would he think he'd been abandonded? He spends alot of time at nannies so knows her well and always seems to have fun there and his cousins live next door to her and they play together nicely

the other reason is that :::sigh::: i dont think her house is safe for a baby (her arguement is that shes bought her own kids up there and her 2 grandaughters and nothing has happened to them) the stairs are open plan with no hand rail or anything so you can just fall over the side, there are no stair gates, there are knitting needles everywhere, the iron is always on and left out

have you ever seen those dangerous house pictures in childcare class and you have to ring the dangerous things? well i swaer it was designed by someone who had visited this house!

the other embarrassing thing is that - well its dirty the kitchen work surfaces are covered in months worth of grime and the animals all live in the kitchen (cats and dogs) there is cat hair, food, litter, everywhere and you have to pick the hairs out of your dinner!

sounds bad, but its not too bad really, his nanny loves him and would spoil him but im worried. Am i over protective???

[hornbag]

Could you get her to babysit at yours instead if you're that concerned about the hygiene/safety. Or settle DS down for the night in his travel cot at hers and then go out for the evening -that way you'll know hes not wandering around where theres no stairgates etc

[dejinglejags]

Tamba, if that was me, I'd let it go for one night. If he already spends plenty of time there he is unlikely to get any illness from the grime.

Sounds as if he would have a lovely time and I am sure if you reiterate to MIL that your DS doesn't have stair sense she would be extra vigilant.

Your DH may be upset if you change plans too.