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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

For not wanting our friend couple to bring baby over to our house?

410 replies

Samatha09 · 30/11/2024 11:45

Hello dear people, my good friend (lets call her Ava) had her first baby for 11 months ago. A sweet baby girl. Me and my partner used to invite ava and her partner over for dinner and game nights, movie nights and vica versa (before baby). Now we have mostly gone at their home, my and my partner prefer that. Also they have everything the baby needs at their home, changing table, dining chair, toys ect. We also don’t have a childproof home. Decorations at floor and that. Since i know they let baby crawl around to explore.

Don’t want baby to ruin our stuff like get spit up or for the baby to eat or choke on something. I kinda feel like they getting disapointed on us, but she also implies that it won’t be easy to play board games or watch a movie with baby around. So this may sound very asshole like but me and my partner don’t see the point of inviting them over if its all gonna be centred about the baby. Also i said to my friend that we don’t always need to have dinner at her home whenever we come over. We don’t expect dinner tbh.We also bring with us some snacks and sodas over.

Also i think its easier for them than having to bring tons of stuff over for the baby

OP posts:
Hobnobswantshernameback · 30/11/2024 12:02

Why do so many posters post in the style of American chat bots these days?

Samatha09 · 30/11/2024 12:02

@BettyBardMacDonald thanks! I feel its very easy for some parents to judge and insult childfree or non parent friends. For not always acommodate for their childs needs. We dont have child so we don’t know and i could never forgive myself for a baby getting really hurt by stuff here or like said, finding button battery

OP posts:
Winter2020 · 30/11/2024 12:01

You have said that your friends don't need to cook for you every time - suggesting they do now.

Why not suggest you meet at theirs but you'll bring the take away - let them choose what type they fancy and arrive with it.

After treating them a couple of times to thank them for hosting you then you could settle into turn taking between them providing food and you arriving with take out. Hopefully they then look forward to a treat after tidying up for visitors etc.

beetr00 · 30/11/2024 12:00

@Samatha09

FreebieWallopFridge · 30/11/2024 12:00

Samatha09 · 30/11/2024 11:57

@AloneLike yikes! But same somethimes things fall down the couch where a baby easly could get under and eat or put stuff into its mouth. Baby/toddlers are also very quick

Good grief. One baby, 4 adults - between you you can make sure she doesn’t choke on a hypothetical penny down the side of the sofa!

FenywHysbys · 30/11/2024 11:59

Life has changed for your friends - you either adapt or move on…

Lemonade2011 · 30/11/2024 11:59

What is it with the word dumb horrible word?!? Used more and more on here. Just don’t invite them, tell them why why does it need to be a big deal, surely they have a travel cot with toys and she’ll go to sleep if it’s evening. Otherwise skip it and see how long you remain friends. Not really a big deal is it

cansu · 30/11/2024 11:58

I think people over egg baby proofing houses. Is it so difficult to move a few bits in one or two rooms? Surely you can do that. Your friend could bring a travel cot with them

Oreyt · 30/11/2024 11:58

Her female friend dropping in for a coffee with her baby is 1 thing.

Going 2-3 hours eating / gaming / chatting is different.

Samatha09 · 30/11/2024 11:57

@AloneLike yikes! But same somethimes things fall down the couch where a baby easly could get under and eat or put stuff into its mouth. Baby/toddlers are also very quick

OP posts:
BettyBardMacDonald · 30/11/2024 11:57

AloneLike · 30/11/2024 11:54

I wouldn't want to risk the baby getting injured in some way; you never know what dangers might be lurking in an un-childproofed home. I lost a button battery a couple of weeks ago and still haven't found it; that sort of thing that could kill a small child if eaten.

This.

I don't have a childproof house and wouldn't want the responsibility for a baby's safety.

No need to insult the OP. We all don't want a child-centric lifestyle, and that's not an inferior choice.

Rosybud88 · 30/11/2024 11:57

I have a one year old and I always check with my friends before bringing my daughter and take no issue if they’d rather she not visit.

My friend had a bbq in summer and I asked if it would be ok to bring her and she said I could but it was more of an adult event with a silent disco etc so not a lot to entertain her. I took no offence and thanked her for the invite. I chose to have a child, not my friend and yes my life has changed but my daughter is the centre of my universe and not anyone else’s.

If you were my friend I’d say no worries at all. I’d prefer staying at home and not carting everything anywhere anyway. You are allowed to have your own preferences, it shouldn’t be an issue in my opinion.

Nolegusta · 30/11/2024 11:56

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Utter rubbish.

MidnightPatrol · 30/11/2024 11:56

You can do whatever you want.

Your friend can also be upset that you no longer want them to come over since they’ve had a baby however.

So there is a risk it impacts the friendship.

MounjaroUser · 30/11/2024 11:56

Why not say, "We'll come to you while she's at this stage, then when she's old enough to stay safe here, you can come to us."

It makes far more sense for you to go to her anyway - why does she want to be taking the baby home when it's late and cold?

Nolegusta · 30/11/2024 11:56

GinForBreakfast · 30/11/2024 11:53

@Nolegusta really? I'm assuming they're not planning to give the child a line of coke and a flame thrower. She's not even a year old so perfectly able to be contained.

Do you always exaggerate to this ridiculous extent?

Samatha09 · 30/11/2024 11:55

@pelargoniums @NotbloodyGivingupYet why? Not everyone want baby or children at their homes or feel comfortable. Also they where very into everyone coming to their house the first months lol

OP posts:
KenAdams · 30/11/2024 11:55

Samatha09 · 30/11/2024 11:51

@GlovesScarfAndBoots i don’t really want to childproof my home fpr 2-3 hours.

@GinForBreakfast idk but we have breakable stuff that a baby would find interesting

Don't then, just lose a friend.

AloneLike · 30/11/2024 11:54

I wouldn't want to risk the baby getting injured in some way; you never know what dangers might be lurking in an un-childproofed home. I lost a button battery a couple of weeks ago and still haven't found it; that sort of thing that could kill a small child if eaten.

Oreyt · 30/11/2024 11:54

Oh no way. I have 2 (12 and 14) I'd be on edge with a baby / toddler.

pelargoniums · 30/11/2024 11:53

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

GinForBreakfast · 30/11/2024 11:53

@Nolegusta really? I'm assuming they're not planning to give the child a line of coke and a flame thrower. She's not even a year old so perfectly able to be contained.

Samatha09 · 30/11/2024 11:53

@inquisitiveinga what if we don’t want children? But ofc people will try on make others feel dumb about that

OP posts:
Calian · 30/11/2024 11:53

It's completely up to you. You can choose things over people - this is a choice people make, and think is right and good for them. So you will get many people on this thread saying this is fine. And it is fine. So long as you recognise that over time, in small ways, the more often you choose things over people, the fewer people you will have around. If that's what you want, go one way. If you don't want that, go the other.

NotbloodyGivingupYet · 30/11/2024 11:51

So you have never had them back to yours since they had the baby?
Surely they can bring a playpen if you cba to clear floor level dangerous objects, but you are a pretty crap friend.

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