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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

In laws and partners family visiting to see new baby 👶

87 replies

elizabethxxx · 22/05/2025 17:31

Hello!

I am 37 weeks pregnant :)

my partners family are coming to visit at the end of July to see the baby. For context his parents live out the country, but his sister, niece and sisters partner live in the UK.

we have a two bedroom house and his parents are staying in the spare bedroom and his sister, her partner and niece in the living room.

my parents offered to have some of them stay at theirs however because of the language barrier his family said no (they’ve also not met before).

I feel bad three of them will have to stay in the living room (it’s uncomfortable and I’m sure they would like their own space). So I suggested to my partner we stay at my families house (a 15-20 minute drive away) and 6 minutes on the train. So they can all have their own bedroom. My partner is not overly keen on this, and says his family won’t like it.

the only other thing I can think of is if we sleep in the living room. However with a 1 month old baby in the summer I feel like this would be uncomfortable, also from past experiences his family do barge in sometimes and I feel I would need some private spare to BF etc .

i get his family want to see the baby as much as possible but we will come every morning and go every evening. AIBU? I feel like my partner thinks I am but tbh I don’t feel I am?

TIA! Xxx

OP posts:
Silvertulips · 22/05/2025 18:01

Is got to my mums, your DH can stay and deal with his family. Thats his choice, your have yours.

The last thing you want with a new born is poor sleep and noise.

At least your mum will help out.

Maxorias · 22/05/2025 18:01

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 22/05/2025 17:37

This. I’ve no idea why you think having 5 extra people in a small house when you are getting used to being parents is a good idea.

My parents flew 5500 miles to meet DD - they stayed in a hotel. My 80 year old nan travelled 500 miles and stayed in a hotel. (we had a 4 bed house at the time). They visited for 2 hours in the late morning and 2 hours max at tea time.

You will be upside down and inside out for weeks if not months. They can’t stay with you.

Wow. That's... Very hospitable...
Unless the family members have form for being intrusive/unpleasant in some way, I can't imagine telling family who were on a plane for 12h to visit me and paid thousands for the privilege, that I can see them 2h a day !
Obviously I wouldn't be playing host with them - they need whatever they can get it themselves. But aside from that I can't see what the issue is with them staying at home, so long as they clean after themselves.

MummyRenX · 22/05/2025 18:00

They absolutely need to stay in a hotel or airbnb, you’re sitting here worried if they’ll be uncomfortable but they don’t seem to have the same consideration for you x

MintTwirl · 22/05/2025 17:59

This sounds like it will be incredibly stressful for you OP. Honest of with a tiny baby you will want your space and to be able to relax and rest. They need to stay elsewhere(or you stay at your parents).

EmeraldShamrock000 · 22/05/2025 17:58

I don't know why they haven't booked alternative accommodation.
It won't work.

FoxtrotOscarFoxtrotOscar · 22/05/2025 17:58

This is the definition of squalor!
Horrendous.

TheSandgroper · 22/05/2025 17:56

At one month old, you will be spending as much time in the living room as you will in the bedroom, across all 24 hours of the day. Baby doesn’t know and won’t know that it’s suppose to sleep quietly beside you all night.

You will be walking the halls, going in and out of the kitchen, singing, using the bathroom, changing baby’s clothes, changing your clothes, putting washing on. The house will be busy at all hours. Does your DH know this?

Visitors in your only living room will be totally inappropriate.

TheMerryWidow1 · 22/05/2025 17:56

How long are they all staying op?

babystarsandmoon · 22/05/2025 17:55

I think your patience for house guests will change and you will want to relax and enjoy your new baby.

When my DD was a month old some nights we would be awake the entire night and it would have been hard if we had been stuck in one room with family sleeping in the living areas. I would not have wanted to be making up beds, dealing with extra food shops and cooking for two families while having no personal space because they barge in.

Hankunamatata · 22/05/2025 17:54

Tell him you will be there in the morning and during the day but head home in the evening to put the baby to bed.
Then dh can kip on the sittingroom and parents and sister can have the bedrooms.

BaronessBomburst · 22/05/2025 17:52

elizabethxxx · 22/05/2025 17:48

my partner feels like his family will think this is rude if we go to my parents. But his sister and her clan have left it so late to book an Airbnb they are mega pricey now! (We are based in Cornwall) I just feel with 7 of us in the house plus a newborn it will be too much! Xx

So what if they think that you're being rude; they're not considering you! That's rude.
Either way someone will be 'rude' but it doesn't have to be with you being stressed, exhausted, and overwhelmed as well.

digiwidgy · 22/05/2025 17:51

Goodness OP, absolutely not. With a one month old you could have had a section, struggle with feeding, up and down all night every night, crying and exhaustion. This is such a bad idea. If they take you going to your parents as rude then so be it. You need to look after yourself and the baby. You and baby are the first and only priority.

mnahmnah · 22/05/2025 17:50

Honestly, take it from those of us who have had a baby or two - this is absolutely not going to work! There are plenty of cheaper caravan parks etc in Cornwall rather than a B&B. If they want to visit, they need to find accommodation

ButteryLightHouse · 22/05/2025 17:48

Nope nopety nope nope no.
Do not under any circumstances let this happen.

Poppyyoutwat · 22/05/2025 17:48

That’s going to be hell on Earth with a newborn.

I’d be going to my parents house with the baby, your partner can do as he wishes. But they shouldn’t be staying with you. They should get a hotel.

Its not rude, it’s sensible.

elizabethxxx · 22/05/2025 17:48

BaronessBomburst · 22/05/2025 17:44

No, no, no.
This will be far too stressful. You're going to need space and they are being ridiculous expecting you to cope with this many visitors and a new baby.
If DH really won't listen take yourself and the baby off to your parents.

my partner feels like his family will think this is rude if we go to my parents. But his sister and her clan have left it so late to book an Airbnb they are mega pricey now! (We are based in Cornwall) I just feel with 7 of us in the house plus a newborn it will be too much! Xx

OP posts:
outerspacepotato · 22/05/2025 17:46

This is fucking nuts. Don't set yourself on fire trying to keep visitors happy when you will be postpartum.

Your comfort comes first. Your baby's comfort is your comfort. Do you want your baby to feed poorly and be miserable? Not sleep? Be readmitted to the hospital? Travelling to and fro every day in summer is not a good set up for your baby either. Plus, you will be using the bathroom frequently for things like pericare.

They stay in a hotel. You do not have the room to house them.

Put your vulnerable infant first. Relatives can take care of themselves. Your baby can't.

You need to work on your people pleasing and set boundaries with everyone including your husband.

elizabethxxx · 22/05/2025 17:46

andweallloveclover · 22/05/2025 17:38

I'm sorry but absolutely no way would I agree to this.

Fine if they want to come and see the new baby but they all stay elsewhere.

Your priority at this stage is you, your baby, your DH and your routine and own space.

I assume this is your first baby OP?

Yes this is my first baby :) she should be about a month old by the time they visit. For reference my partner is Romanian, when we have visited them before they don’t mind being in close quarters let’s say, we slept in their living room before and i barely slept as they stayed up late/barged in in the mornings etc 😂. But I feel I will want my space a little. His sister and her partner speak fluent English but his parents speak none, so it can be a little awkward. His sistser and partner have left it a bit late with booking an Airbnb and they are all very pricey now so have decided against it (we live in Cornwall). X

OP posts:
BaronessBomburst · 22/05/2025 17:44

No, no, no.
This will be far too stressful. You're going to need space and they are being ridiculous expecting you to cope with this many visitors and a new baby.
If DH really won't listen take yourself and the baby off to your parents.

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 22/05/2025 17:44

Tell your husband he needs to sort it, or you and baby will go to your parents while they are here and won’t be travelling back and forth as much. Your baby - and you - is priority here!!

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 22/05/2025 17:42

The ones based in the UK stay either at a hotel, air bnb or your parent’s house. It’s not practical for them to stay in the living room and you need space with baby if they need to sleep, feed etc.

Put your foot down now otherwise it will be a nightmare when baby comes. Your DH needs to prioritise you and baby now.

MammaTo · 22/05/2025 17:41

They need to stay in a hotel. I’m not one of these people that doesn’t want visitors around a newborn, but on a practical level, your house becomes a 24 hour working machine. We was having to make a bottle every 3 hours to feed baby, so when one of us slept the other had the baby. I don’t think visitors would enjoy people making bottles or creeping around at 3am haunting the house.

Cloudyvibes · 22/05/2025 17:41

Honestly that’s way too many people for a 2 bed house. Even 4 adults and a baby would be tough. Is there only one bathroom also?

I would never have agreed to that many people staying at once especially with a newborn. Your partner is underestimating how hard it will be all under one roof.

if the sister lives in the uk why is she visiting at the same time?

Icecreamstick · 22/05/2025 17:39

They all need to either go to a hotel or to your parents and DP needs to tell them that. You don't want house guests with a 1mo

MzHz · 22/05/2025 17:39

Hankunamatata · 22/05/2025 17:38

Id move to my parents and left dh crack on with his family in the house.

A million times this.