It?s not much really - MIL babysat DS for the 1st time this week - he?s 15 months old. Have long-standing issues with in-laws and their complete lack of interest (which I have posted about a few times) and their apparent favouritism towards DH?s niece over our DS.
Anyway, on Thursday she DID babysit for us, which was a massive break-through. She came over at 5:30pm, and was there until around 10.30-ish.
DS - very good sleeper. Always goes to bed around 7:30pm, very rarely wakes up in the night (can count on fingers of one hand) - absolutely loves his sleep, and would just take himself off to bed if he could.
She came in at 5:30 (we were going out at 6 - not a social event - it was a professional thing) and I was making DS?s dinner. DS was in his playpen next to me. MIL walked in - didn?t even acknowledge DS - didn?t even LOOK at him - she walked straight past him, and proceeded to take off her wellies, her trousers (!) her coat, put new trousers on, slippers, folded all her clothes up and put them on a radiator. The whole time, she was talking AT me about some woman that she works with and her son who has just passed his driving test. DS started shouting for a bit of attention, but she was standing (with her back to him) between us. I was scrambling some eggs, and I literally couldn?t get a word in edgeways, so I manoeuvred round her and picked him up and returned to the hob. She was still talking the whole time, still didn?t acknowledge DS.
I put him down, as his tea was ready, and she said ?shall I put him in his chair for you?? - so I said ?that would be lovely? - she did, and then went and sat down in the corner of the room. I fed him, and the WHOLE TIME, she was just banging on about someone else at work, and someone?s milk and bread and how someone else was going to see Kings of Leon. I basically ignored her, and tended to my son, but she didn?t seem to notice.
Anyway - we HAD to go out. I ran through bedtime routine etc with her, got everything ready. Told her that if he DID whimper a bit, just to leave him as he settles himself, and only to go in to him if he cries, Told her that singing and rubbing his tummy helps, and that if he does shout out or cry, just go in and have a sing and maybe switch his lullaby on. I also told her not to take him out of his cot, as he does settle well, and is better just left
We went out, and got back in at 10:20pm - DS still wide awake on her knee. Asked her what happened. She said that he didn?t want to go to bed at 7:30, so she?d kept him downstairs until 8.30pm. Then she took him up to his cot. He didn?t go to sleep, so she stood watching him, and he wouldn?t settle (!) I asked her if she?d sang to him and she said ?no, I have a horrible voice? - so she brought him downstairs.
I asked if he?d cried, but she said ?No, he didn?t cry once all night - he just wanted to be awake?
Apparently, she took him upstairs 6 times!! Each time, he wouldn?t settle (while she was standing over the cot looking at him)she brought him downstairs and played with him.
When we got in, she was chasing him round the room!!
We thanked her 
and she left - we took him to bed and he went straight to sleep.
Now, last night - for the first time, we had problems with him settling to sleep. It took him over 2 hours to settle. I know that this is normal for many babies and parents - but this is SO out of normal for DS. He also woke twice in the night, got up really early this morning (normally it?s about 8-ish) and is now really tired
I know that I have it easy with DS and his sleeping, and I know that anything can disrupt and change things, and am ready for that to happen - BUT I would rather it be prevented if it can easily be prevented, IYSWIM, We?ve even been on holiday with DS, and he still stuck to his routine, - we?ve stayed out late with him - nothing has ever shaken him before
MIL and FIL are having him again next week (2nd time ever) and I really want to say something to them, but DH says I should just leave it. The trouble is, it?s the night before I start back at work after my maternity leave. I can?t believe the disruption from just one night of (really quite weird behaviour IMO) from MIL, and I know they are doing us a favour next week (again it?s a work thing) but I feel as though I should try and hammer it home, lay it down straight and ask them to abide by our routine and dealing with DS. If he cries, obviously I will trust their judgement to soothe him, but I feel I should tell them how disruptive it has been by her reacting to him like this
For the record, DS has stayed with my Mum and Dad with no problems, and I have had a friend babysit AND my sister with no problems, so it?s not that he doesn?t settle well with other people. It just seems to be this weird way that MIL has with him (ie ignoring everything we said to her, stimulating him late into the night, keeping him up so he?s over-tired, not really bonding with him, standing over him and wondering why he refuses to sleep, and then bloody bringing him up and down stairs 6 times)
I know, I know - she did us a favour and is doing us a favour next week (but we do LOTS of favours for them too - had their dog for 2 weeks when they went away, driving Mil to work for a week and home again when her car was in the garage etc) - but do think she acted quite strangely, and I really want to say something for next week, as I really don?t want him to start having disrupted sleep just when I go back to work, if it can be helped.
Am I right in thinking this is a bit odd, and what shall I do?
Thanks!