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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be annoyed at MIL for ...

92 replies

Mylittlebubble · 15/08/2011 18:47

... letting my DD (3.4) to sleep for over an hour during the day leaving bed time a nightmare for us!

DD dropped her daytime sleep ages ago and goes to bed well between 7-8pm. MIL looks after DD 2 days a week 8-6 which we are eternally grateful for so feel bad being annoyed. However last week she let her sleep for over an hour during the day and we had a nightmare getting her to bed that night, gone 10pm. My Dh was not impressed and rang her and said in an angry tone not to let her sleep during the day as it is not fair on any of us come bedtime, (everyone getting tired and upset).

Well MIL knows best doesn't she! Picked up DD today and low and behold she has been allowed to sleep again during the day! Not sure which part of do not let her sleep she didn't get.

I have thought about whether we are asking too much but DD does not sleep when she is with me/ us.

So AIBU?

OP posts:
andthisisme · 15/08/2011 19:23

Well my DD 3.8 dropped regular daytime naps well over a year ago. However occasionally she does fall asleep for a while in the afternoons if we have had a busy day. A couple of times I have tried to keep her awake fearing problems at bedtimes and it's just not possible (and also feels a bit mean). She fell asleep on the stairs today - if a Dc is that tired how can you keep them awake and why on earth would you want to???

YABU and ungrateful. My DM will look after my DCs 2 days a week when I return to employment and I would not dream of having a go at her because a child fell asleep.

barleycorn · 15/08/2011 19:31

YAB totally unreasonable, and your dh phoning his mum to give her a hard time about looking after his dd is totally out of order.

Ds2 sometimes has a sleep in the day with our nanny, which puts his bedtime out but I've never once thought to have a go at her about it.

Maybe if it's just started, your MIL is struggling and needs the hour in the day to recharge her batteries? You should have a nice grown up chat about it, preferably starting with an apology, and sort something out.

Journey · 15/08/2011 19:43

You have been extremely rude to your MIL. Perhaps your MIL needed a bit of a rest and appreciated that your DD slept for an hour to give her a break. Looking after your DD from 8am to 6pm is a long time.

You do realise that you have double standards don't you? It's funny how you don't want to manage your DD any time after 8 pm but it is okay for your MIL not to get a break during the day! Your post sounds all about you and your DH's needs. There is no thought to your MIL's needs. It's that horrible "me me" attitude.

I hope your MIL tells you how ungrateful you are.

squeakytoy · 15/08/2011 19:46

So, your child is tired in the day.. and rather than let her have a sleep, you would rather she be grumpy and irritable while someone else is looking after her... Hmm

cheeseandmarmitesandwich · 15/08/2011 19:59

I can't believe quite how harsh some people are being!

I think it depends on the situation... If MIL is deliberately saying 'time for your nap dear' and putting her to bed then I would be annoyed if I'd asked her not to. If she is just falling asleep in the car/pushchair/sofa then there's not much she can do about it really so it's not fair to blame her.

I sympathise as DD1 has just dropped her nap but still falls asleep in the car sometimes and is then an absolute nightmare to get to bed.

Best thing is to have a chat about why she was napping and figure out a solution rather than going in all guns blazing!

cheeseandmarmitesandwich · 15/08/2011 19:59

I can't believe quite how harsh some people are being!

I think it depends on the situation... If MIL is deliberately saying 'time for your nap dear' and putting her to bed then I would be annoyed if I'd asked her not to. If she is just falling asleep in the car/pushchair/sofa then there's not much she can do about it really so it's not fair to blame her.

I sympathise as DD1 has just dropped her nap but still falls asleep in the car sometimes and is then an absolute nightmare to get to bed.

Best thing is to have a chat about why she was napping and figure out a solution rather than going in all guns blazing!

whackamole · 15/08/2011 21:02

YAB a little bit U. Can't you just put her to bed a little later on those nights? It's not like she has to be up and alert for school is it?

I know when my boys are looked after by relatives they get all giddy and and won't sleep during the day at all (still napping usually) which means when they go to bed they either sleep in next morning or have an extra long nap the next day.

skybluepearl · 15/08/2011 21:31

My little one dropped his sleep about 3 months ago and if he ever falls asleep in the car (which is very very rare) he will be too lively to go to bed come 7. He will then go to bed later and be grumpy the next day as a result. We avoid letting DS drop off in car. We put on story tapes, sing, spy interesting things outside etc. Hes able to manage and will carry on enjoying his day once we are out of the ca despite the lack of sleep.

Can you ask that if he has to have a sleep - it's early on in the day and kept short. If you are really unhappy maybe you need to find other childcare.

pictish · 15/08/2011 21:35

Yabu. And how!

ll31 · 15/08/2011 21:36

What is she supposed to do if she wants to sleep? Why not put her to bed a bit later if she's slept during day - think yabvu ... Also, children aren't robots - some days she may be tireder than others, and may need sleep for what ever reason..

MightyQuim · 15/08/2011 21:45

YABU. Nurseries/chilminders aren't supposed to stop kids sleeping in the day anymore. Basically you want your MIL to deal with a crabby child all afternoon FOR FREE so that you can pack them off to bed nice and early and put your feet up.
Your DH should have had a polite chat with his mum mentioning that your dd sleeping in the day is affecting her bedtime and ASKING if she would mind seeing if she could manage without a nap and if she is so tired she needs to sleep trying to gently rouse her after 30 mins or so. As for having a go at her??? I'm lost for words. If you were my dil you would no longer have free childcare.

leelo · 15/08/2011 21:48

i have a almost 3 year old boy and he doesn't sleep during the day or if he does he struggles to sleep at night. you obviously need your mil to help take care of your child and do not want to make this a deal breaker issue. if your child needs a sleep cos they've had a really active day then forcing them to stay awake makes them cranky. if you have a proper conversation with your mil so she understands the problem better that would be helpful. an angry phonecall when your all tired is not acceptable. please remember kids need sleep and you need her help. try to get along or things can quickly turn sour and you will have an atmosphere.

rosie0000 · 16/08/2011 02:36

YANBU. This used to happen to my DC too. Once they'd dropped the afternoon nap, if they had a sleep during the day they'd not sleep till late and be grumpy the next day. This stage didn't last too long, though.

Also, I found having quiet time in their room after lunch (without them falling asleep) worked well. This might also suit your MIL, so she gets a chance to have a cup of tea and a small break.

Jackaroo · 16/08/2011 03:00

I think there are many areas where you could argue, your kids, your rules, so if MIL wanted to give your child sweeties and you didn't, for example. But sleep is another matter.

Rather than handling at arms length/on the phone, which was frankly just being mean because you were both very tired from being at work all day, and DC not going to sleep, it's a terrible way to deal with it.

It also depends on your particular arrangement. If MIL offered to look after her, and eventually you took her up on the offer, gratefully, then fine, but if you asked her to help, then I'm afraid you just have to deal with it.

I do not understand how people assume that their elder relatives shoudl give up so much of the time to help, unless they've offered willingly (no idea if this is the case for you of course).

I actually have paid for care in the past rather than take up MIL's offer, so that I could stipulate thigns like this. It's a very difficult area, you don't need to be undiscerningly grateful (if that's a word), but equally, you have to be gracious about it too.

If, as may the point, MIL is determinedly and significantly undermining your parenting, then that's a different thing altogether, but nothing you've said gives me that impression.

Pancakeflipper · 16/08/2011 04:21

Your child is obviously tired as children don't fall asleep unless tired.

If your MIL is tucking her up in a bed to get a couple of hours peace. Well it's cos she needs a little break. 8-6 is a long day for a child and your MIL.

I think your husband needs to apologise for his angry tones. It's a bugger for you in the evening but having a go at your MIL isn't the way to sort this.

Gumps · 16/08/2011 04:32

We too are at that difficult stage with ds2 that he struggles to stay awake all day but if he does have a sleep he is then up until all hours.
My mil and mum both look after my dcs one day a week each and I do ask them to try and keep him awake how ever I appreciate it is easier said than done. Also as mothers we look at the bigger picture of how it will affect the rest of the day but grandparents just want them to be happy and safe when with them which is a good thing iyswim.
I agree with other posters that getting cross with your mil is not the right option and keeping a good relationship with her is important. You don't want to get to the point where she doesn't tell you what goes on during the time she spends with your dc.
I suggest having a chat and explaining to her what a nightmare is for you when dc has a sleep but at the same time appreciating that sometimes it is hard to keep them awake. Have a compromise of if dc does need a sleep then mil wakes after half an hour.

iscream · 16/08/2011 04:41

YABU.

Better he go over and have a reasonable talk about why she fell asleep, and find a way to keep her up. Your dd could have not felt well, had a headache or something. Sometimes even no-nap little ones do need a nap.

CheerfulYank · 16/08/2011 04:57

If your MIL is insisting she lie down, then YANBU.

If she isn't and your DD is just falling asleep, then of course YABU. What's MIL supposed to do, shake her?

DS dropped his nap very early on and would be up til midnight if he slept. CM and I had an arrangement where she would have him lie down quietly and look at books for ten minutes or so while she got the others to lie down. If he was still awake, he could get up and play quietly. If not, we assumed he was very tired and left him sleep, even if it was a bit of a nightmare in the evening.

I worked part time so he was rarely at CM's during nap anyway, but I did the same at home. He had "quiet time" with books or a DVD and if he fell asleep I just left him.

InTheNightKitchen · 16/08/2011 09:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pictish · 16/08/2011 09:39

I hope you and your dh have apologised profusely to your mil for your bad behaviour and arrogance OP.

I think a peace offering would be fitting too - maybe a wee bunch of flowers or something.

Your dh behaved appallingly. You both have. But you can make amends....do it soon. xx

gapants · 16/08/2011 09:40

where has the op gone?

pictish · 16/08/2011 09:45

Probably scared off by the barrage of YABU!!!!

I think she thought she was quite within her rights.

sixpinetrees · 16/08/2011 09:47

YABU. You can't possibly ask someone to do 10 straight hours of free child care and insist that they put up with an over tired child for several hours just so you can put said child to bed as early as possible. You don't let her sleep when you have her because you can decide to trade an hours peace in the afternoon for and hour earlier to bed. You MIL gains nothing from losing her hour peace in the afternoon apart from dealing with a tired child and avoiding the wrath of her ungrateful ds and dil.

CareyHunt · 16/08/2011 09:51

Grin Grin Grin at InTheNightKitchen!

TandB · 16/08/2011 09:54

YABU on two counts. Firstly in insisting on your obviously tired child being kept awake, and secondly in shouting at your MIL because her free childcare has failed to come up to your very specific requirements.

Our nursery were told by a parent not to let their child nap and they were clearly very, very unhappy about it. I used to see the child every day at pick up time, bawling and obviously exhausted. I rarely saw her happy. The nap rule was relaxed and the child stopped being miserable and actually seemed to enjoy being there.

In relation to MIL, it is very simple. If you aren't happy with her care of your child then find an alternative. My MIL is treated as unpaid childcare by some other family members - she regularly has the children dumped on her for a few hours which mysteriously turns into an entire day and quite often a night and a second day. She can rarely get an answer from the parents about when they are going to collect and it is often a couple of hours after bedtime. She is not allowed to put them to bed before the parents come as they wont transfer into the car without waking and then being awake for the next few hours. If this happens MIL is told off in no uncertain terms and told that if it happens again they will leave the kids with her to deal with. My take on this is that if they are going to make use of MIL and create difficulties for her then they have absolutely no right to whinge about the end result.