To not let my 2yo camp out..

[mrsrvc]

About to go away with inlaws and it has been suggested that ds camp out in the garden with his cousin (7yo). An adult would join them later, but until about 11 they would be left alone in a tent in the garden. Dh just told me to get a grip and loosen my grip, but I think the idea is ridiculous and potentially dangerous. Mumsnet jury, AIBU?

Really? Yanbu. The end.

YANBU.

Too young to be unsupervised in a tent in the garden.

Take said grip shove it up dh. UANBU

YADNBU

many 7yr olds would struggle to camp out without adult supervision, never mind with a 2yr old in tow

YANBU, I don't let mine go in the garden without supervision, ok, go to the loo and sort tea but otherwise no. YANBU

"Dh just told me to get a grip and loosen my grip"

I'd be telling DH to get a sense of responsibility! YAdamnwellNBU.

No way would I let a 7 year old be responsible for my 2 year old, even though the children will only be in the garden they need adult supervision. Please don't be bullied into going along with this arrangement.

why cant the kids play or sleep in the house then go to the tent it is kinda a daft idea to leave a 7 yrold and a 2 yrold outside with no adult there, yanbu

YADNBU!

DH needs to get a grip.

Why was this even put forward as a plan?

YANBU

My 2YO (nearly 3) is pretty advanced / sensible and would almost certainly take the lead from elder children and behave herself.

One day (while in the presence of a responsible adult) she tripped over her own feet and cut her eye badly. She was rushed to hospital and no lasting damage (other than a scar you would need to know about to notice) occured. But, the situation could have been MUCH MUCH worse if not dealt with correctly and quickly.

Accidents can occur in seconds and out of nowhere. A 7YO should never be taking responsible for a 2YO.

I think a bed den made up in a bedroom with big sjeets, sleeping bags and torches with mugs of lukewarm hot chocolate and a few campfire songs/stories sounds much more fun and safer.

What are they going to be doing when they are 7 and 12?? Sure camping out is fun but there's no need to do all the fun stuff now - spread it out childhood (should) last a while.

I'd volunteer DH as the supervising adult if he's so keen ...

A 2yo can certainly camp out WITH supervision.

I think I would consider it IF you had a baby monitor out there and were listening to every sound, and there would be an adult within sight of the tent, and a maximum of 20 seconds away if needed.

But it would have to be an extraordinarily mature and sensible 7yo, and an unusually placid and calm 2yo, for me to actually agree to the plan.

What's dangerous about being in a tent in a secure garden fort a couple of hours?

2 year old with adult supervision yes, a 2 year old without adult supervision no. Simple as.

I know I wouldn't want to look after ds2 (1.8) in a tent because i know that would be a nightmare and pretty hellish so god knows why anyone would think that a 7 year old would be capable!

How big is the garden and how far away from the house would the tent be?

My 2yo would not be allowed to camp in the garden with her 7yo cousin. If an adult was there, then yes.

Noooooo way. I would allow this only if another adult was with them in the garden at all times.

My 7 year old is camping out on his own tonight until I join him. He'll have his torch and some books. We've been going camping as a family since he was 3 months, he's been doing sleep outs in the garden with his big brother and a parent since he was old enough to ask.

I wouldn't have left him going to sleep in the garden with only his big brother at 2. Not because I think anything terrible would have happened, our garden is small and the lounge has patio doors. He would have taken ages to settle, been bouncing up and down, getting in and out, getting over excited, irritating his brother. Quite frankly it wouldn't be worth the hassle.

I think the adults who think its a great idea should be the ones to put the 2 year old to bed and deal with any behaviour.

do you really imagine they are going to be out there all night alone?

I'd presume it's a large family gathering, folks will be in and out, bedtimes will be all to cock and by the time the two year old is three hours late for bed there'll be tears and tantrums and everyone will be sleeping in their own beds by midnight!

And that's even allowing for weather decent enough to camp out in!

Just smile and nod, it's never going to happen and by being hysterical pfb about it you are just laying down the gauntlet and opening yourself to accusations of precious behaviour.

My 2YO (the sensible one) is most definitely a NSC (neglected second child). My views are certainly not PFB.

Yes, bedtimes WILL be all a cock and the men adults who thought this would be a good idea will be pissed involved in active discussions which cannot be disrupted so the mother will be forced to spend a large proportion of her evening dealing with the over stimulated / over tired 2 YO.

OP - if you do consider agreeing to it (and my suggestion would be to not to) demand your DH remains sober all night in case he needs to settle yoru child at about 4 hours after the child's regular bedtime.

hear hear worrywortisworrying - the DH who is saying get a grip being the one who has to stay sober and deal with resettling 2yo in makeshift bed indoors at 3am because they are scared of the nightime noises would DEFINITELY be a prerequisite if you were to agree to this...