To ask family to watch the kids while we move house?

[MummyPig24]

Or should we try and do it avec les enfants? We don't get offers of help and generally have no need to ask we have nowhere to go without kids anyway! Dps parents have very kindly said they would help put up beds etc at the new house in the afternoon. But WIBU to ask an aunt/GP to look after the little darlings in the morning so Dp and I can crack on? I don't like asking as I feel they feel like they have to say yes.

Last time I moved ds was a baby and was at GGPs overnight, but we now have 2 very active but generally well behaved (cheeky) preschoolers and feel that as nobody offers it may be rude to ask?!

YABU as long as they feel they can say no. TBH I would think it safer for them anyway as moving invloves doors being left open, heavy things being moved about.

Goodness - just ask. They might not like volunteering to do it because you generally don't seek help and they might think you're 'independent types'. Moving is a different ball game though. I'd do it like a shot if I were them.

It wouldn't be unreasonable to ask.

If you feel cheeky asking maybe say something like, "don't feel like you have to say yes, it's perfectly fine if you can't"...

Good luck with the move, I HATE moving, it's so stressful!

defo find a way to get rid of them, for their sake as well as yours

I would ask- it is stressful enough without them.

If you feel they may be difficult to handle, maybe ask the GP to take one and the aunt the other. Oh and YANBU!

My sister looked after DD (18 months) while we moved. I found that just getting rid of DD was enough - DS was 3.5 and stayed with us; he was much easier to handle without his partner in crime/sparring partner! I gave him one of those big ELC tape measures and he spent most of the time measuring all the spaces to see where the furniture would fit, and the rest of it 'arranging' his stuff in his new room. I can't actually remember whether I asked or DSis suggested it - it was over 20 years ago- but I'm sure she wouldn't have minded if I had asked.

Thanks. Will try and offload them. Would be nice for the house or at least their bedroom to be semi presentable by the end of the weekend! I don't think they are difficult, but they are lively!

ask its not unreasonable. we moved when my son was 6 months old and still breast feeding, it was so stressful.

Having tried to pack up an apartment with a 2-year-old running around (and escaping through the constantly open door), I wouldn't recommend to anyone to try to pack up and move with small DC in the house. It's not safe and you can't watch them if you're packing and moving boxes and large pieces of furniture. Definitely ask and if your relatives say no I would try and find a babysitter or friend who can take them.