Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think 2 yrs is too young?

61 replies

BunnyPotter · 05/08/2014 15:39

My 2 year old has been invited to a party (small outing) by a mother of his friend in the crèche. We don't know her other than sight and neither does he. There will be three 2 year olds and two adults (their baby sitter who DS nor us have met). Parents are very, very strictly not invited! They are going to an attraction within a mile from home, taking public transport.

AIBU to think that it's strange for the parents of a 2 year old not to come?

OP posts:
Flexibilityisquay · 05/08/2014 15:41

YANBU. I don't think I'd be comfortable letting a 2 year old go off with a stranger like that.

Thebodyloveschocolateandwine · 05/08/2014 15:42

Well no 2 year old of mine would go anywhere unless I totally knew and trusted the adults involved so yes I agree with you. Definatly a no from me.

MrsKCastle · 05/08/2014 15:42

Yes, strange. I can imagine it being fine if the families are really close, so the toddlers know the adults well (and vice versa). But at 2 I would not have left my DCs with someone I didn't know well.

Original poster
BunnyPotter · 05/08/2014 15:44

That's reassuring! I was beginning to wonder if I'd gone all PFB! ;)

OP posts:
nomdemere · 05/08/2014 15:46

no way - none of my DC would have enjoyed doing this when they were 2. I think it would be an ordeal for most 2yo, not a pleasure at all.

divingoffthebalcony · 05/08/2014 15:49

Absolutely no way.

I can't think what possessed them to come up with such a stupid idea in the first place!

elQuintoConyo · 05/08/2014 15:49

My DS' lip would wibble all afternoon and ruin the party!
Idiots!

Why aren't parents invited? They're so little. Has she really no idea how the other dc would react to that?

GiveTwoSheets · 05/08/2014 15:49

That is a party invite I would defiantly decline.

Castlemilk · 05/08/2014 15:49

Not a chance.

How utterly bizarre though - it sounds as if they really have no idea and have some strange thought process whereby their two year old has 'friends' that they would enjoy going out on a playdate with! Whereas of course all that will happen is that they take their baby out on a trip where he has a pretty shit time as his parents/babysitter will be busy keeping happy two other babies, all of whom are with complete strangers for the day.

Really, really weird. They are babies, not 6 year olds!

lynniep · 05/08/2014 15:49

Not a chance. As far as I'm concerned until they start school I stay with them at parties (and even then it depends on the child)

Eva50 · 05/08/2014 15:51

No, none of mine would be going.

Topseyt · 05/08/2014 15:55

I would not do this at all. I'd decline the invitation.

When mine were that age I stayed with them if they did go to a party. They would not have accepted it any other way.

This family who have invited your child seem to have no idea what two-year-olds can be like. Many will simply not accept just suddenly being dumped with strangers, and would become distressed.

vulgarwretch · 05/08/2014 16:01

Oh god, ds would have sobbed inconsolably for the entire day.

It's hard as a relatively inexperienced parent though to realise that not all children are like yours. Their 2-year old would probably happily join you for a day out so they think that's standard.

Whilewildeisonmine · 05/08/2014 16:02

This seems a bit odd to me! I wouldn't be comfortable with sending my 2yo off for the day with complete strangers.

Delphiniumsblue · 05/08/2014 16:09

Either offer to go too or decline.

CarefullyAirbrushedPotato · 05/08/2014 16:09

dd would have been mortified if I'd tried to send her off with strangers aged two :/

LineRunner · 05/08/2014 16:10

No way.

And I am pretty laid back.

KatherinaMinola · 05/08/2014 16:10

Send your 2yo off with complete, un-CRB-checked strangers that you only know by sight?! You'd have to be insane.

Hurr1cane · 05/08/2014 16:16

Could it possibly be a price thing? Parents aren't invited because they'd have to pay an extra adult in? Maybe say he can go if you do but you'd pay for yourself?

flappityfanjos · 05/08/2014 16:18

Yep, crazy young for a child to go alone on a day out with a family they don't know well. I think the parents are getting ahead of themselves a bit. That sort of thing might work when the kids are 5 or 6, not 2!

flappityfanjos · 05/08/2014 16:19

(And then I'd still want to know the parents better than just by sight, actually.)

vestandknickers · 05/08/2014 16:19

No way.

Bonkers.

Booboostoo · 05/08/2014 16:21

How weird! There is no way DD would have wanted to go to this, she would have cried the whole day. It would have been tough enough with someone who she knew well at that age and impossible with strangers. What an odd choice of party.

Toohotforfishandchips · 05/08/2014 16:23

They are bonkers. I am very laid back and my two year old(s) would go to the park etc with good friends if I needed childcare cover but I would normally be with them all the time apart from at nursery etc There is no way I would allow my current 2.5 year old DS out on this trip / party.

Jackie0 · 05/08/2014 16:26

No way, completely inappropriate . I wouldn't let my dog go off with strangers never mind my two year old

Swipe left for the next trending thread