To think that you can't guarantee a toddler won't cry

[SEsofty]

I asked a relative if they could look after my child (18 months) for a couple of hours whilst I had an important appointment. I fully understand it would be a favour and asked in plenty of time.

The response was yes of course, but only if you guarantee child doesn't cry.

Chi?d is normally really well behaved but like all child if teething etc will cry occasionally.

So I said thanks for the offer but I can't guarantee that so will make other arrangements. Relative then repeated, fine but guarantee no cry. Seemed really surprised that I couldn't do so.

So AIBU in saying I can't guarantee a toddler when cry?

They are being ridiculous.

find another relative. That one is defective...

what an idiot

Strange. Could she have been joking?

Do you think they meant that they wanted to know that the child won't be crying for you while you're gone? Not that they won't cry at all.

What a weirdo. Have they ever actually met a toddler?

Of course YANBU. I wonder though whether they might have meant are you sure he/ she won't cry about you leaving? If your DC is likely to be unhappy because you're not there then that's a different babysitting prospect from just dealing with normal toddler grizzles.
But on the face of it your relative seems to have very peculiar ideas about how children behave!

Not a joke. And Bertie no it was any crying at all.
Thanks for quick response feel like I'm going mad wondering if I am wrong

Cross post with BertieBotts!

If you find the secret to a non crying or gurning 18 month old, please do share.

Your relative was basically saying they didn't want the task. I wouldn't ask again.

DS cut his face when he was 2 and had to have stitches. The hospital said "Keep the stitches dry". They were in his tear tracks

How odd

Well maybe they don't want to do it at all but rather than saying no they are setting an impossible condition so as to avoid having to refuse.

YANBU -Very strange relative!

How odd. That's like asking someone to look after your dog and them saying yes as long as it doesn't bark.

Your relative is strange!

Well of course YABU!
Your child is a very grown up 18 months old and therefore if you sit them down and tell them not to cry whilst with the crazy relative then the toddler will of course obey. Everyone knows babies and toddlers do exactly what they're told all the time and feel no need to express emotions.

Loki - I think that is what they honestly believe

Well my children would have not cried if I told them not too. In my dreams! Ds is 4 and I can't promise that even now. Either the relative is very odd or they meant can you promise there won't be crying when you leave. Again, I couldn't say either way with ds. Depending on the day he wants me to leave him at my mums, then he won't want me to. She only has them for 2 hours once a week and he loves it. But some days he is just that's way out.

Either this person doesn't know enough about humans not to be left alone with a small one or they are too odd to refuse outright and are instead setting impossible conditions.

How bizarre, but given this person has such a poor understanding of toddlers do you want them looking after your DC? Who knows what other unreasonable and unrealistic expectations they'd have.

The relative doesn't want to do it.

Ridiculous. You wouldn't want your DC staying with someone who isn't keen or is that clueless.

Your relative is a muppet of the first order, I am afraid.
I might cry if left with them...

A none crying toddler?

I have never heard of such an invention

FFS OP, just tell him not to cry. It's not hard . My 2yo DS is a happy-go-lucky little chap and he still fake cries about 5 times a day.

This is almost as ridiculous as when I took then 4 month old DS to see the doctor as he'd had diarrhoea for days.

He was trying to grab her stethoscope and wriggling about while she was examining him. I offered to hold him still for her and she said "I don't need you to hold him, I need you to tell him to lie still let me examine him!"

She gave me the full face when I told her that wouldn't be possible.