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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think a child should have a proper bed to sleep in?

176 replies

wronghairdontcare · 09/06/2016 08:07

The DC concerned are staying with family friends for several months whilst renovation works are done to their home. During that time they will only have airbed/ foam mattress to sleep on....aibu to think given that this isn't just a few days they should have proper beds?

OP posts:
VeganCow · 09/06/2016 09:09

I get a good nights sleep when on an air bed when we go camping. Nowt wrong with it op.

AliceThrewTheFookingGlass · 09/06/2016 09:09

Air beds and foam mattresses can be let down/folded up during the day so they don't take up much space. Proper mattresses can't be which would make having an entire family of them spread about the house a complete pain in the arse.

CrazyDuchess · 09/06/2016 09:10

Why post OP if you a reply convinced you are correct??

Kids complain about a lot of things, but in this instance maybe you are making a bigger deal about this if you keep questioning and digging for the same answer??

whois · 09/06/2016 09:11

Are they complaining becase you have asked leading questions OP?

00100001 · 09/06/2016 09:11

So... why arne't you offering to provide a mattress if it bothers you so much?

Original poster
wronghairdontcare · 09/06/2016 09:12

If you're camping I'd imagine that's for 7 days max, not up to 6 months.

The way it has been described the things they are sleeping on are in situ all the time not folded up or deflated in the daytime, as they are in a bedroom not a living area.

OP posts:
00100001 · 09/06/2016 09:12

Also, I'd imagine that there's a lot of people sleeping on mattresses which are old, saggy and lumpy etc. maybe their old ones were just that?

00100001 · 09/06/2016 09:12

So. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT OP??

PaulAnkaTheDog · 09/06/2016 09:12

Can I ask... Why is it any of your business?

drspouse · 09/06/2016 09:13

From my knowledge of child protection and from various things others with much more knowledge have posted on here, lack of proper beds is a child protection issue. This isn't a weekend, it's months - and it may have an end in sight but a lot of damage can be done to your back/joints in 6 months.

If it's a lack of space, you can get chair beds that open out into a single bed with a sprung mattress, or the futon equivalent, both of which are proper beds designed for longer term use. We had a single futon a while back that had hardly been used and we couldn't give it away. So they could get one for next to nothing if cost is an issue.

CrazyDuchess · 09/06/2016 09:13
Blush
drspouse · 09/06/2016 09:15

Why is it any of your business?

Because the OP is a kind person who doesn't like to see kids uncomfortable or in pain?

If you were out walking with some friends and one of the children was complaining their leg hurt, their DM says "oh don't make such a fuss", they stop moaning because they are generally a compliant child, but you see they are still limping, wouldn't you say "I don't think they are making a fuss really, look they are struggling"?

CrazyDuchess · 09/06/2016 09:15

drspouse to be fair the OP doesn't know if it is exclusively for 6 months, what the set up is, how long the renovations are going to take - OP won't disclose relationship with the children or how OP is getting this information.

Until all that is clarified, I'd be reluctant to call this a child protection issue!

mummytime · 09/06/2016 09:16

My DS slept on a (high quality) air bed for about a year. The only reason I got him to agree to a new bed, was because it got a leak and I didn't tell him I had a spare.
Some air beds can be very comfortable.

CrazyDuchess · 09/06/2016 09:16

drspouse how do you know OP is kind?? Do you know them or are you making assumptions?? Nothing in OP posts suggest kindness in any way

Original poster
wronghairdontcare · 09/06/2016 09:17

I've not asked any questions other than how are you getting on staying with X? Resulting in them saying they are unhappy, uncomfortable etc. I'm not probing other than asking why (because they are sleeping on thin foam/ airbed), have they spoken to their DM about it, etc.

It is not my place to buy them mattresses. And as they don't know the address they are staying at, it would be impossible to do so in any event.

OP posts:
CrazyDuchess · 09/06/2016 09:18

Lol so you haven't even spoken to the parents - this is all out of the childrens mouths??? Confused

branofthemist · 09/06/2016 09:21

lack of proper beds is a child protection issue.

In this situation that's total rubbish. Social services are not going to be interested in someone who is staying with friends while their house is being done up. Especially since it may only be 12 weeks.

The op has only spoken to the kids and actually knows no facts. My Dd wouldn't have clue about our renovation schedule

RabbitSaysWoof · 09/06/2016 09:23

I think being in pain, having back aches is significant information for your original question, why didn't you mention that in the first post if that is true? That only came up when you were told it's none of your business.

PaulAnkaTheDog · 09/06/2016 09:24

Child protection issue - fuck me. No wonder ss are snowed under if they have to deal with this shit.

00100001 · 09/06/2016 09:25

So... you don't actually "know" what the situation is? Confused

Original poster
wronghairdontcare · 09/06/2016 09:25

I'm part of their DFs family. Parents are divorced and not on speaking terms. They stay with DF 3 nights out of 14 but the rest of the time are with their DM. She hadn't said the DC were moving out, all info has had to come from DC as she does not have any contact with DF. The friend they are staying with is not a mutual friend of both parents, so no info obtainable from there.

OP posts:
CrazyDuchess · 09/06/2016 09:27

So again they are not exclusively sleeping on air beds or whatever as I assume they have beds at their dad's? And again your only source of info is the children? Yup YABVU and it really is none of your business!

Gwenhwyfar · 09/06/2016 09:29

Foam mattresses aren't meant just for occasional use though are they? I've used even an air bed for many months at a time.
Obviously, if they're uncomfortable that's a different matter.

PaulAnkaTheDog · 09/06/2016 09:32

You're being awfully cagey with your wording... Are these children by any chance your step children?

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