To insist MIL only babysits at our house

[Mossy83]

Long time MN user but first ever post.

I feel bad insisting MIL babysit at our house all the time but she has this giant dog that I really don't trust. He probably wouldn't harm DS but he does get jealous when MIL's attention is taken away and barks at DS and tries to steal things out of his changing bag.

DS is only 6 months btw.

I know MIL would love to have DS in her home town and is always saying people want to meet him. I have taken him there a few times myself but I think she would like to show him off on her own.

AIBU to say no and that she has to come here? WWYD?

If my dog was a problem, she would definitely be kept separate. One of my sisters' kids aren't too confident with her but a distraction usually has them playing happily together. However, I know that a) my dog is great with kids, a little overwhelming perhaps but harmless, b) I keep a close eye to make sure she's not being overwhelmed herself and c) if it gets too much for any of them, the interaction stops.

Some people have the illusion their dog is perfect, I don't and I don't want to set the kids or the dog up to fail (my dog is tiny so they could hurt her easily but to a wee kid a small dog is still big and the quickness is unsettling).

Yes you can guarantee they are never alone blank I have my grandson and I guarantee he and the dog are never alone but you have to be organised.

I'm not adding anything new, just agreeing with lots of others.

I'm another life-long dog person and just saying that I don't trust even my soppy old spaniel alone with tiny people: the key thing to remember is that dogs are not humans, no matter how much we might think they are.

I also agree: how about a frank chat with MIL? If she's another dog person she'll understand.

But I agree with you I think best keep it as it is now op as don't see your mil being super vigilant.

what about dog gates? Child minders have areas for the dog, and areas for the children. Of course you can keep dogs and children separate in the same house.