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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To put poly cotton sheets on the bed as my guests have a 5 week old baby?

73 replies

Movinghouseatlast · 25/04/2019 14:43

My disclaimer is that I haven't had any children so I honestly don't know. And so sorry if it offends anyone- I genuinely want to know!

I run a luxury holiday cottage, advertised as a romantic bolthole for couples. A couple booked to come to a wedding around 4 months ago.

I have very expensive Egyptian cotton linen. It was a mistake as it stains very easily with bodily fluids of the romantic persuasion...

Anyhow, I have some emergency, brand new poly cotton linen. When it's ironed it passes for cotton- it is from a hotel linen company.

I want to use it as I am assuming they will sleep with the baby and change the baby on the bed. I told them there was no room for a cot or anything in the bedroom.

Am I being horrible? It is just plain pale grey so doesn't look fancy at all.

Also, should I offer them the travel cot? I assumed a new born couldn't use that but could be wrong.

Thanks.

OP posts:

Itwouldtakemuchmorethanthis · 25/04/2019 22:49

Newborns don’t make the sort of mess you are imagining. Big babies are a different matter but I’d give them the luxury you give everyone else for the price. I’m really shocked you are considering asking the same money for less, just because someone has a baby. Horrid.

goingtotown · 25/04/2019 22:50

A travel cot is as big as a normal cot. I would assume baby will be in a Moses basket, or pram. Babies sleeping with parents is not advised.

crimsonlake · 25/04/2019 22:55

Personally I do not understand why you are mithering yourself over a cot, surely it is up to them to request one if it was needed.

Unicornshopkeeper · 25/04/2019 22:55

Does nobody else have no idea about the difference between poly cotton and Egyptian cotton and just buy whatever is within budget at the supermarket?

WatcherintheRye · 25/04/2019 22:58

What's wrong with poly cotton? Now nylon.....that would be grim!
I'd much rather be sleeping in brand new poly cotton sheets, than visibly pre-loved 'luxury' ones!

Chippychipsforme · 25/04/2019 23:05

I'm more concerned about your jizz stained sheets than anything a baby might do. Put them on a hot wash and buy some stain remover.

HappyLife21 · 25/04/2019 23:17

I would notice and I would assume you don’t know the meaning of the word luxury.

HolidayLetter · 25/04/2019 23:24

Um... I'm a bit baffled by your OP, OP.

I have been doing holiday lets for 20 years, and have yet to have encountered a stain on white Egyptian cotton sheets that can't be solved by a bit of squirty stain remover and a 40 degree wash. And believe me, I have seen it all.

I see you have decided to put cotton sheets out, though I can't see why you don't just use all the good stuff. It all washes ok. And why darker towels? My white ones have survived flipping make-up and hair-dye (no idea why guests want to wash their foundation-clad faces on the towels or dye their hair while they are on holiday, but that's their business). You surely just need to make it as nice as possible for guests, and then sort out the problems afterwards.

Caterina99 · 26/04/2019 04:32

We took our DD to a wedding when she was 2 months old. She slept in the carry cot part of the pram for the night

I was so exhausted that I can barely remember the wedding, let alone the bed sheets

Alicewond · 26/04/2019 04:50

Op I am a bit confused, you advertise luxury but don’t don’t how to wash and remove stains from sheets? You substitute to lesser expensive sheets if you think your guests will make a mess. And you are and adult in place but will allow a booking to someone with a baby. It couldn’t have been born too premature. Non of this makes sense.

However parents wouldn’t have the baby in bed with them, them will bring sleeping arrangements, so no need to worry about that

Original poster

Movinghouseatlast · 26/04/2019 06:40

Why does it not make sense? Are you a bit slow maybe? I agreed to take the baby. as they asked. I don't know their circumstances, only that they told me that the baby might not be born.

I do know how to get stains off sheets, but this stain didn't come off. As luxury accomodation I can't use it again. What is not to understand?

I think some people come on here determined to be nasty and pick holes. I asked for advice about sheets for fucks sake.

OP posts:

BikeRunSki · 26/04/2019 06:48

I would notice polycotton, it would make my psoriasis flare up! I’d also be miffed if I’d paid for “luxury” and got cheap sheets. I’d probably be too British and reserved to say anything, until I got on Trip Advisor! Don’t you have a deposit for this type of thing?

reluctantbrit · 26/04/2019 07:24

If you say the cottage is luxury than I would expect that to include good bedding. I hate poly cotton, sweat all night and most likely would put this down as a negative review point,

I would think your normal guests if they are more the romantic couple getaway guests leave other stains, so you must be used to replace linen on a regular basis anyway.

Also, unless a major accident happens all mess is normally contained by mat/towels. I also never changed DD on a bed, precisely for your concerns. I left behind other stains when I suddenly got my period overnight without warning,

GoodbyeBlueMonday · 26/04/2019 07:34

If I was paying £80 a night, I wouldn't notice the sheets and would be thrilled to be in a nice cottage rather than a pokey hotel room, so don't see an issue unless previously advertised. If the worst does come though, baby poo is easy enough to get out with a hot wash, stain remover and a few hours in the sun (from experience with sheets, towels, clothes, rugs, etc).

Nanny0gg · 26/04/2019 07:47

polycotton is grim

Only on MN!

LakieLady · 26/04/2019 08:00

I don't think it's only on MN! My parents hated polycotton bedding and they'd never even used the internet. I can certainly tell the difference, polycotton always feels slightly rough and coarse.

I'd be really annoyed if I'd booked a high end place and it came with polycotton bedding.

adagio · 26/04/2019 08:11

I’m staying in a (very bloody expensive) luxury cottage and I would say these beds here are all poly cotton - didn’t occur to me that a holiday cottage might have hotel linen!

Only on MN do I discover these revelations....

MRex · 26/04/2019 08:45

I don't know what mess you expect from a tiny baby that will be hard to clean up? I have 200 and 400 threadcount egyptian cotton bedding and a one year old. A tiny baby wee accident through a nappy would come out with just a water rinse. Milk dribble can mark but cleans off cotton just fine in the wash. I've never had baby poo on sheets; I suppose it might need the sheet to be dried in the sun if it's left on for a day or two. Even the occasional little vest stain usually came off in the wash and the sun took care of the rest. Weaning on avocado or banana makes stains, maybe berries if you leave them - but they obviously won't be weaning at 5 weeks old! If your actual concern is the mum bleeding then that's fair enough, but it's better to just use vanish, dry in the sun after washing and then just charge them if the sheet and / or mattress protector are actually damaged. Hopefully you use fresh mattress protection sheets anyway, it's a bit gross in a guest house if not. Polycotton sheets are fine in winter, but I think it's too hot at this time of year to use them, proper cotton is better.

It wouldn't hurt to offer a travelcot, but if it's going in the bathroom then I'm not sure how any of them will fit in the room properly so best to make that clear. We cosleep, but DS slept in his pushchair carrycot out and about and sometimes for a day nap at home. I'd expect them be comfortable with that or bring their own moses basket. I'd be really amazed if they didn't carry their own changing mat, parents carry them in their nappy bags.

Lockheart · 26/04/2019 08:54

Poly cotton is perfectly serviceable and actually a very versatile fabric which is used by millions of people every day. It's not 'grim' at all

It might not be luxury, but it's not dirty or scandalous FFS.

At £80 a night I wouldn't say the cottage is luxury either tbh.

DarlingNikita · 26/04/2019 12:06

If a cottage was advertised as 'luxury' I wouldn't expect polycotton.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 26/04/2019 12:42

I can certainly tell the difference, polycotton always feels slightly rough and coarse and so hot!

Lost5stone · 26/04/2019 13:37

I'd notice the polycotton but wouldn't be fussed for £80 a night and busy caring for a newborn. FWIW though even newborn poo comes out easily. We have high thread count white Egyptian cotton that's seen baby poo, sick, breastmilk etc, they are still pristine apart from one bit that I dropped mascara on.

Topseyt · 26/04/2019 15:12

Polycotton isn't grim. Nylon is though. I had nylon sheets on my bed as a child and they were dreadful. Polycotton was luxury by comparison when my mother finally made the change.

I wouldn't notice whether sheets were Egyptian cotton or polyester/polycotton. I would notice if they were stained though, but that's why you have said that you can't use that particular set anymore.

There are some stains that can be virtually impossible to remove. My 16 year old daughter is doing art for A Level and managed to get a permanent ink/paint stain on hers. It simply will NOT come out whatever is tried (yes, read the riot act to her, she will have to put up with it). At least I am not running a B & B though.

You are doing all you can for this couple. Just offer the travel cot as an option, with its own bedclothes. They can take it or leave it.

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