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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want to leave my 2mth old DD overnight with MiL?

41 replies

Ilovenutella · 04/11/2007 11:52

My MiL is arthritic, unsteady on her feet (has had a fall in the last six months). She is seeing her GP this week because of dizzy spells & disorientation. She smokes, is diabetic and doesn't eat properly e.g. often doesn't eat lunch. She is also a dreadful liar and unfortunately is often caught out. She also sometimes does things that I ask her not to do and I don't know whether it is deliberate or whether she forgets. Anyway, we are off to a wedding and my DH suggested we left DD with his mum and I said no and explained a few of the reasons why I felt uncomfy leaving her and that basically I couldn't trust MiL to look after DD safely. My DH said he felt insulted by this and I should stop looking for negative reasons and that I should start to look for positive reasons and build trust. (Am ok leaving DD with my mum who is fit, healthy and lives next door to my brother & his family, and near my sister and her family) My MiL lives alone with no-one near her too..... Feel awful as don't want to upset DH but don't know how to move forward?

OP posts:
AngharadGoldenhand · 04/11/2007 20:36

YANBU.

lomond · 04/11/2007 20:39

YANBU. Under no circumstances would I leave the baby with her. Try to include her at other times by all means but it doesn't sound like she is well enought to look after such a young baby all night.

Stick to your guns!

Yummers · 04/11/2007 20:45

no you're totally right, trust your instincts.

kimisparkles · 04/11/2007 20:45

YANBU forget the fact she tells lies, the health reasons are enough for you not to leave a small baby with her.

SecondhandRose · 04/11/2007 20:50

When I first read the topic I thought of course you should leave your DD but reading further no I wouldn't. If she is diabetic and not looking after herself what if she was ill while you were out. That would be my main concern i think.

Make DH feel better by suggesting your Mum do it this time but you'll take the baby to his Mum's and let her care for her while you are all there and see what happens.

theprecious · 04/11/2007 21:00

I think you are very brave to leave your 2mth old overnight! Say that you do want to build trust so you'll leave dd with MIL "next" time. Make sure by the time next time comes round it's clear to all that she's too old / infirm.

And go see her etc etc as people have suggested. YANBU

TINSELTOESmumofDJ · 04/11/2007 21:07

def dont leave your little un you would just worry sick x x feel for you a horrible situation to be in xxxxxxx

beansprout · 04/11/2007 21:08

You don't have to leave your child with anyone, and esp not at 2 months. Ds is 3 and has never been left with anyone.

YANBU.

Anonymama · 04/11/2007 21:16

I wouldn't have left my 2 mth old overnight with anyone other than DH. Definitely not with a smoker (links to cot death etc.), and never with someone in whom I did not have the utmost trust & confidence. Stick to you guns. Involve your MiL in some other way, when you feel happy with it.

You will not enjoy the wedding if you think in any way you are endangering your baby, so if it comes to it, send a card and make a date to meet up with the newlyweds in a few months time, when you could travel with your DD and actually have a conversation with them.

You are not being unreasonable or irrational here. Trust your instincts.

bozza · 04/11/2007 21:21

I wouldn't have left either of my children at 2mo over night with anyone including DH. And I think small babies have to count as an exception at a childfree wedding. I would very happily leave my 6 and 3 yos to go to a wedding now. So I think your friends ABU.

However I do totally see your point re your MIL not being in a good position to look after a small baby alone. Try and be tactful with her and your DH and also try and make sure she does get baby time because MILs so often seem not to.

Heated · 04/11/2007 21:23

I went to a non-child wedding when dd 8 weeks old and left her with ILs, but that's because I trust them implicitly, but it was still emotional being parted from her the first time. I would never leave my los with my father until they could fend for themselves and had all their jabs!

If you add all the other factors: a smoker's house /her falls/problematic diabetes/'forgetfulness' - you know you could not relax and enjoy the wedding and your dh is being obtuse not to realise this.

I also imagine that nearer the time your MIL may well also find the reality of looking after a nb stressful. I would suggest to hb that it's not fair on MIL, certainly not fair on your hormones sob, sob, and then invite MIL over for lunch nearer the time of the wedding so she doesn't feel she's missing out.

Ilovenutella · 05/11/2007 09:29

Thanks everyone for all the fantastic suggestions. Am going to stick to my guns and say that we can leave DD with my mum. She lives next door to my SiL and my sister whom I also trust (they have young babies too - so are v familiar with newborns!). I am then going to continue the conversation with DH to work out ways to include MiL without leaving DD with her (and if I need to, I will explain all reasons without being an emotional wreck!) Probably starting with letting her take her for a walk in the pram etc - little things bit by bit (it also means things like that keep her out of smokey environment). Families huh.......

OP posts:
beeper · 05/11/2007 10:27

People get my back up with the way they control thier stupid weddings, weddings are supposed to be a family and social occasion. Anyway someone always ends up bringing thier child anyway.

I would not go rather than leave a 2 month old baby.

Ilovenutella · 05/11/2007 16:34

really want to go though as it is a dear friend. he has said if all else fails i can taker her but I am happy leaving her with my mum for one night.......

OP posts:
TheJen · 10/11/2007 20:43

Gosh 2mnths is very little to leave with anyone anyway so I think your DH is being unreasonable to expect you to try to leave LO with anyone except your own mum. Don't feel bad- it's really up to you at this early stage where you leave your baby. It's taken me months to leave my DS with anyone and have had to do it gradually

2boys2 · 11/11/2007 08:39

i would definetly not leave your baby.

What would happen if yr MIL fell over due to unstable blood sugars and rendered up unconcious - your baby would be left screaming and dehydrated.

Sounds dramatic but if someone isnt taking care of themselves then leaving your baby with them could be endangering yr babys life.

I have two boys and i am extremily happy to leave my eldest (4yrs) with my parents and my baby (7 months)during the day - not overnight yet because he wakes. Would yr MIL want to have her sleep broken when she isnt 100% as well?? Please dont do it - if something happened you would never ever forgive yourself - or your hubby for incisting you did it.

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