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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I overreacting about my sil

194 replies

abi9396 · 28/10/2022 15:25

My sil is starting to really bother me but I don’t know if I’m thinking to much into it. We have a 6 week old son and a 6 year old son. We visited mil and sil last week and sil said to my partner that we need to wean baby a lot earlier this time as we made a mistake last time and didn’t wean our eldest early enough. She said it quite firmly to my partner and acted as if I wasn’t even there. Another day this week we had to leave our eldest withmil and sil happened to be home that day too so after we left i had a message of her asking if she could take that baby out but didn’t want to use his pram she wanted to use her own. She said if you don’t reply within 10 minutes I’m taking it as a yes and taking him out anyway. She keeps saying we’re using the wrong nappies they’re to cheap. Every time we visit mil and sil she avoids giving me the baby if he needs a feed or nappy change at all costs. She’ll talk as if I’m not sat in the same room as them, saying the milk don’t come out of his bottles fast enough, she messaged me the other day to say I could come over and pick a photo of my baby to take home with me if I liked. She messages me all the time demanding a photo of the kids as she’s misses them constantly. Am I thinking to much into this. When my eldest was a baby I remember a comment she made about the baby grows I used to dress him in, she said she was sick of seeing him in the same colours.

OP posts:
DashboardConfessional · 28/10/2022 15:57

Hmm. Wonder what she'd say if you asked "What makes you think that?" or "Based on what?". Because she can't say it's her own experience and should be able to see this herself.

Brefugee · 28/10/2022 15:57

When does she want you to wean? Assuming you'll be following NHS and WHO advice/guidelines, you're fine.

Your DH needs to start waking up - what she is doing is not normal

WhenDovesFly · 28/10/2022 16:03

I would be telling DH that you're only prepared to listen to parenting advice from a healthcare professional or someone who has children of their own.

As for SIL, as sad as it is that she hasn't managed to yet have children of her own, she has no right to be telling you what to do and you need to shut her down. Don't go all mute, be firm with her. "Thank you for sharing your opinion SIL", then ignore. When she avoids returning DS to you: "SIL, pass me DS now please", with firm eye contact and arms held out. If she ignores then just reach over and take DS from her. This is your child, don't let her bully you.

RunAwayTurnAwayRunAwayTurnAway · 28/10/2022 16:05

She's a daft twat. Obviously don't listen to her advice, it won't be useful as she has no children.

Avoid avoid avoid!

DisforDarkChocolate · 28/10/2022 16:07

Holy Moly, room full of baby things and telling you how to parent your own baby!

How have you not told her to piss off?

Pumpkinpatchlookinggood · 28/10/2022 16:08

Even sil's with dc sometimes aren't suitable to give advice! My sil's dc fell down the stairs. Sil cuddled her to sleep in a snowsuit and left her in her pram all night...

Sparkletastic · 28/10/2022 16:12

I would not be leaving baby with MIL or SIL in future

Jellybean23 · 28/10/2022 16:14

There's something wrong with SIL, I wouldn't leave the baby with her at all. It's unhealthy that she has all these opinions and a room full of baby stuff considering she hasn't had a child of her own. She's regarding your baby as hers.

CustardySergeant · 28/10/2022 16:15

"Another day this week we had to leave our eldest with mil and sil happened to be home that day too so after we left i had a message of her asking if she could take that baby out but didn’t want to use his pram she wanted to use her own."

So you left your youngest with them, not your eldest?

carkerpatridge · 28/10/2022 16:17

All the information about her you have given tells you all you need to know! Her behaviour is not normal. If your MIL treats her as if it's normal then I would be wary of MIL too.

Sallyh87 · 28/10/2022 16:22

She sounds really unhinged!

Have no idea how you deal with that but I’m not sure I would be comfortable with her being around my child unsupervised.

Ponoka7 · 28/10/2022 16:25

Whenever she gives you advice on weaning etc, ask her to send you the link of the research/article that she has read. If your DH tries to disagree with you, ask him were he's got his information from. Repeat that you are happy with what you did first time around and refer back to your first on everything. It's sad for her, but she doesn't get to spoil your baby experience.

ILoveJoeBrowns · 28/10/2022 16:25

ChaosDemon · 28/10/2022 15:53

Beat me to it, that movie is all I could think about reading this thread!!

I was thinking exactly the same thing! Be VERY wary OP and stand your ground! This is YOUR baby (and your husbands) and she doesn't have a say in how you raise him/her.

Dahliasstillinbloom · 28/10/2022 16:26

nomistake · 28/10/2022 15:41

Have you seen the hand that rocks the cradle?

This.
And why does she have a pram without a baby? That is strange.
I think you have to stamp on this behaviour hard. Yes, it’s sad she wants a baby and can’t have one right now but that doesn’t mean she gets to boss you around and take your baby.
Turn down everything she says — no walks, no babysitting.
Ignore her comments or use one sentence on repeat “ my baby, my rules” comes to mind but might be harsh given her circumstances.

WaltzingWaters · 28/10/2022 16:30

She sounds rather unhinged and I’d be very wary about leaving your children with her.

when does she say you should start weaning? Assuming she means before 6 months, ask her to send you the information she has on why. Assume she’ll struggle with that.

Ots a bit concerning also that you MIL and especially your DH seem to think she knows what she’s talking about and don’t find it strange she has a room full of baby stuff and a pram with no children. Be careful OP. Assuming she is just rather broody and not crazy, just tell her to mind her own business and let her know the NHS advice towards weaning.

Happyher · 28/10/2022 16:30

I wouldn’t leave your baby alone with her, I bet she pretends it her baby when she’s out. I’d be concerned about some of her behaviour. Her yearning for a baby, while deserving sympathy, is affecting how she feels towards your baby.

southlondoner02 · 28/10/2022 16:31

I would be concerned about her trying to feed your baby way before he's ready. I wouldn't leave your baby with her anymore

Brigante9 · 28/10/2022 16:31

You need to tell your partner to listen to you, the one with experience of having a baby. She sounds batshit. She is not the mother, you are. Your partner needs to be on the same page as you with this. Weaning advice from anyone bar the health visitors should be ignored, she’s 🦇💩

LookItsMeAgain · 28/10/2022 16:32

Have you seen the movie "The Hand that Rocks The Cradle" @abi9396 ?

It's perfect hallowe'en viewing.

And you should see a lot of similarities between the Rebecca De Mornay character and your SiL.

LookItsMeAgain · 28/10/2022 16:33

Sorry - I hadn't see the post from @nomistake when I just jumped in with my response.

Sennedd · 28/10/2022 16:37

This gives me the shivers. DO NOT leave the baby with sil on any account. She may try and wean him without you knowing. Why on earth is anyone listening to her? Tell your husband , mil and sil that you are the baby’s mother so you get to make ALL the decisions. Your sil sounds unwell.

user1498572889 · 28/10/2022 16:40

😂😂 she is a nut case. Tell her your MIL and your husband that she has no idea what she is talking about and if she doesn’t stop she won’t be seeing the baby any more.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 28/10/2022 16:40

You need to start pulling her up right here right now as she spouts her crap. I’d be also describing what she’s doing: this is inappropriate, this is bad advice, what a strange thing to say, etc. do not stay silent.

I have some sympathy for the SIL, clearly she's struggling but you need to spell it out to your DH and him to your MIL who perhaps can discuss it with her daughter (I assume your DH won’t address it staright on with his sister 😒).

worst case, you tell your SIL you can see she’s struggling but your children are not to be used as her therapy. Although that would be the nuclear option so perhaps refrain 😬

Princessglittery · 28/10/2022 16:42

southlondoner02 · 28/10/2022 16:31

I would be concerned about her trying to feed your baby way before he's ready. I wouldn't leave your baby with her anymore

This. Of all the things this is the one I would be most worried about.

ancientgran · 28/10/2022 16:44

escapingthecity · 28/10/2022 15:38

Sounds like she is projecting some of her own views onto your kids as an outlet for the maternal feelings she desperately wants to pour into her own children. That is sad for her. But she needs to zip it

It is really sad but a bit worrying as well. It sounds like she could with some help dealing with it.