Is it weird?

[Lauraw1989]

Just come back from the MIL and I found a mother and baby magazine on the coffee table I'm 20 weeks pregnant and found this a bit odd! I mentioned this to y Fp and he said she is just looking at cots for her house ... I said she has heard of the internet right? He said don't start she is just being helpful.

Is this weird and a sign of a controlling Granny to be?

I don't think it's weird. Things have changed since she had her DCs so maybe she wants to familiarise herself with up to date advice.

No, why should she not have a baby magazine?

Given that when I had DS1 my mother last parented in the Seventies & the baby advice back then was opposite on many occasions to what it is now. Maybe she was just updating her knowledge?

Wanting to spare you the expense of a cot at her house isn't a sign of controlling to me, sorry.

Nah, she's excited, it's sweet.

Not weird at all. Things have moved on since she was doing the whole baby thing, it's sweet that she wants to be involved, and she is doing it without interfering or going on at you, even better.

I still think it's creepy surely it's called 'mum and baby' magazine for a reason

You're over thinking it.

She picked up a magazine to flick through.

Sod the mag I would be more concerned she thinks she is having your dc overnight when it hasn't been born yet!!

It's not weird at all.

I think you're being a bit precious about this. Mother and baby is just a name for a magazine that is mostly about babies, what they do, what to expect and what they need.
She's excited, she's having a look through to learn how the advice has changed and is considering buying something for her own house.

Sounds to me as though you already don't like her.

So because it's called mother and baby should an expectant father not be reading it either?

That is a concern that she is getting a cot now! I can see her nagging my DP constantly for us to stop over with the baby I have already told my DP I will not be having that happen!

She will be looking after the baby for 2-3 days a week at her house when I go back to work.

No my in laws are driving me crazy at the moment. They did a bit before getting PG.

YOu asked whether it sounds controlling: yes but not on her part.

Well isn't it obvious that she wants a cot for the baby to sleep in during the daytime when she's minding him?

My children are adult and if they were having a baby I would probably buy a mum and baby magazine to remind myself of things - it's a long time since mine were little and it would be nice to brush up on things but also to reminisce.

Is it her first grandchild?

In the kindest possible way OP unless there's a massive backstory here, you don't get to map out free childcare for 3 years + be totally in charge of all contact until then. Its a normal thing for a grandparent to have a cot at their house, is your mother not doing it as well?

I wish you well but pick your battles else you will be exhausted!

Why on earth does she need a cot at her house?!?!

What what what ! She's going to do 2-3 days' childcare a week for you (are you paying her commercial rates for this ?!) and you're complaining about her being interfering ???
Is there a backstory here OP? Because if not I'd say you need to reappraise your attitude.

My parents live in a tiny house and have no room for a cot I imagine they will invest in a travel cot once the baby is here.

I read lots of advice on her about annoying MILs saying it's mine and DP's child so we make up the rules. I just pray DP chooses to take my side more and not his DMs.

Justmade that's a big leap ! My inlaws had a cot so we could all stay easily as a family with them !

When we see my DP's parents we don't just pop in for a coffee or go round on a Sunday for a roast. It's usually meet them for a meal or takeaway and drink at theirs get round there for 4 and we don't usually get a taxi home till after 1. I do not want to be doing this once the baby is here. I know she will just throw a tantrum saying we can stop over at theirs because they have a cot for the baby.

They only live 20 minutes up the road from us so I don't see the point

If she's looking after the baby 2/3 days a week then isn't buying a cot a sensible thing to do? And as for it being 'creepy' her buying a Mother & Baby magazine - don't be ridiculous not everyone wants to shop online.

By your thinking if only mum's should buy Mother & Baby magazines then I guess all the MN members who aren't mums should leave the site

I still think it's creepy surely it's called 'mum and baby' magazine for a reason

This is called mumsnet but I'm not a mum! Am I not allowed on here then!

Cut your MIL some slack and stop being so mean. She's excited, it sounds sweet, and also sounds like you like each other if you stay there until after 1am sometimes... I don't socialise that late with my lot! Count yourself lucky.

And lighten up a bit. You're being a bit "PFB" about all this.

I'm not a fan of her I only stop round that late to make my DP happy they drink wayyyy too much it's embarsssing

Get a hold of yourself, OP.

"She will be looking after the baby for 2-3 days a week at her house when I go back to work."

This surely explains the purchase of the cot? Or did you want the baby to have naps in a cardboard box?