My DD does not want to stay with Grandparents

[morewine]

Hi can anyone give me some advice. My 4.5 year old, usually has a sleepover once a week at her grandparents who live less than 4 miles away. She has started to say she doesnt want to go and crying and just making up silly excuses like the bed is uncomfortable. She is fine when she is there and makes cakes, does puzzles etc. What should I do? Should she go? At moment I am on Mat leave so at home and I will need the support when the new baby arrives, and grandparents really upset as they love having her to stay.

Could it be connected with the new baby I wonder? She might be worried it will arrive when she is away or something like tgat.

I see what you are saying, but I think she just wants to be at home with me with her own things around her, even though she has lots of her toys at the grandparents. Should i give in and say you don't have to go, or should I just tell her she has to, knowing she will be fine when she is there. Its just upsetting for all of us seeing her like that.

Do you go with her or does she get picked up? She sounds like she gets picked up? I wonder if it would help if you go with her (as it's only 4 miles away) and stay with her for a little bit while she gets used to the surroundings again? Or give her a break one week and let her stay home and she might clamour to go to GPs the following week? Sometimes, familiarity breeds contempt?

Usually they pick her up from nursery, but at the moment they pick her up from home. Yes I could try that and see if its any better.

Good luck, let us know how it goes... She probably feels like she is missing out at home when she goes to GPs but I bet she will miss them if she doesn't go for a few weeks! :)

Is she concerned that when the new baby arrives she will be sent there more frequently and that the new baby will get to stay with you all the time? You might want to check that no one has said this to her, as someone could say it to be pleasant but it might backfire. Do you have room for your parents to stay with you and help you out a bit without taking her from familiar surroundings? Or could you go and stay too?

I think I would listen to what dd is saying and stop the sleepovers for a while. She's quite little still.

I'd listen to her too, would you like to be made to do something weekly you didnt like? She's only small, she doesnt need to stay away from home once a week.