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Parenting

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Original poster

children having overnight stays with family/friends

14 replies

Sparklemagic · 18/02/2006 17:59

Just wondered how many of you do this, and since how old? My DS is three and has never shown any inclination to stay over at Grandparents or anything. When he was a baby I didn't want him to be away overnight, so at nearly four he's never stayed with family.

I am totally happy with this btw, when he asks to stay with GP's he will. I just seem to meet people whose kids have overnights all the time! One girl's DD has had one night every week at GP's since literally birth, coupled with some stays of a week long for mum's illness, or stays of two or three nights when decorating house, or going away with her DP for a celebration....

Seems to be a bit of a trend and I'm interested to know what MNers do. Just nosy, I guess!!!

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Twiglett · 18/02/2006 18:02

no grandparents nearby

DS had his first at almost 5 at a friend's house .. but only because DD was in hospital with pneumonia

he loved it .. so we're thinking we hsould start doing it soon

(I know people who have been doing it for years

littlerach · 18/02/2006 18:12

DD1 used to stay at my parents for a weekend evry couple of months. She loved it, and this happened for a good year or so.

Since having DD2, she won't stay unless DD2 is there too, and she is not a good sleeper, and too unpredictable at the mo. But soon, I hope!!

BTW, they live 1.25 hrs away.

nutcracker · 18/02/2006 18:23

My mom has had my dd's overnight since they were tiny babies. I think dd1 was 4 weeks the first time.

Dd1 has also started staying over at friends houses, she is 8 and Dd2 (6) has stayed at her best friends twice now too.

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WigWamBam · 18/02/2006 18:26

My dd is 4.75 and has still not stayed overnight with anyone. I wouldn't let her stay with my MIL even if she would do it, although neither she nor my parents have ever offered. I'm quite happy with that; I probably wouldn't have accepted even if they had asked to have her.

brimfull · 18/02/2006 18:27

My dd14yrs did stay with friends from about the age of three.She was a pretty laid back kid though.My son who is three now hasn't done so because of his nut allergy ( much harder to let go so young).

Must say dd has always enjoyed staying at friends ,gp live abroad and she's stayed with them for a week when she was 6.It's good for them if they're comfortable with it.

Hulababy · 18/02/2006 18:29

DD is 3y10m and next weekend will be the first time she has stayed over at her grandparents. Normally they come over to us to babysit, ooften staying over, as it is more convenient as we tend to go out locally too. So, it is not as if it is because we don;'t go out because we do - lots! Just circumstances.

But next week Dh and I have a booked a night away in a hotel. Partially it was to get DD to stay over somewhere. Partially for us to have a complete break and a lie in DD is very excited! So am i

Nbg · 18/02/2006 18:36

DD stays at in laws when dh and I have to get up early for work or will be home late. She has her own room there now.

She has stopped with my parents for a weekend before and we hope to make it a bit more regular although it's a bit harder as they are further away from us. She has her own room there too.

She's 2.4 btw.

vicimelly · 18/02/2006 18:36

DD is almost five and has had overnights with my parents since she was tiny. She stays overnight there ar least once a fortnight, and my mum is going to have her for a week so I can go away with a friend for my birthday

Kerry74 · 19/02/2006 10:27

DS stayed overnight at his Grandparent's/Aunt/Cousin (Live together) at about 2.5mths and hubby and I had a lovely night on our own it was my b'day, DS had one of his best sleeps since birth and everyone loved to spend the special time with him. We are doing it again soon as we have a wedding.

freshstart · 19/02/2006 10:28

DD has been staying at nanas since she was about 1 because she goes there for her access to her Dad.

I would rather she didnt but there is nothing I can do

sunnydelight · 19/02/2006 10:37

My in-laws used to have the boys for a couple of nights, usually in half term or holidays, once they hit around 3 (i.e. when DS2 was little they would have his brother, but not the baby, and when DD came along they had the boys but not her). This worked really well for everyone, but unfortunately my FIL died a year ago so this doesn't happen any more. Not only do I really miss him - I liked him a lot more than MIL - but I do miss the occasional chance of a child-free night.

Medea · 19/02/2006 10:37

Because I used to love overnights with my granparentssome of the most special memories of my childhoodI encouraged PIL to take ds for a night when he was about 4. They agreed. But they asked me to drop him off in early evening, and then they returned him to me practically first thing the next morning. . .so clearly they weren't so keen. Also ds fell off the single bed they put him in, and banged his forehead on the antique night table in the middle of the night. . .which I think PIL found a bit of an inconvenience and a mess, too--all that blood on their antiques! So no further invitations. When I'm in the US my parents often take the kids for a night so I can catch up with friends properly. I gather it's quite the norm, or can be, in the US, particularly among family-oriented ethnicities/subcultures.

motherinferior · 19/02/2006 10:39

Medea, your PILs are barking, aren't they.

DD1 had a sleepover when she was still not quite two and a half, chez a very very very lovely friend's mother (DP was being a top-hatted usher at a No Kids wedding, I had a two month old). And once again since then. We don't have any family nearby.

kbaby · 19/02/2006 11:00

my 21 month DD stays with her gp every saturday night. She loves it and looks forward to going. My parents lov it as it gives them time to take her out and play with her etc.
I used to stay over my gp when I was little and formed areally close bond with them which is what I want DD to have with my parents.

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