DD staying away overnight

[Helsbelscm]

At what age did your DC stay away at relative's house overnight for the first time?
My DH thinks DD is now old enough (she is 13 months) but I am a bit unsure.

10 months, with grandma and grandad. He'd already slept there lots when we were there and for naps so he was absolutely fine! He now stays over about once a fortnight due to our working patterns. (21mo)

Our dd was 9 months I think and I worried but all was fine. By the time ds came along we packed them both off to Grandma's when he was about 2 months old - we were desperate for sleep!! Now 3 and 16 months and they go once a month to give us a break. You will feel nervous the first time but dd and grandparents will love it.

Our DCs were aged 6 and 4 (years!) when they stayed at my parents without us for the first time! To be honest, I just don't think my parents would have coped before that. It was impossible anyway when they were babies as they were both bf.

What if they didn't sleep through every night? DD is a MUCH better sleeper than she was but still needs cuddles in the night on a reasonably regular basis. Do you think they need to be sleeping through consistently for it to work?

My PFB Ds stayed with my parents at 11 months my DD at 6 months, I trusted my parents and was glad of the break, they didn't sleep through the night but my parents were able to deal with it. Once the were older they went for the whole half term when i was working, they have fond memories of time at their grandparents and and fat my DD who is 17 went to my dads for a week in the last holidays just to hang out with him.

Depends how flexible the relatives are. My mum had our DS at 3 months old for us. He still needed 3 feeds between 8pm and 6am but I gave her expressed milk and she did fine. He was also fine and has stayed with her at least once every 3/4 months since. He loves it and it makes our lives much easier.

in fact not and fat

Bar one time DS has always slept through and settled well at GPs houses, even when going through grizzly phases at home. He is a monkey for me, but angelic for all of them...!

DS was 3 when he went to stay with his GPs for nearly a week with out us, though he had been looked after by his GPs and aunt during the day for a month (DH at work) when I was hospitalised when he was 27 months. DD stayed with GPs for a week at 15 months for the first time. They are now 11 and 14, and have spent at least 4 separate weeks each year with their GPs, to everyone's benefit.

Ok so maybe I am over- thinking this a bit! However in my defence it is my PIL that the overnight stay is suggested for, and, while they are great with DD I think my MIL can sometimes be a bit over confident. For example suggesting they looked after DD for a week when she was 6 months old &EBF & a total bottle refuser. I therefore sometimes don't trust her judgment!

4 months. DD stayed with MIL so we could have our first night out together having a drink in over a year. she sleeps all night though so she didn't give MIL a hard time...unfortunately .

5 weeks, 3 months and DS2 is 4 months and hasn't gone anywhere yet.

My DD was nearly 2 and only because I was in hospital having DS. She now staying over night with her great grandparents about once a month. She loves it.

I don't think there is a right age. It will be different for every child. Don't do it if you don't feel comfortable.

Helsbelscm over confidence can sometimes be a problem, I know what you mean! Sometimes they're so eager to help (or they privately disagree with your methods and want to put things 'right') that they just don't think. Personally I would have sent the EBF and bottle-refusing baby over to her and see how long she lasted ;) One night at a time is a good start, (if your drop off at 4pm and collect at 10am it's not that long) baby will be fine and maybe PIL will get a bit of a wake up call. Or they might surprise you and become best baby sitters ever, who knows??

My son is 4 and he has never stayed away over night without any of us there (when I was in hospital having DS2, he stayed iwth grandparents, but my husband stayed too, so he was always there in the night even though inlaws did bedtime routine).

There is no right answer to this, it's all about what suits you. I'm getting round to the idea of him staying away, but I'm still not there yet. I know my BIL had his folks look after his daughter when she was 4 weeks old - so its definitely horses for courses. If you don't feel ready though (even if your DH is) I'd advise against it, as you'll only spend the night worrying.

DS was 4 1/2 years old and DD was 3 years old. We didn't want to have them stay anywhere else but had to attend a funeral up country.
They have sleepovers with PIL and my parents every so often now. Maybe 4 or 5 times a year. They enjoy it but we still don't....
Thankfully, all relatives live within 15 minutes drive from ours and knowing that makes things easier.
At the end of the day, you have to weigh up your own comfort and wishes against the benefits to your daughter.

About 7 months, i had stopped ebf & had gone back to work. Was totally sleep deprived & DH worked shifts. It saved my life (slightly dramatic)

Dds 5 months and 6 months stayed with my parents overnight here and there depending on mine and dh shift patterns at work ....

DS has been staying with grandparents since about 6 weeks he's always been fine, if anything he is even better taken care of as they are not frazzled and sleep deprived and very excited to have him. If he wakes up they deal with it I figure since DP and I are still alive and well they must know what they are doing, not that they always do things my way but the odd night of staying up late and sweeties won't hurt him if anything will leave him with lovely memories of wonderful nights :)

It has made me a much better mum getting that break DS was a high needs baby total nightmare and I think I may have had a touch of PND knowing I could rest easy with him being taken care of by someone who loves him like I do got me through it.