Childcare for MiL party -WWYD?

[TheABC]

Just needed some thoughts/perspective on this.

My lovely MiL is holding a masquerade ball to celebrate her 60th. Everyone is going (even my parents have been invited) and it's going to be a fantastic evening.

We have a 7 month old DS. As PiL live 200 miles away, we are staying with them for the weekend. The problem is making sure DS is cared for, during the party. He is simply too young to be expected to stay up for the evening and he needs a quiet room to sleep in. The hotel where the ball is held is very expensive (I looked into getting an overnight room), and miles away from PiL house, so going back and forth is problematic. A childminder is the obvious solution, but everyone PiL would trust with their house/grandson is going to the ball. Obviously, they have not needed childcare for years and as we don't live in the area, we don't know any babysitters, either.

Any ideas? The only thing I can think of is to split the babysitting between myself and DH, so we both get to go, but DS has a safe, familiar adult around.

[TheABC]

Thanks, everyone! I am looking into professional childcare now, along with canvassing my parents to do a shift. I am also going to approach the hotel to see if we can get a reduced rate (they are doing very well out of this shindig and a standard room would cost £150 a night). Sadly, I can't drag my usual babysitter with us; she has a family too and a right to her weekends.

It's good to hear everyone else's party experiences; perhaps we can get away with just taking the buggy...

[MummyLuce]

I took my daughter to loads of parties/weddings/late night things at that age, it was fine! I put her in the sling until she was tired then put her in her buggy, walked round till she fell asleep and then left the buggy in corner of room. I defo would not have been arsed with childcare arrangements!

[HelenHen]

Can you ask mil to harass the hotel? When you're paying big for something like that they often throw in things like a free room. Also maybe find out if anybody else is in the same boat? That way the kids could share the room... And the babysitter!

[jamtoast12]

Its a difficult one. Ideally I'd ask your parents to give it a miss! Whenever we've had this either set of parents has missed the event to babysit. Last year we had a family wedding on dh side and even though my parents were in theory invited, they knew they'd never go as they were the only ones to babysit and it was more important for us to go. It works both sides. I guess when you think about it, its a bit cheeky but my parents and in laws have always done this! I don't think I'd be comfortable using a stranger babysitter at all, I'd rather give it a miss tbh.

There's no way that my mil would enjoy a party with my family if it meant I had to leave early to mind my child ....she would be very much of the opinion that it was more important for me to be there. And visa versa.

I know it sound odd but it's how it's always been with our families!

Failing that I'd take a buggy :)

[Martorana]

"Its a difficult one. Ideally I'd ask your parents to give it a miss! Whenever we've had this either set of parents has missed the event to babysit"

Wow. Just.....wow.

[jamtoast12]

Actually it's not as bad as it sounds! I'm not talking about her parents missing any random persons party ie. mutual friends etc - this is the inlaws party. Everyone on her dh side is going which only leaves her side of the family to babysit. (I know there are agencies etc but I don't know one person in real life where I live that has ever employed a stranger to babysit or even left a child with a friend of a friend).

admittedly it may sound very odd and out of order to many, especially if both sets of parents etc are close and socialise anyway etc but in our case, my inlaws would only invite my parents because of the fact they are my parents, nothing to do with them socialising otherwise.

So in our family, it would be very odd for my parents to go to an inlaws party if we couldn't go as we would be the only reason they'd be invited in the first place!

I'll be honest my parents expect to babysit for us when dh family has a party and visa versa. theres no way mine would go and leave us without a sitter, given they'd only be getting a 'polite' invite anyway.

I can see it wouldn't work if both parents were friends who socialise otherwise or if the GP are not regular babysitters.

[SauvignonBlanche]

Seven months? - just walk them in the pram for a bit and find a quiet corner.