When did you let family take your children for days out?

[alesha123445]

Hi everyone. My baby is 11 months old and my first. I've never really thought about it until it got brought up today.
My question is, when did you let family take your child for days out? Did you have any worries?

Neither wanted to so we never did this.

Mines 5 and still not done this, other than we all go out together

When I went back to work after maternity leave - I’m very lucky in that they provide childcare several days a week and they often choose to take my kids on trips for the days when they have them. It’s a lovely bond for everyone and a chance for the kids to go lovely places when I’m stuck at work. Win win.

Ds is 11 and has never been taken out for the day with grandparents. They've never asked.

My mum had my son for a day a week when I returned to work when he was 7 months, she took him wherever she wanted when he was with her.

I think my dad took my first to the zoo when she was 2.5 years and we only visit 4 times a year. She loves her pops, and every time we visit nearly they disappear off to the zoo with her brother in tow. A love of birds and animals is something they have shared from a young age, to the extent she rings him up if she spots a new bird. My mum would take her up the yard to potter and feed the ponies, but not take her anywhere special. My daughter goes up the yard but my son is not interested and as such they don’t have a great relationship. The other side was probably more 3.5-4 years.

About 10 months with first.

Second about 1.5 for the odd afternoon

Around a year I think with DD1... I can remember my parents having her when DH&I went to the Olympics.
Can't remember with DD2. Must have been when we moved house at 8months.

I'm pretty sure DD1 was going on holiday with grandparents at 2yo.

My DD is 5 months and MIL has been asking nagging to take her for walks by herself since she was 10 weeks. My feeling is there shouldn't be an expectation on this from extended family and it should happen when child and parents feel comfortable with it. I'm thinking more like 10 months to a year when DD understands who people are and they've spent more time getting to know her.

Never.... it was not mentioned.

No one has and she’s 5 1/2

Dc1 - 7 months when I went back to work and parents did childcare one day a week.
Dt - 6 months because dc1 had to go in for surgery (but was a one off and then didn't happen for a long time after that.

Lockdown has obviously got in the way but my parents did a day a week childcare one day a week so they could take her wherever they wanted when they look after. After everything gets back to normal, I'd be happy for them to take her out for the day if they wanted to! Win win for everyone involved. I have a great relationship with them and trust them implicitly so that makes a big difference. My in laws live quite far away so haven't had the opportunity but they would probably want to build up their confidence before doing that.

They haven't ever really taken them for just days out, but when younger used to have them for a short stint over the summer holidays. They took DS, when 13, on a foreign holiday and will do they same when DS2 is similar age (assuming Covid has bogged off by then!)

Mother in law had DD at 5 months for the afternoon to go and wander around a children's farm for a couple of hours and then play around at home. We slept. She took a bottle and I wasn't worried/concerned although it was a bit weird being without for the first time. I'd be happy for them to take her on a day out.

When I was staying with family (live abroad) they used to be so keen on seeing me that I'd be included in any days out. But dh and I did go for an annual day out and leave them with my parents from age 1 at least and I'm sure they took them out then. When ds was 2 I know I left him for 3 days with my parents because the rest of us were going sailing and I thought the sea might be too choppy for him.

If we had lived closer I am sure it would have been more often: not because it's some kind of necessary rite de passage but because dc would have loved going out with grandparents and I could have done with some time at home to get on with things.

I think it depends how comfortable you are with the idea of being apart for the day, whether you are breastfeeding and baby will take a bottle of expressed, and how comfortable the child is with his/her grandparents. My in-laws live very close by and provided childcare a couple of days per week for me prior to lockdown, from the time Dd1 was 1 year (I took a full year of mat leave). I breastfed her exclusively and even though we offered expressed milk in every conceivable container she would not drink it, so I couldn't leave her for a full day much before then. I was fine with them taking her out wherever they wanted as long as she got a nap. I always packed her a lunch to go to Granny's anyway, so all was prepared in case they went anywhere. My parents live in America, so Dd1 only sees them infrequently, but my Dad in particular is such a baby whisperer that I was happy with her staying with them for a day while my husband and I had a day out with my sister. They got along great! DD2 is only 6 months but I have no qualms about doing the same with her next year, if they are happy to look after 2 at once. Neither of them has ever done a sleepover, a bigger step in my mind; DD1 is now 3.

I had my first granddaughter for the day when she was 3 days old.... my DD was unwell....I have GD ( now 5 ).a d her little sister regularly for trips out....I've taken older granddaughter away with my partner since she was 10 months.... I've had both overnight but never taken both away.......I'm sure we will do after covid.....my other GD ( age 2 my sons DD) I have never taken out for the day....just see her with her parents....its just a different relationship I guess....no less love though

My parents sometimes take my older son out to the local playground for an hour but they have never offered any more than this. They have never changed a nappy or put either child to bed.

My PIL live overseas.

If either set of grandparents were engaged and up for it, I would probably have allowed it from around 3.

Mil did the odd few hours a couple of times before DD was a year but it was more once I went back at work at a year she would have her every so often and then from about 18 months would have her for the occasional night. We always saw a lot of mil and DD loved her so I was quite confident that DD would be happy and mil knew DD and he’d routine well. I did worry mainly about random things like is she doing her car seat up tightly enough and similar things but I knew she’d be ok.

Mine is 3.5 still haven't as we have never had the situation crop up where we would want it to it would be needed.

I think each person is different, don't let anyone tell you what is "normal" or what "should" be done, it's what you are comfortable with. if the family can adequately look after them and that's what you both want, the I don't see why you wouldn't. Start with an hour or 2 if you makes you feel better.