Baby staying with family overnight

[Penguins321]

At what age did you let family members have your baby overnight?

8wks old with my mum in law, he was totally fine, in fact it was the first night he slept through! He’s probably had a sleep over at one of the Grandparents houses every 2/3mths since, but they have lovely close relationships and I trust them completely.

I’m stay at home Mum and he doesn’t go to nursery or anything (he’s now 2.5yrs).

Seems on Mumsnet I’m totally going against the grain though!

Oldest about 18 months. Youngest a bit younger. They love a holiday with their grandparents and have a great relationship with them though. Might be different if they didn't

Never: child is at secondary school. It really depends on your circumstances and the relatives circumstances. They have had sleep overs with friends.

Everyone is different, when you are happy to leave them.

DC1 was around 3, DC2 was 2 and DC3 is 2 and hasn’t yet.
Jealous of these people who have someone willing to take their 8 week old babies . Mine were all poor sleepers (plus I breastfed for 12 months with each) so no one offered. DC3 gets up at 5am so I can’t see anyone wanting him overnight any time soon!

Hasn't stayed at his grandparents but from about a year old my son was staying with good friends around the corner who have a daughter (my goddaughter) who's about a year older. We swapped and took it in turns to do a sleepover most months. Kids loved being together and we each got weekend nights and mornings off! They moved away early last year unfortunately.

Ds is 6 and a half.
3 times.
In the past year only!

DS1 was 6 weeks old when he stayed with my sister because I had a hen night, he was absolutely fine and I had a great time

6 months

6 month or there about

3 months, I needed help and my mum offered. Hes stayed out a handful of times with my mum, last time being September due to work commitments. He's 18 months now

DD is 8 months and hasn't yet. Have no plans for her to either. Grandparents are local but it would be more hassle than it's worth, plus I don't feel like I need a break.

A few months, I know I'm the minority but I needed it and feel zero guilt or shame. I love a break!

When he was maybe 3? I didn't want to inflict all the horrendous night-waking on my parents or inlaws! He is nearly 7 now and still wakes in the night but not as often...

2 months

3 years. I was in hospital having his sister.

@Marlena1

A few months, I know I'm the minority but I needed it and feel zero guilt or shame. I love a break!

I think for a lot of people (well for me anyway), it isn’t that they don’t want a break. I was desperate for a break. I just didn’t have anyone who could/would have mine. My in laws live abroad, my dad wouldn’t have a clue what to do with a baby overnight and my mum has a health issue that makes lack of sleep very difficult for her, and mine were all awful sleepers. I would have killed for a night off!

2 for dc1. Never for dc2. Just wasn’t right for me to let a baby go away for a night

@Marlena1 you’re in the minority on Mumsnet because it’s a certain demographic of people. EVERYONE I know has had grandparents babysit regularly from a few months old.

Eldest was 5 months and screamed all night, so mum refused to have them until they would settle themselves without a parent. Then there was covid and now they would need a lot of settling in if I was to try. Youngest is 3 and hasn't spent a night away yet, but definitely would have in normal times.

Pretty much never....

I'd love to have a night off and a proper night's sleep but DD 9 months is an awful sleeper, wakes every hour from about 2/3am so i think it would be a bit much for even my mum at the minute and she'd love to have her 😴

@TheOneWithTheBigNose fair enough. I live in the town I grew up in so I am very lucky. I am not sure I would have coped to be honest. Harder than I thought! Hats off to you, hope you get a break soon

Not until there was an emergency, when DD1 was 5 and DS was 3.

Both GPs lived many hours away, and neither pair would have seen overnight stays as a thing to aim or ask for.

The DCs all went on lots of sleepovers with friends from about age 5/6 though.

3 months, stayed at my mum and dads. Will admit that I had a lot of mum guilt over her being out so young but she has a great bond with my parents, they absolutely love having her and me and dh get to have a date night and full night sleep! Everybody wins!