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Parenting

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Original poster

Almost 2 year old staying out overnight

17 replies

KL92xxxx · 19/02/2022 08:28

Feeling super anxious, my almost 2 year old is staying out next week for the first time. It’s with close family who have had kids so they know what they’re letting themselves in for, he loves them and they love him so much.

His sleep is sporadic, it’s anyones guess to whether he’ll sleep through, wake up, want to sleep only in cot, want to sleep only in our bed. Sometimes in the night he only wants me.

I just need a full night sleep and time to deep clean my house. I also want to get him used to enjoying time away with close family overnight as I think it’ll be nice for everyone in the long run.

However knowing he could be really upset in the night, should I cancel?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Enko · 19/02/2022 08:30

No dont cancel support your child to find out they can get comfort from other people who love them too.

Support yourself to be a better parent by a full night's sleep.

And if the family member really can't cope they will contact you but likelihood is he will sleep

onepieceoflollipop · 19/02/2022 08:32

How far away will he be?
Could you collect him in the night if he does get upset?
I wouldn’t cancel if you trust the family he is staying with as long as they will be ready to comfort him in the night if needed.

Justmuddlingalong · 19/02/2022 08:32

Please don't cancel. If him staying overnight with close family is something you want to do, now's as good a time as any. They'll cope, he'll cope and you'll have some well deserved time to yourself. Enjoy it.

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MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 19/02/2022 08:32

No, I think it's a really good thing to get kids used to being with other people ,it's not like it's a stranger it's a close family member.

onepieceoflollipop · 19/02/2022 08:35

True story - my 2nd child was a poor sleeper until she started school.
5 am was a lie in with frequent wakings.
She and older sibling went to my mum for the night.
I slept heavily and woke in a panic at 08:30 in a hotel next morning.
Called my mum thinking she’d have had no sleep…
(She had gone to bed herself at 9pm in case the night was long…)

Mum answered the phone and said very casually oh they are both fine, little one only just woken!

KylieCharlene · 19/02/2022 08:36

I'd not cancel buy I'd find it difficult to relax unless I knew one hundred percent that the relative would contact me if they really needed and not just middle through as this could make things harder in the long run.
Will you be close by?
Does he spend time with them alone without you present usually and often?

Sally872 · 19/02/2022 08:37

Don't cancel. He is with people who love him and uninterrupted sleep for one night is manageable for those watching him.

They have kids they know what to expect and wouldn't offer if they weren't happy to do it and/or aware that you really need a break.

They will call you if he is inconsolable, chances are he will sleep well due to the excitement of being somewhere new and playing with their kids.

ShoppingBasket · 19/02/2022 08:38

Nope, definitely don't cancel. It important that you can get rest. It is also important for him so he can be comfortable with different family members so the option is there in emergency situations. You will probably find he will sleep better in someone else's house and sleep through they are terrors like that.

Justmuddlingalong · 19/02/2022 08:38

I agree. Bad sleepers have a habit of making you look like a liar when you've complained how poorly they sleep, by sleeping right through on a sleepover.

Sally872 · 19/02/2022 08:39

*Interrupted not uninterrupted

2022IamHavingYa · 19/02/2022 08:41

Please go ahead with this. He will be absolutely fine and you need the break x

ducktape · 19/02/2022 08:46

My 'poor sleeper' slept way better at her grandparents house than at home at a similar age. Still does age 10!

Fuckitsstillraining · 19/02/2022 08:51

Please don't cancel, it sounds like you trust the people he is going to stay with and will have play time, company and fun so he will most likely be quite tired and sleep through. You can tell the family he's with to contact you if he gets upset which will put your mind at rest, you won't sleep well if your worrying about him. I used to take my niece overnight to give my dsil a break but we started at 2 months because she was a little terror who had her parents exhausted and stressed, it worked for everyone, parents got to sleep, niece got looked after and I got to spend time with her that I loved (even in the middle of the night).

ChaosMoon · 19/02/2022 08:52

Congratulations on having wonderful family who can give you a break. Now try to enjoy it.

My terribly sleeping DD didn't do an overnight until she was just over 2. She had a ball and now asks to stay with her DGPs without us. We've done it a few times now and she more or less sleeps. Everyone has a wonderful time and we have so many more spoons when we get her back. Which I must go and do soon...

It was hard to completely switch off the first time (although still worth it). I therefore recommend that you see this as a practice run and do it again soon to consolidate your learning.

Weepingwillows12 · 19/02/2022 08:59

If whoever is looking after him knows sometimes he isn't great at sleep and they said yes then they are fully aware of what they are doing and happy to do it so you don't need to worry. They love him too. It will be fine.

ChocolateMassacre · 19/02/2022 09:00

I'm disappointed ! I thought this was going to about a little party animal toddler who had stayed out all night and missed their curfew and you're wondering what punishment to impose.

It'll be fine. Enjoy your night off!

RavenclawsRoar · 19/02/2022 09:05

I bet he sleeps really well! We had this - my 2yo was going through a dreadful sleep phase and I was going into hospital to have a c section so we arranged for him to stay over with my parents. I was so worried - he'd never stayed overnight away from us, lockdown baby etc. Anyway, he was an absolute dream! Had a lovely time, slept through and ended up staying over again the following week because he'd had such a good time! He will be fine - enjoy your night off.

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