Two nights with a 9 year old and 3 year old - your advice please?

[Mirren]

Hi,

I hope I've chosen the right topic, if not please feel free to move! I have friends coming over next weekend for two nights - they have a 9 year old boy and a girl who has just turned 3 who I haven't met before.

My own son is now a growling independent but feral uni student at 18 and I honestly can't remember what will be necessary to arrange! Funny how time flies...! They are coming by train and I want them to feel super at home so I was thinking:

Beds - The 9 year old can sleep in the single guest bed, with his sister next to him in a Peppa Pig blow up bed I saw on Argos?
High chair - I'll need to source a high chair for the 3 year old - but probably not the smallest type anymore.
Booster seat - we'll be collecting them from the train so I'll need a proper seat for the 3 year old and maybe a booster seat for the 9 year old?
Stair gate - I think I'll need a stair gate at the top of the stairs?!

Have I forgotten anything? I think 3 is old enough to not worry about plugging all sockets with guards? Or am I wrong? Argh! Any thoughts, comments or suggestions would be massively appreciated.

Thanks so much!

Mirren

By the time my son was 3 he was fine with no highchair and we'd also got rid of the stair gates in the house!

Check with the parents before you go out buying them a bed and a car seat they might have already thought about it!

For two nights I wouldn’t be worrying about any of that except for the car seat and the bed assuming the parents don’t already have an option.
We would definitely not take any of that stuff on holiday by the time they were 3.

I wouldn't bother with a high chair for the 3yo

I agree. I work in a nursery and the kids are usually out of high chairs well before then. Although we do obviously have low chairs that are safer than your standard dining chair.

Likewise unless they say that the 3 year old is particularly at risk you don’t need a stairgate.

I have a 3 year old, we haven’t used a highchair for 18 months and took our stair gates down a while ago.
A car seat is a necessity, and obviously somewhere to sleep. I’d probably just get a bog standard single air bed as you’re more likely to use it again than a Peppa Pig inflatable bed.
Otherwise 3 year olds tend to just do the same as everyone else!

Usually it’s up to the parents to bring what they children need. I’d ask about the booster seat - but nothing else.
Have a lovely time with your friends.

If you have a street WhatsApp or similar you could just ask if you could borrow a couple of scooters / booster seat etc for the weekend.

I agree with the above. Sockets guards aren’t safe and should never bed used.

No high chair - don't think my 3yo would even fit in one now! And think she would object in the strongest terms anyway Just stick a cushion on a normal chair if needed.

I'd expect them to have thought about and arranged their own car seats tbh. We would never expect someone else to provide car seats for our DC for a short weekend visit.

Stairgate not necessary.

I'd just ask them if they need anything and mention the car trip. When we travel we take everything we need with us.

No high chairs or stair gates, abs she would sleep in a normal bed if you had one (though my three year old would love the blow up bed).

Not necessary but they’d like smaller cutlery and a plastic plate/spoon.

I think you're overthinking this! Ask the parents what they have/are bringing. Most parents have a travel booster seat if some sort for holidays, and I'm sure they'll have a car seat. They likely have a ready bed or travel cot for the 3 year old, but good to check. Otherwise for just 2 nights, some cushions on the floor may do!

I'd speak to the parents. When I had young children, I'd bring whatever equipment was necessary.
Definitely no highchair for a 3 year old (mine stopped using them just before they turned 2). I wouldn't think a stair gate would be necessary either unless this child normally lives in a bungalow or you have weird dangerous stairs.
I wouldn't get a themed blow up bed as it would be quickly outgrown and may not suit future guests. Just get a normal one and maybe a peppa blanket if you wanted to make a nice gesture (but do the same with a nice blanket for the 9 year old).

If you have one, a little step for the bathroom (toilet and sink) would be handy.
As PP says, a local WhatsApp or FB group would be good for borrowing stuff from kind neighbours.

Dts had those blow up beds to stay at grandparents, I don't know how but they kept flipping over in them. I'd just get a regular blow up bed!

3 year old won't need a high chair. There are strap-on firm booster cushions you can get to raise their height on a normal dining chair but she'll probably be fine.

I'd put the 3 year old in her parents' room rather than in with her brother. Ask the parents about sleeping arrangements...she may end up between them in bed anyway.

Actually, I would borrow a stairgate for the top of the stairs if you can, especially if you have steep stairs. You won't need it during the day, but my DC once fell down the stairs onto a tiled floor at my parents house aged 3.5 because they got up in the night, tired, and tried to come downstairs to find us in the dark and slipped over their pyjama legs. Luckily only bruises but it was very scary. The stairgate went back up after that and we still close it at night.

You're right, 3yo will need car seat and 9yo may need a booster seat depending on height.

I had a small 4yo around recently - we used our old car booster seat at the table to get him so he wasn’t nose to nose with his food, and it was handy to have a small cutlery set but not vital. The leftover step stool in the bathroom meant he could be independent about using the toilet and washing his hands.

My kids are roughly that age. I’d say think about car safety, small step and kids toilet seat for 3 year old, get their usual breakfasts in and other familiar foods.
My little one would prob hop in bed with me in an unfamiliar place.

Thanks so much everyone! You are right, I'm probably overthinking it and will ask directly, but now feel more comfortable with what might be necessary based on all your feedback. The friends have very little and don't drive, and this is their first long train journey, so I'd like it to be as easy as possible for them and I am keen that they don't feel they have to buy anything in particular for this visit (like a car seat) if they don't already have it because it's my treat. I'll broach it carefully and get sourcing on a local group (when I find it - my groups are all full of old bats like me!)

Thanks again,

Mirren

Of they're travelling by train, that does change things a bit as they probably won't want to carry lots of stuff whilst wrangling two children!
Double check with them though, as they may be used to travelling like this and have everything.

@Mirren

Hi,

I hope I've chosen the right topic, if not please feel free to move! I have friends coming over next weekend for two nights - they have a 9 year old boy and a girl who has just turned 3 who I haven't met before.

My own son is now a growling independent but feral uni student at 18 and I honestly can't remember what will be necessary to arrange! Funny how time flies...! They are coming by train and I want them to feel super at home so I was thinking:

Beds - The 9 year old can sleep in the single guest bed, with his sister next to him in a Peppa Pig blow up bed I saw on Argos?
High chair - I'll need to source a high chair for the 3 year old - but probably not the smallest type anymore.
Booster seat - we'll be collecting them from the train so I'll need a proper seat for the 3 year old and maybe a booster seat for the 9 year old?
Stair gate - I think I'll need a stair gate at the top of the stairs?!

Have I forgotten anything? I think 3 is old enough to not worry about plugging all sockets with guards? Or am I wrong? Argh! Any thoughts, comments or suggestions would be massively appreciated.

Thanks so much!

Mirren

Beds sound fine. Highchair totally unnecessary. Booster seat - monyoull need a proper car seat. Stair gates are not safe after 24 months so not required.

My main question would be what do these two like/need to eat. There might be something that one or other of them ALWAYS eats for breakfast, or will only eat if it is cooked like this that or the other.
If you have their fave foods you'll have gone a long way towards a harmonious visit, IMHO!
Have fun - you sound like a lovely host.

I have an 2 year old. No highchair or stair gates any more, so I imagine she will be fine, even if they have at home

Bed - mine would be better off sharing our room. He would just sleep in middle of double bed with us if you have one. No need for separate

If they are travelling by train, maybe some toys and snacks they like might be better. Ask what brand or type they like as kids can be particular, and pop into local charity shop for some books/ toys. Pencils and paper are usually a hit.

For the 3 yo smaller cutlery, if you have a canteen with smaller knife / fork designed for starters or desserts those will do rather than buying stuff.
My 5yo uses a side plate for dinner rather than a big dinner plate.

I have a similar age gap and LO does forget they are little want the same as big brother.

My friends used to bring their children to stay, from being little babies. Never had any of that stuff - we improvised, as necessary. Admittedly, they did drive here so had their own car seats. I just bought a few plastic plates & cups, which I ended up using for years with each new child!