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

Buy Dobble! You and the 9 yo will love it. And the 3 yo might have a go too! They can take it back on the train with them.

Staying with the theme have you got scrap paper and pencils? I'd go for the Crayola twistables, no sharpening needed.

Plenty of towels on the beds, and check if there's anything like a favourite cereal of the kids.

Nothing worse that bored and hungry kids, so of you go from that angle, you'll be grand!

Have you got any friends/neighbours you can borrow things from?

Poundland or B&M often have cheap kiddy cutlery and plates etc. If you have a plastic picnic set, you could use some of that.

Speak with the mum.
We used to joke our 3 yo forgets he's 3.

He wouldn't notice smaller cutlery but he'd complain about kids stuff wanted to be the same as everyone else inc big brother.

Op I meant to say you sound like a lovely and really thoughtful friend.

Hope you all have a lovely time x

OP you sound like a lovely and thoughtful friend but were you really planning to get a stair gate installed for a 2 night visit- do you realise they have to be drilled in and are therefore pretty permanent? As PPs have said, it isn’t necessary for a 3yo anyway but even if the visiting toddler was 18 months are they likely to be left unsupervised on your landing for long enough for it to be necessary to drill holes in your stairs?!
Hope it all goes well with the visit!

@MarianosOnHisWay

OP you sound like a lovely and thoughtful friend but were you really planning to get a stair gate installed for a 2 night visit- do you realise they have to be drilled in and are therefore pretty permanent? As PPs have said, it isn’t necessary for a 3yo anyway but even if the visiting toddler was 18 months are they likely to be left unsupervised on your landing for long enough for it to be necessary to drill holes in your stairs?! Hope it all goes well with the visit!

That’s not strictly true, we’ve always used pressure fit ones. Never had to drill a hole for any of the kids or grandkids.

@FawnFrenchieMum Pressure fit ones are not recommended for the top of the stairs (they’re ok at the bottom).