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Parenting

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Original poster

Age for first week away from home

40 replies

Strathyre · 04/01/2023 20:21

I was interested to know what people think is normal for a first week away from home. I understand it depends on the individual and the situation so I'm looking for a rough idea. In our situation it would be a week at grandparents house, but not grandparents DC is super close to, they see them once a month max. Background is I keep hearing DH talking to his parents about DC spending a week with them, but to my mind that is many years away! Currently DC is approaching 2 and has never been away from me for a night.

Just interested really in some examples - what worked for you?

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newmumtotwo24 · 04/01/2023 20:24

I think my first was not long after 1 when he stayed with grandparents, who he saw very frequently. Maybe about 18months he went for 5 days. It's really is each individual choice though. My SILs little one stayed with his grandparents (my PIL) when he was only 2/3 weeks old. It's what you feel comfortable with.

Athenen0ctua · 04/01/2023 20:27

DS was 7 when he went away Monday to Friday on a holiday camp. A whole week I think was at 11 for Scout summer camp.

Hadtochangeforthisone · 04/01/2023 20:43

First was about 3 months with GPS she saw about once a fortnight.

We went to Amsterdam for a long weekend.

Second was at 7 months for a week.

My parents didn't do regular childcare but would do long weekends occasional 5-7 days until all three were early teens .

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PuttingDownRoots · 04/01/2023 20:48

A weekend about two years old.

A week was school age at least... I think they were 6&8. Complicated house move.

Eastereggsboxedupready · 04/01/2023 20:52

Monday to Friday at school residential year 6.. Otherwise most been apart is 3 nights with any of mine under 18!!

FatGirlSwim · 04/01/2023 20:57

My teenage dc still wouldn’t do this for a full week (13 and 16), I would have course let them if they wanted to. It totally depends when you and dc are comfortable. My 10 and 8 yo have never spent more than one night away from home. Some dc just don’t like it.

Thesearmsofmine · 04/01/2023 21:01

My eldest was 11 last summer when scouts did a full week away, he didn’t want to do the full week so went for 5 days, a few others scouts around the same age did the same.
He did spend 4 nights away with grandparents he was very close too when I was in hospital at age 5 but regularly came in to visit me and as I say at that time he was very close to them and saw them all the time.

CatSeany · 04/01/2023 21:06

My son stayed with my parents overnight age 2 and enjoyed himself. We were at a wedding and he went from 5pm to midday the next day. I think for a whole week I imagine him being school age. At least old enough to be able to comprehend time and to understand fully where we are and when we are coming back.

Soapnotshowergel · 04/01/2023 21:27

A week? Junior age at primary school I guess so 8/9+ but we see both sets of grandparents weekly and they know them well.

Both of mine have had odd nights (two at the most) at GPs since before 1 but wouldn't want them off for a week until much older.

Mostwonderful · 04/01/2023 21:30

A week?? Coming up to five and it’s a hell no. The most I could probably do is 2 days, 3 nights to be honest. I could do longer if they were with their Dad but not someone else. But I also won’t go further than 3/4 hours away with DH in case anything happens and we need to get to them quickly. Again, I’d be fine if DH was there but not without either of us.

MyMachineAndMe · 04/01/2023 21:37

Mine were really young when they started sleeping elsewhere overnight; dc2 especially so because we moved house at 6 weeks old.

They have both been on a few school residentials and loved them, esp dc2.

user432900976 · 04/01/2023 22:01

For a week I'd say 8+

Ihatethenewlook · 04/01/2023 22:04

Grandparents that they are not close to? Never. What would they get out of it?

Heyahun · 04/01/2023 22:05

Left mine with my mum when she was 15 months to go to Glastonbury for 5 days

nancy75 · 04/01/2023 22:08

My DD went to Spain with my parents for a week when she was 3 & was absolutely fine! She stayed with them overnight from a few months. They’ve always had a lot of involvement in her life & she’s never once been upset to stay with them.
shes 17 now & has been in various school trips, guide camps and has always been confident staying away from home

Isthisexpected · 04/01/2023 22:08

Grandparents that they are not close to? Never. What would they get out of it?

^ yes. Through the eyes of a little child this week would be potentially very scary, feel like a confusing abandonment and not a bonding fun experience to get to know their grandparents (which is the adult perspective!). Far better to build that relationship by you all getting together often.

We stayed with grandparents for the odd week, but very often overnights and weekends from about 8. But we say them so regularly we were close before the overnights began. It isn't fair to kids to use overnights to do the the bonding, it needs to be the other way round.

caravanbuckie · 04/01/2023 22:08

Eldest DD was 15 - foreign holiday with friends family

DS was 17 - went to his GFs for 3 months during Covid

The others haven't, there has been no reason for them to

HeddaGarbled · 04/01/2023 22:11

A full week? I don’t think it was until she was 18 and went on holiday with friends. Obviously, shorter periods before that. I think the first was a one-nighter around the age of 4. School trips were always shorter than a week.

MajorCarolDanvers · 04/01/2023 22:12

From 6 weeks old they had 1 night away

From 2 years old they stayed with GPS when we've been on holiday. - week at a time.

The from 10 years - a week away with Cubs, Scouts, school

evemillbank · 04/01/2023 22:13

I haven't done it at all, not even for a night. Mine are 5. And a week is such a long time. I'd even think a night was a long time.

jlm122 · 04/01/2023 22:17

I'm 25 years old and have never not seen my mum for a week longest must be 3/4 days

olderthanyouthink · 04/01/2023 22:20

DC 4 & 1 have never stayed away from me at night. No plans to do that, DC4 would hate it

Curtainsorblinds · 04/01/2023 22:26

id say maybe 10? Certainly not under 5

Baconand · 04/01/2023 22:27

I can’t imagine doing that until well in to primary- maybe 7+?

DD is 3 and hasn’t done one night, I don’t particularly see the need regardless.

I know I did stay at my grandparents on and off once I was 8/9 in the holidays, they used to take me away etc. but my brother was much younger and too much for them (he was a bit challenging bless him, undiagnosed SEND, I was one of those irritatingly obedient children until I was 13). I was also close to them too.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 04/01/2023 22:29

Started one night sleepovers around 3 months with grandparents.

1st week with grandparent was at 3yo as we went on our honeymoon

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