Holiday Babysitting 9 week old

[ChrisCheryl]

Hi everyone.
First time using Mumsnet.
We have been asked to look after our grand daughters 9 week old baby when mum & dad go on holiday abroad for a week.
We are concerned that this is a bit too early for baby to be away from mum.
Just want some advice if this is okay or not. We have spent lots of time with baby and been active in feeding and changing him. We just need advice on this please.
Thank you.
Cc x

Babies survive in all kinds of circumstances without their parents. Would I have left my baby that young? No.

Are you concerned for you or for them or for baby? What does mum think

Personally I couldn't do it. I struggle leaving me 2.5 year old for 24 hours so I guess it's each to their own. Could you meet in the middle and they do 4/5 nights or something if you are comfortable.

I think 9 weeks is very very early. My personal opinion is not too leave your child overnight until 5/6 months really.

Your grand daughters baby? You are the great grandma?

Looking after a newbown can be hard work for a 20/30 year old and I'm assuming you are quite a lot older. I'm so out of practice the broken sleep would break me and my dc aren't that old. I wouldn't be considering it tbh.

I think the parents are being very cheeky and I would say no. I wouldn’t get involved in any criticism of their parenting as that is unlikely to be well-received, but say no on the grounds that it’s too much for you to cope with.

That’s a very unusual request. Are there other relevant circumstances you haven’t mentioned?

I’d love looking after a 9 week old personally but like you, I’d be uneasy that they were happy to leave such a young baby for so long. I don’t think it’s really in the baby’s best interest.

Seriously, the mum actually wants to leave their newborn for a whole week? Are you absolutely sure? Because that sounds really unlikely to me. I'm sure you want to help, but in your shoes I would want a lot of reassurance about the reasoning behind the request to leave such a small baby for so long

I have a 10 week old who sleeps really well (at the moment) I haven't left him with anyone for more than a couple of hours. No way would I leave him for an entire week.

I wouldn’t have wanted to leave my 9 week old for a week but people do.
Im going to make a sweeping generalisation and say I assume the mother is very young since you are the great grandmother and maybe hasn’t grown up yet and thinks that’s what you do as a parent. Leave your kids for a week while you swan off on holiday

Too young and too long. What's the holiday for?

Forget the age of the baby which is just ridiculous you're this child's great grand parent? I don't mean to be impolite but surely if they are going away then the more logical choice is the child's grandparents?

Leaving a 9 week for a holiday would make me worry there is a problem with the parents.

If you don’t want to do it, just say no. You don’t need the permission of randoms on the internet. Or are you just trying to shame the parents?

I wouldn't of been able to leave my son at 9 weeks. I hate leaving him at 17 months.

I would be worried about the parents bond with their baby...that's far too young to leave them for a week..

So your Great Grandaughter ?
Are you "fit " enough to be doing feeds every few hours throughout the day and night ?

Most odd to leave a 9 week old baby just to go abroad on holiday!

A medical emergency I could understand but just for a sun tan? Bizarre!

Two things spring to kind - what's the situation with their parents so as to ask you and not them?

Secondly, is the holiday all the husbands idea and she is being coerced to leave baby and go?

Seriously why do people bother having kids when they cba to look after them.

Thank you all for your answers to our question about holiday babysitting.
You have all been so helpful and have supported what we were already thinking.
Time to say cancel your holiday.
Thank you everyone and Mumsnet. X