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What’s the most bizarre parenting advice you’ve received from your in-laws? Get involved with Hotel Transylvania 2 for a chance to win a £300 voucher! NOW CLOSED

355 replies

MichelleMumsnet · 15/10/2015 09:17

Hotel Transylvania 2 have asked us to find out what the most bizarre advice is Mumsnetters have ever received from their parents in law….

In Hotel Transylvania 2, Drac is worried that his adorable half-human, half-vampire grandson, Dennis, isn’t showing signs of being a vampire. So while his mother Mavis is busy visiting her human in-laws with Johnny – and in for a major cultural shock of her own – “Vampa” Drac enlists his friends Frank, Murray, Wayne and Griffin to put Dennis through a “monster-in-training” boot camp. Mumsnetters everywhere will be familiar with differences in opinion with their in-laws although perhaps not quite on this scale…!

You can watch a clip from the film below

So, what’s the most bizarre piece of parenting advice you have ever received from your in laws? Maybe they they’ve got some peculiar natural remedies they suggested you use? Have they told you that they’ve found a fool proof way of getting your DC to sleep by just singing them a particular lullaby? Perhaps they think they’ve somehow come up with a way to make your DC do everything you tell them? Whatever it is, we’d love to hear it!

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 Love2Shop voucher! Runners up can also win 1 of 3 exclusive Hotel Transylvania 2 goody bags!

#HotelT2 is At Cinemas October 16 in 3D.

Thanks
MNHQ

OP posts:
frances93 · 20/10/2015 12:43

My mother in law told me the best way to stop a temper tantrum is to "just buy them whatever they want"Hmm

SystemicFailure · 20/10/2015 12:45

From MIL: A tablespoon of lemonade for colic and a tablespoon of brandy for teething pains.

Me: Why not just put them together and give her a brandy and lemonade? Grin

MIL: Shock How could you be so ridiculous?

SystemicFailure · 20/10/2015 12:56

ThemisA None but my mother was told 'Never let your children know you are wrong'!!!!

I was told this by my aunty and I actually think it's very good advice Blush

Vikkijayne2507 · 20/10/2015 12:56

When my hungry breast feeding baby would feed every 2-3 hours. He often would gulp it down then suckle gently. Mil told me he's just playing and he'll never put on weight properly and give bottle like she had to. My son started on the 3rd percentile ebf until 6 m, at 6m he was and stayed on 80th percentile. Weaned off no probs at 13m.

Also wrap him up in stupid number of layers (we live in Portugal )

MAT12 · 20/10/2015 12:58

Put a little bit of whiskey in their bottle each night that will help them sleep. i have to say i never let my kids stay overnight at their home and they are no longer my in-laws

glennamy · 20/10/2015 13:02

Let the baby cry herself back to sleep if she wakes up... Pah!

Battleaxebus · 20/10/2015 13:06

DNan was a wonderful lady but very stoic and almost Victorian in her attitudes to many things. When I was PG we went shopping (her, me and my mum) for baby things. She spent the entire time hoiking her bosom proclaiming it's all rubbish and all you need for a baby is 2 blankets, a bottom drawer and a length of material to tie them on to your front or back. Whilst I agree that there are lots of baby things which are a complete rip-off, I think she was going the extreme! She ended up drawing quite an audience in Mothercare with her stories of how all of her children slept in drawers and she used to put my uncle in the cupboard under the stairs for a sleep Blush

Then when DD was 8 and DNan was visiting, DD showed her a dance routine she'd been learning in dance classes. Afterwards when DD left the room, DNan turned to me and assured me I'd only have a few more years of 'frivilous bollocks' (actual words) before DD could get a job and start contributing to the household. She. was. 8.

Just after DD was born and DNan came over to visit, she went outside for a cigarette and was gone ages. I went to see where she was. She'd dug a hole in my front garden and buried a lock of DD's hair in there to keep the devil away. I went back in to find DD with a lovely bald patch in the middle of her fucking head Hmm

tamalyn1 · 20/10/2015 13:14

trying to give my baby a tot of whisky for her cough! i dont think so lol

manfalou · 20/10/2015 13:30

You don't need calpol, a spot of hot water, whiskey and sugar in a sippy cup does the trick.... Err yeh we'll stick to calpol but thanks for that

libra101 · 20/10/2015 13:38

As a baby my daughter used to suck her thumb, and my mother in law wanted me to put gloves on her hands to discourage this habit!

Needless to say, I didn't take her advice.

liamell · 20/10/2015 13:41

my mother in law suggested I squeeze my sons nose every morning and night for a few seconds so that his nose wouldnt grow as big as his fathers!

beckyinman · 20/10/2015 13:58

Make sure the baby is wearing two more layers than you - I'm always cold so to get two more layers on the baby than me would mean buying half a shop!

bla4bla · 20/10/2015 14:03

When DD was a bitey two year old, MIL told me to bite her back.

Hoppinggreen · 20/10/2015 14:10

Vests , they must always wear vests, a tshirt under a jumper will not do because this is not a vest and will therefore NOT stop them from getting pneumonia because only an actual vest can do that.
Also, if a non slippered foot so much as touches the floor for a second this will also result in pneumonia, even if a vest is deployed.

Mil is pretty laid back but she's convinced at least one of her GC is doomed to die of pneumonia

BellaWella86 · 20/10/2015 14:14

My daughter was born in early October. It was fairly mild outside (much milder than it is at the moment!). I was told I shouldn't take her outside until she was 6 weeks old as it was far too cold for a newborn. I think we both would have gone insane being stuck inside for 6 weeks. What rubbish advice!

Maclairey · 20/10/2015 14:19

That I wasn't producing enough milk for my 6 week old who was obviously crying through hunger and clearly starving and would end up malnourished. Umm no actually, babies just cry occasionally. I breastfed for 14 months. That was the first of many comments. Thankfully I am not one to take any notice of stupidity and put them in their place on more than one occasion.

elvisthehamster · 20/10/2015 14:25

Yes I have had a 'bite them back if they bite you' ! I can't imagine anyone actually doing this!

Also Whiskey in the bottle for getting them to sleep or rubbing on gums for teething!

We all survived so it must be okay seems to be the general way of thinking! Smile

Micah68 · 20/10/2015 14:29

Not to take a baby to the supermarket as they will come home with an infection.

kpdchudleigh · 20/10/2015 14:41

To let a newborn baby 'cry itself out' because it would be good for their lungs.

I'm sure this mother in law's advice would be accepted in defence of murder?

hannonle · 20/10/2015 15:22

All I can really remember is to pass the baby around to different people so they don't get clingy. I thought that was quite good advice actually. No weird random stuff here.

devito92 · 20/10/2015 15:36

Give my son a cup of tea he like that ? Why

TheFormidableMrsC · 20/10/2015 15:52

When my DD was newborn I was very poorly, very sore throat, heavy cold etc. I rang my Mum asking if she could bring me something for it as I felt too ill to go out. She turned up with a decorating face mask for me to put on and told me to stay away from the baby. As you do.

Perhaps I should have been more specific....Smile

shivbrown · 20/10/2015 16:24

Should Potty train at 6 months.... Hmmm Okay then!

CrumblyMumbly · 20/10/2015 16:25

Leave her to cry - it's good for her lungs - hmmm but not her mental health or mine...

Give her a good smack - an oxymoron I believe!

Baby rice in her milk at about 2 weeks old!

All from DMil - may explain why DH has anxiety attacks still and problems digesting things...

RoboticSealpup · 20/10/2015 16:54

To put a small safety pin on her clothes with a blue charm on it, "so she doesn't get the Evil Eye".

Sorry, I'm not putting sharp objects where my child can get to them!

(They're not crazy, they're Greek.)