My SIL got invited to a kids birthday party at Chuck E Cheese and asked if she could take DS with her. He is 10 months old. He's never gone out in public without me and/or DH present.
How would you feel about this? At what age do you think you would feel comfortable sending your LO out with relatives, and why?
squash / 13208 posts
I wouldn't let him go because there is nothing for a 10 month old to do there- why does she want to take him?
cantaloupe / 6885 posts
My sister started taking DD out when she pretty young, just a couple months old. They wouldn't go anywhere crazy, just to the mall, a restaurant, or her house, but she loves spending one on one time with her and I love the few hours break 
pomegranate / 3350 posts
Umm my mom and sister took my older ds for a walk when he was almost 2 and I freaked out because my mom came home and didn't know where my sister went with ds and she wasn't answering her phone. No one has taken either without me or dh since! I think my other sister allowed her kids to go places with us when they were in booster seats and usually just for the car ride to wherever we were all going.
grapefruit / 4085 posts
My parents have been taking M out since around that age. Nothing crazy - the stores, carousel rides, etc. But they all love it and it's good bonding time.
pomegranate / 3565 posts
My boys go out with my mom all the time, but she's their caregiver while we're at work. My sister took DS1 to a friend's son's birthday party at about 15 months old. I have no problem with my sister doing it. She's their godmother. No one else has taken them out. Not sure I trust anyone else! DH definitely doesn't trust anyone else!
pineapple / 12234 posts
LO's were 18 months by the time my parents starting taking them out. I let my sister take DS to a movie and lunch once when he was 4 and she left him in the car to run into my house to get something (the car was running and she was inside the house for a few minutes). Ever since, I've been more cautious.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
Oh I let MIL do this from early on. She took her to her work skating party a few weeks ago. I don't think its a big deal at all if you trust her.
persimmon / 1281 posts
@Mamaof2: she just loves being with him and thought it was something he'd enjoy... But in those environments he can get flustered and needy for mommy.
@jetsa: I trust her to watch him in controlled environments, but she doesn't have much experience (no kids) and I often have to ensure she's not trying to feed him wrong things when we're all out together. I guess I just don't trust her to think through all the things I would concerning him.
persimmon / 1420 posts
I would totally be OK with this. I'd look at it as, how great is it that he has an aunt who wants to be with him! He might have a bite of pizza or fuss a bit, but he'll also get to bond with his aunt.
persimmon / 1095 posts
My in-laws took him for a walk at 2 months and we didn't realize. It was only 20 minutes or so. I was in the shower and my DH was sleeping.
cantaloupe / 6730 posts
My first thought was that it was weird, but some of the other posters have made me change my mind. I like the precidence that it sets - where your kids become close to your SIL, and they learn to enjoy eachother's company as they get older.
honeydew / 7463 posts
I've let my nanny take my son out for a walk or a play date, but that's just because she's done it a million times so I know she knows what she's doing.
I'm not sure id let anyone else though. Maybe my mom or sister (my sister has 3 kids ranging from 9mos to 8years old and my mom watches them all the time and has taken them out in public). But no one else. Not yet! He's 6 months now.
pineapple / 12526 posts
As long as I trusted the person, I dont see it as an issue.
Yay for me time! 
grapefruit / 4455 posts
I don't know. Maybe if the party were somewhere else. I'm not a fan of chuck e cheese.
pineapple / 12566 posts
I think it depends on your relationship with the person and if you trust them. At that age, we didn't live near anyone (no family) that I would have trusted and none of my friends would have dreamed of asking. Haha! That said, I'm not sure what a 10 month old will do at chuck e cheese.
pomegranate / 3127 posts
Um, how would she watch him if it was a kids' party and she had to keep an eye on the other kids too? Or is someone else throwing the party and she'd be there with just him? Maybe a party is not the best place for your SIL to try taking LO out by herself.
persimmon / 1281 posts
@Mama Bird: the father of the birthday boy is her cousin so she'll just be there hanging out, no kids to supervise.
cantaloupe / 6630 posts
I used to take my niece out all the time from when she was tiny and I loved it, we bonded so well and my sister got a lot of breaks. That said, I am a bit crazy about letting my own LO out of my sight. I think you have to do what works for you. If you feel ready to let her take him, great, you get some chill time and they get to bond. But if you need a bit more time to feel comfortable with it then that's okay too.
grapefruit / 4418 posts
My nanny took DD out all the time around 5
Months. My in laws and sil did too when they watched her. I trusted them so no big deal. I took my nephew out alone lon before I had kids from infancy.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
It's totally okay not to feel comfortable, so if you would be worried and anxious the whole time while your son is out without you, I'd skip it.
pomelo / 5469 posts
Has he spent a lot of time with her with you around, so that he knows who she is? Otherwise I would worry he would become upset whilst there.
persimmon / 1483 posts
I used to take my nephew out all the time when he was young -- I think I was 21 when he was born? I loved the one on one time and my sister and her husband loved the break. So I don't think its weird, but if you're not comfortable with it, I also think it's fine to say no.
persimmon / 1129 posts
Yes, I would totally let her take him! My mom and MIL take my daughter out and about all the time. They LOVE getting to take her out and show her off, and I love the break!
Honestly, your SIL probably feels weird going to a kids' party with no kid, so it'd be a favor to her too.
nectarine / 2964 posts
Oh this cracks me up! So she got invited to a purse party, she doesn't own a purse, so she wants to borrow one from you? hahahaha
This is so weird but I guess it is up to you. Personally I wouldn't - Not that I wouldn't feel comfortable to have LO go out without me blah blah, I just don't see the point at all.
Besides, 10 months old doesn't enjoy parties. If it is at chucky cheese I assume it is a party for at least 3 year olds. Hmm. no.
pear / 1547 posts
Yeah I'm gonna join the minority and say no. Definitely if it was my SIL I'd say no because she's not my favorite. But I'm still a little clingy with my LO and don't want people carting her off without me! I'd offer to go with if it was really important to her, but LO and I would be a package deal. I definitely don't find anything wrong with it but it's how I feel personally! Our nanny takes LO out but that's because I'm at work...
pomegranate / 3231 posts
Generally speaking, I would encourage your sister to spend time with her nephew. However, since he won't really get anything out of going to that sort of venue, and he is probably crawling and it's probably full of toddler germs, I would be reticent to say yes to this particular activity.
Also, if it will disrupt your nursing schedule then I would say to skip it. But I really really really hate pumping!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
I wouldn't, just because I think it's weird and I'm very clingy of my mama-baby time since I WOHM full-time. Plus I'm nursing, so no way am I letting my kid out of my sight and having to provide a bottle if I don't have to!
grapefruit / 4442 posts
10 months at chuck e cheese.. no because there is nothing he can do and it gets pretty crazy there.
nectarine / 2115 posts
It sounds like you're not ready to send him out alone with her, and that's ok! There won't be anything there for him to do, and the environment could prove to be overwhelming, especially without your reassuring presence. If she wants to spend time with her nephew, invite her to come spend time at home, or to take him on a walk or something.
pear / 1946 posts
My parents have been babysitting 2x weekly since DD was 4 months old. My mom always takes her places - the zoo, library, museums, etc without me and I'm totally fine with it.
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