https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 11 May 2026 12:33:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-send-little-one-to-grandmas-house#post-380765 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 08:43:55 +0000 T.H.O.U. 380765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the replies! It sounds like it really just depends on the situation. </p> <p>My daughter is off to spend the next 4 nights with my parents. My mom doesn't work and my dad works very close by if something happened. I trust that she will respect our wishes and follow the schedule. Also, my daughter is very strong on her communication skills so I trust she can tell my mom if she needs something (milk, eat, etc). </p> <p>I will let you know how it goes! We got her all packed up today! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-send-little-one-to-grandmas-house#post-379782 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:18:15 +0000 Mrsbells 379782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally I would want my child to be a little older. But it depends on the child and how energetic and watchful your parents are </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-send-little-one-to-grandmas-house#post-379776 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:14:46 +0000 Lozza 379776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO spent one night without us at my parents' house when he was 12 months old, and 4 nights with them when he was 16 months. Both times he did beautifully, though the time that they watched him for 4 days we actually had some friends come and take him away for a half day in the middle of that time so that my parents would have a little bit of a break... having a full-time toddler is a lot of work!</p> <p>Luckily, LO LOVES my parents (LO actually woke up this morning asking for Grandma), and while they're not perfect at following our rules, they don't do anything with him that's a dealbreaker. </p> <p>How well does your LO know your mom? At 12 months, LO was pretty happy with attention from anyone... he hadn't yet hit a stage where he really wanted mommy or daddy when he was upset. Now, there are definitely times when he has a preference- there are even plenty of times when he is upset and only wants mommy (no daddy). Lucky for us, he adores my mom and she is able to comfort him (and discipline him). There are a few reasons we wouldn't leave LO for more than one night with DH's dad, but one of them is that LO doesn't see his other grandfather that often, and I could see him freaking out in a new place without me or DH or my mom or my sister. </p> <p>So I guess, for me, it would depend on how well your LO does with people other than you and your husband, and how well your LO knows your mom.<br /> Also, 5+ days is a lot of time alone with a toddler. Would your mom have help during that time? I might be hesitant to ask my mom to watch LO that long if she couldn't send him to daycare or have other people help with the burden.<br /> 15 months is kind of that in-between period where they're mobile so you have to watch them all the time, and they're "with it" enough to be pretty demanding of your time and energy, but not yet old enough to follow directions or be left alone, or even play quietly by themselves for much time (thereby letting a caretaker catch his/her breath!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-send-little-one-to-grandmas-house#post-379735 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:56:15 +0000 heffalump 379735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My lo is 15 months and I think she'd be perfectly fine with my mom for a week. They'd both have a blast.</p> <p>That being said, id be a wreck without her and id be miserable, so lo is not going anywhere :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-send-little-one-to-grandmas-house#post-379689 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:37:57 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 379689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 16 months and I would feel comfortable sending him for 1 night, maybe 2, but not more than that. Then again it also depends how well/comfortable your LO will feel with them and if you think they can cope with a toddler for that long. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-send-little-one-to-grandmas-house#post-379648 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:23:53 +0000 LaurenEC 379648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Around the time that LO was just shy of 15mo old, we were moving and transitioning daycares. He was also cutting teeth and super needy, so in addition to packing, we were exhausted from the constant attention he wanted. </p> <p>To help with the move/packing/cleaning we had to do, my mom offered to take him for 10days (she lives 12hrs away). We went back and forth, and decided to go with it. He spent 10days with my parents and had a great time. My mom respected our wishes/choices so that was pretty easy. </p> <p>When I flew up to pick him up he was like a different kid! We were all 'refreshed' and it was amazing to see his growth/development over just a short amount of time. It was a HUGE help while we were packing/moving. My mom wanted to keep him longer! She'd like to make it a yearly thing for a week.</p> <p>I think it's all personal. If it was my in-laws, no way! If you're comfortable with your parents, then give it a try even if for a short time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-send-little-one-to-grandmas-house#post-379596 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:08:36 +0000 MamaBehr 379596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have to admit that I would be nervous, not because I fear my parents are inadequate but because of how my DD would react. She doesn't always make it through the night (she's two and a half!!! ugh) and she might be a little upset about it. I would probably feel more comfortable sending my 8 month old because he DOES sleep through the night. </p> <p>I say send her! You are going to be gone anyways and if you parents want her and look forward to it, embrace it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-send-little-one-to-grandmas-house#post-379589 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:07:10 +0000 dc yoga bee 379589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I have discussed this, and when the time comes we say when they're old enough to walk, talk, do some bathroom stuff on their own, and be able to say when something is wrong. I'm thinking 2-2 1/2. MIL is epileptic, so I'm hesitant on that front. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-send-little-one-to-grandmas-house#post-379585 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:06:32 +0000 T.H.O.U. 379585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A few things I worry about. </p> <p>1. Its 4 nights and she has never been away from mom and dad<br /> 2. Its 5 hours away. Even though I won't be home anyways, and I trust my mom, it would be tough if something did happen.<br /> 3. I worry about my IL's because I'm not ready for her to stay overnight there, even though they live close to us. I don't trust that they would honor our wishes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-send-little-one-to-grandmas-house#post-379572 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:01:33 +0000 Mrs. Blue 379572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wander about this a lot. It's different for an overnight stay versus a week. My parents are 4 hours away and I *think* I would probably let them go for an extended stay (several nights) sometime between a year to two years. I'm curious to watch this thread and see what everyone else thinks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-send-little-one-to-grandmas-house#post-379563 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:56:33 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 379563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're doing it in a couple of weeks while we're out of town for 5 days. DD will be almost 10 months. I'm nervous about it because DD still wakes up once a night, but I know she'll be fine otherwise because she loves being at her grandparents' house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-send-little-one-to-grandmas-house#post-379555 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:53:35 +0000 T.H.O.U. 379555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How old was your little one when they first got to go stay at grandmas house. </p> <p>We have obviously traveled with my daughter who is 15 months but I am debating letting my mom take her for a week. My mom lives 5 hours away. I am going on business anyways and my husband is more than capable taking care of her, but it would be less time she would have to spend at daycare. </p> <p>What is a good age for some time at grandmas house? </p>