Overnight Stay

Erin - posted on 01/13/2010

Lucky lucky mum and dad and lucky lucky granddaughter!!!! I'd say give it a try if she's comfortable being at your house, that grandparent relationship is so important and special and spending her own special time with you will be something she'll always remember. I love that my kids have their own relationships with my parents independent of me.

Carolee - posted on 01/13/2010

You might want to start by having her AND her parents spend the night a couple of times, then just one parent, then by herself. Take her cues on when to send one or two parents home, though. Hopefully, it won't take too long for her to get comfortable. You sound like an awesome and caring Grandmother!!! Good luck.

Shelby - posted on 01/13/2010

Also it is very important to stick to some of the same routines that she has at home and rules!! That keeps them more comfortable too! Maybe make special foods for her too so that she looks forward to time with you. My son LOVES and ADORES his time with his grandparents and so does daddy and I!

Shelby - posted on 01/13/2010

My son has been staying with Nana and Papa since he was a couple months old and he stays the night at least once a month. I think that she does need to stay the whole night on occasion till she get used to it and feels safe. Maybe keep her in the evenings till almost bed time. Then have her actually fall asleep a couple times but her parents come get her. Then have her sleep the whole night. I would do this as often as possible. My son is very attached to us and his grandparents because we are the ONLY ones he has ever stayed with. He has been to day care but he is shy with other relatives. I think it is wonderful to broaden there horizons.
Try it ou.

Jennifer - posted on 01/13/2010

My son was a year old when he had his first over night with his grandparents. He loves being at their house and has so much fun that I don't think he has time to miss us. We often slept at his grandparents as a family too. My husband and I would sleep upstairs in the guest bedroom and our son would sleep in his grandparent's room. I think that helped get him use to be there overnight and sleeping somewhere other than his own house.

Georgia - posted on 01/12/2010

She's not too young at all. Her age isn't really the issue, but rather your relationship with her. Danielle's right, if she's used to being with other people then she probably won't mind staying with you. If she has spent a lot of time with you (with and without parents around) and she is comfortable, then the likelihood she'll be just fine on an overnight stay is higher.

My eldest son will be 3 in a couple weeks, but has had sleepovers at our neighbour's house (they are close friends) since he was just over 12 months. He sees them all the time and they'd babysat him a fair bit before we did the first sleepover. Meanwhile, when visiting my in-laws, we left him with them so my husband and I could have dinner out and he screamed so much and so hard he made himself vomit. We were gone less than 10 minutes before being called back. He doesn't see them very often, so it was as if we'd left him with total strangers.

I'd say give it a go. Just make sure you have all her necessary sleeping items (teddy, special blanket, etc) and lots of her favourite things that she usually plays with when at your house. Worse case scenario, mum or dad will have to come get her that night.

BTW, I think it's so lovely that you're wanting to do something like this for her and her parents.

Adrienne - posted on 01/12/2010

My son started sleeping over at Grandma's house at 12 months old. (I didn't want to start him until he was 2 but on his bday I was delivering his little brother.) We just made sure that his favorite things were packed so he would be comfortable.

Mary - posted on 01/12/2010

I don't think she is too young at all. I've know much younger babies that spent the night at grandmas. It depends on the baby too I think. Is she very fussy, or is she go with the flow type? I have a 2 and a half year old and a one year old and my two year old has never spent the night at grandmas and grandpas, because I don't think they could handle him for a whole night! Way too much energy. my one year old is so easy going though that I don't think he would give a second thought to being away for a night.

take it from me, it would be a nice break for her mom i'm sure. what are grandmas for right?

Mary - posted on 01/12/2010

I don't think she is too young at all. I've know much younger babies that spent the night at grandmas. It depends on the baby too I think. Is she very fussy, or is she go with the flow type? I have a 2 and a half year old and a one year old and my two year old has never spent the night at grandmas and grandpas, because I don't think they could handle him for a whole night! Way too much energy. my one year old is so easy going though that I don't think he would give a second thought to being away for a night.

take it from me, it would be a nice break for her mom i'm sure. what are grandmas for right?

Michelle - posted on 01/12/2010

No, she's not to young. My four boys love staying at their grandparents house. I admit they haven't stayed by themselves to often. My parents are a few hours away. We usually go for a weekend or longer and sometimes for special occasions my parents watch the kids for the night.



I would suggest having the whole family spend the night or for a few nights for awhile and see how she does. If she knows the rules and seems to have no problems sleeping then go for it.



But don't worry if in the beginning she doesn't sleep well it might take a few nights.

Danielle - posted on 01/12/2010

I would say that your granddaughters age isn't the issue it is her personality that really counts. Some things you may want to take into consideration are whether or not she stays with a sitter or daycare or what have you during the day. If she stays at a daycare and is fine with mommy and/or daddy leaving her there then she would probably be ok. If she is a mommy or daddy's girl and she doesn't like to be without 1 or both of them for longer periods of time then she's probably not going to do well with an overnight stay. Also, most toddlers at that age understand that if mommy/daddy goes away they will come backbecause of object permanence (usually learned around 6+ months) If your granddaughter is more the independent type she will do just fine spending the night. I don't know if this will help because it does go back and forth so much but I hope that it does.