First Overnight Stay at Grandma's House

Ask and see what the parents say. If they say no...don't push. Some parents really aren't ready for their children to spend the night. Also, you MUST abide by the parents wishes. My inlaws had an overnight with my daughter when she was 1 (she is now 4) and that was the one and only time she was allowed to stay there. They completely disregarded feeding and sleeping schedules and even blatantly admitted they weren't listening when we told them what to do. They had even asked us to write it down and ignored it. When I came to pick my daughter up...she was so hungry and thirsty (scarily almost half the food we provided was untouched when it should have been almost all gone) that we decided they could not have her overnight again since they could not take care of her properly.
But even still, I am not ready for someone who I do trust to care for her to have her overnight and again, she's 4. I have a friend who has never allowed her son to spend the night anywhere else and he is 6. It's all about parents comfort levels. So all you can do is ask...but don't expect it.

My son is 2 1/2 as well and spends the night at my mom's periodically - he loves it! He is always so well behaved for her, goes to sleep without a problem. He used to sleep in a pack n' play at her house until we transitioned him to a 'big boy' bed at our house, now he sleeps in a little toddler bed when he goes to Grandma's. I was worried about the bed since it's so much smaller then what he has at home, but he was fine, went to sleep without a problem. I think the key is having you and his parents hype it up and get him really excited. Have his parents let him help pack his bag with some of his favorite toys, books, bed buddies... He's already familiar with your house, I think it will go great.
It'll be fun for you, your grandson and great for his mom and dad!
Have fun!

Go for it! My parents convinced me to leave my son with them when he was about 10 weeks old. He will be 4 in April. They have a car seat, they had a crib and now have a big boy room for him with a twin bed with railing. They had a potty seat, a highchair/booster chair and still have step stools in the bathroom. When he was little, they kept diapers and diaper cream, baby wash, baby lotion, everything they needed. They also own a monitor.

My son has his own "dresser" (it is a plastic one from Target) in his room there and we keep a set of PJs, extra pair of underpants and a spare outfit. He helped his grandma pick out his dinosaur sheets! He loves having his own room there (okay, it is also their computer room, but he doesn't know there is a computer inside the locked armoire).

My mom encouraged us to let them keep him overnight when he was an infant so that he would always be used to it. Needless to say, there was never a fuss and Mommy and Daddy get the occasional "date night" with a chance to sleep in. My parents live about 35 miles from us. When my son was about 2 he asked to stay at grandma and granddad's overnight for the first time and sent us home. I will admit, that I cried since I couldn't believe he was sending us home - but he was fine and loves staying there.

We are expecting #2 in August and we will do the same with this one. You mention that your grandson is very bright - if he is more comfortable discussing "what comes next" then by all means discuss. Maybe have an extra "gift" for him if he gets teary. I know that sometimes my son gets donuts or a sugary cereal in the morning - and that is fine with me. I don't spoil but it is okay for grandma to do so occasionally. Now my son understands the phone and will tell grandma to let him call me to say goodnight when he spends the night. Sometimes he asks to call in the morning to tell me good morning. That is fine with us too.

Hope this is a bit helpful - if you don't own some of the things that would make him comfortable see if you can bring them from his house. (Specific sheets, a monitor, etc.)

You will all be fine and hopefully the parents will have an awesome night:)

C.

Just so you know, my daughter spent the night at Grandma's for the first time last weekend and she is 15 years old! My mother said when I asked if she could stay while I was gone and husband works, said "oh I have not done this before"! She never had my kids over. Their other granma did. My mother just never felt comfortable I guess and did just not want to be a grandma. My children felt comfortable with Grama(dad's mom). I think you are a wonderful Grama and your grandson seems very comfortable at Grandma's house. My daughter was doubtful about going but ended up have some fun with errands and a stop to shop. I woud not worry a bit.

Ok my oldest stayed at her grandmothers house when she was a week under a year. I went into preterm labor and was rushed to the hospital. My MIL offered to watch her but I was so scared with me in preterm labor (at least this is planned). My husband never left my side and my MIL came to the hospital to reassure me my lil girl was ok. I never had so much fear about so much.
The thing is when I picked her up the next day she didn't want to leave. They played and had a good time (my lil girl had grandma and her fav aunt...) They did an awesome job at just winging it. Feed her a little too much I believe lol. She gets what ever at grandmas so I had to let her know that future stays mean she eats on her schedual (not more) and she went to bed when I said (They kept her up an extra 2 hours, which ended up fine bc she slept longer the day I got out of the hospital)
Preparing is the best thing you can do though, find things you can do together and ask his parents what he like to do.
Good luck and congrates-------- Ash

I guess it depends on your grandchild's personality. If he is more timid and clingy to his parents, maybe gently tell him about it a few days in advance just briefly. Then wait until the day of.

Both my kids LOVE staying at my parents house or with my sister. My son has been doing over night and weekend sleep overs with my parents since he was about 6 months old. My daughter hasn't spent the night without us at my parents yet, but we have left one or both kids at our house with either my parents or sister since my daughter was about 1 years old. My kids are 5 and almost 3 now.

We usually mention it to my kids about a week in advance. Then each day we build up the excitement even more by telling them some of things that they will get to to with my parents or sister. Each day they get more and more excited about it. My sister will be coming down to watch them for a weekend in May while hubby and I celebrate our anniversary. We already told them and they are both looking forward to it :).

Good luck and have fun with your grandson!

I would think it alright to talk to him. Plan some fun things to do and let him be a part of the preparation. Do some of his favorite things and make sure he has his favorite "warm and fuzzy" to sleep with, if he has one. Favorite foods are always a plus. Make it a night to remember at Grandma's house. The sleeping part might be a little touch since he is not in his own bed. Just wear him out and rock him to sleep and he will sleep till morning! Most importantly, have fun!

Go for it! My mom and my mother-in-law both live in different states from us, and both of our boys have spent entire weeks with them.... at their request! It was great and a big blessing for me and my husband while we were moving. Also, the boys really liked exploring and learning more about their Oma and Grandma.

Bring it up. You never know... maybe your grandson's parents have been wondering if you would want to have him over, but they didn't want to "put you out" by asking.

I would talk about it. The anticipation is so much fun! I would, however, give him a point of reference of when it will occur. Like we are going on a cruise in 2 weeks and we keep telling my toddler about it and he's really excited...but we told him we won't be going until after the Easter Bunny comes so he doesn't wake up every day wondering if it's today.

I would ask. It could be a great opportunity for the parents to have some alone time and for you to have fun with baby.

I tried this with some of my younger neices and nephews but some of them couldn't bare the thought of being separated from mom for so long. Some I had to drive back to their mom's because they were just mourning her absence from their evening routine. Eventually all four of the little ones came to live spending the night at aunties house. There is something soothing about fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and ice pops, pop corn, bubbles, movies, icream sandwiches, park hopping, the beach, and franks n beans and fresh fruit and tea time.

Whatever the parents decide abide by their decision and enjoy the time you do spend with baby.

I would say go for it as well! Talk to your son or daughter and see how they feel about it. They may not be ready to let their little one go for a night or they may be dying for a night out but nervous to ask you.

If they feel it's too much at that age, ask one of them (or both) to stay there as well, but maybe in a different room from him.

My daughter has been staying at my parents house overnight since she was 6 weeks old - about once every 2-3 months. The only problem that they have is no matter what time they go to bed, she is up at like 5am. I think that is just because she's excited to be at granbee and papa's house!!

If you do plan it, play it up big every time you talk to him about it so he knows it's coming. Ask him what he wants to do - make cookies, watch cartoons, have a picnic, have a pajama night, play in a bubble bath, etc. My mom usually will sleep with my daughter (if my dad is gone on business) so that it's just easier to get her to sleep.

Have fun!

How fun! Yes, ask your grandson if he'd like to spend the night. Give him a run-down of what fun, special adventure you have planned and see what he says. Sounds like mom and dad are on board, now it's time to broach the subject with your grandson. I think surprising him might backfire. Kids like to process things first...

He will love staying at your house! If he is already comfortable there and visits often, he'll have a blast. My daughter is almost 4 and she has been staying the night at my parents and husbands grandparents since about 7 months old. We have another now and she just turned a year and we think she's ready to stay the night at my parents house. She absolutely adores them and she's very comfortable at their house. And then soon maybe more than a night and we can have a vacation just my husband and I!

Have fun! Lucky little guy!

oh, i hope you do it! i'm always taken aback by how many parents today pride themselves on their children never spending a night away from them. one-on-one time with grandparents is priceless, not just for you but so much for the grandkids. there are lots of ways to approach it....have him stay 'late' (like, after dinner but go home before bath and bed) and see how that goes, but i'm betting that if he's familiar with you and your house and enjoys himself there, you can just go for it. i always LOVED staying with both my sets of grandparents and have such precious memories of those times. my boys didn't get to spend as much time as i would have liked with my parents and in-laws, but we did make sure that they both got individual special times with them and a few sleepovers. and my boys have both grown up to be very tender and sweet with the g-rents. i hope it works out for you, and you post about it here!
:) khairete
S.