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DS and DiL "babying" 3yo GD

(156 Posts)
Amy71452 Thu 28-Sep-23 14:16:30

Hello,

I'll start this by saying my DS and DiL are both amazing parents and are very loving. Academically she's great for her age and is a very polite little girl.

The problem I have and don't know how to/if I should raise is they're almost too protective and give her all she wants. She turned 3 in June and still isn't potty trained (not helped that in the 3yo check up the Dr said it wasn't a problem until 4) They also give her a dummy whenever she wants and she looks far too old to have one.

I look after GD 2 days a week to help with childcare costs and want to help with these but they don't want me to do them.

Has anyone else had this happen with they're GCs? Did you try and initiate potty training or should I take a step back and let them do it and worry less? Thanks all

AGAA4 Thu 28-Sep-23 14:34:18

This is their child and they should be left to bring her up in their own way. As long as she is healthy and happy don't interfere.

Hithere Thu 28-Sep-23 14:37:24

Don't even mention it.

Not your child, not your monkeys

Calipso Thu 28-Sep-23 14:38:41

Your son and daughter in law sound as though they are doing a very good job of parenting. They are doing things their own way in line with current thinking.
Keep that lip zipped, absolutely don't interfere and tell them often what a great job they are doing

Theexwife Thu 28-Sep-23 14:39:37

It is entirely up to the parents how they bring up their child. There is nothing to be gained from you mentioning it and could cause awkwardness.

I would have been quite annoyed if my parents thought their way was best and told me so.

Amy71452 Thu 28-Sep-23 14:42:21

Calipso

Your son and daughter in law sound as though they are doing a very good job of parenting. They are doing things their own way in line with current thinking.
Keep that lip zipped, absolutely don't interfere and tell them often what a great job they are doing

Thank you. Do you know where the current guidance is? Surely it isn't to not try until they're nearly 4?

Amy71452 Thu 28-Sep-23 14:44:13

Thanks all, would you follow their wishes when they're with you aswell? I'll not push, but equally I don't think I should give the dummy everytime she asks as she doesn't need it at 3?

MrsThatcher Thu 28-Sep-23 14:46:23

I would definitely keep out if it. As for the dummy, most children grow out of give it up by the age of 5 or thereabouts. They sound good parents to me.

Amy71452 Thu 28-Sep-23 14:49:13

MrsThatcher

I would definitely keep out if it. As for the dummy, most children grow out of give it up by the age of 5 or thereabouts. They sound good parents to me.

Oh wow, I'm out of the loop I thought they were gone by 6 months. Where's it say kids have them until 5? I'll not interfere then if it's normal and a comfort.

62Granny Thu 28-Sep-23 14:51:47

You can try and distract her as far as the dummy goes, give her some cuddles or sing a little song, I would probably give in if she was wasn't well.
I remember my dentist ( very old school) telling me that he could tell straight away if a child had had a dummy for to long as it encouraged the front teeth to overbite , perhaps that's why so many children have to have braces on their teeth these days.

MrsThatcher Thu 28-Sep-23 14:57:20

It’s up to the parents to decide when they want the little one to give up the dummy. Children will almost certainly give up themselves as they get a bit older. I don’t think it’s worth upsetting the child and getting them to give up before they are ready. Of course you can always encourage the child to give it up but I don’t think that it’s up to you.

sharon103 Thu 28-Sep-23 14:58:08

I agree with everything you say Amy but I would leave the potty training to them.
As for the dummy, I would only give it to her if she wants it when you look after her.

hazel93 Thu 28-Sep-23 15:19:28

No Amy !! First rule of Grandparenting follow their rules and keep your thoughts to yourself.
"Advice" changes for parents on a weekly basis it appears and they all muddle through somehow !
Just be proud you have a great relationship, allow it to blossom.

Amy71452 Thu 28-Sep-23 15:22:50

sharon103

I agree with everything you say Amy but I would leave the potty training to them.
As for the dummy, I would only give it to her if she wants it when you look after her.

Thank you, she'll ask for it and when I don't give her it, be fine in 5 mins. But I'll let her have it when she wants. She's been asking for nappy changes sometimes ( some days she'll sit there and not ever be bothered) it's made me think she's been ready a while and brought me to post this

Amy71452 Thu 28-Sep-23 15:25:52

hazel93

No Amy !! First rule of Grandparenting follow their rules and keep your thoughts to yourself.
"Advice" changes for parents on a weekly basis it appears and they all muddle through somehow !
Just be proud you have a great relationship, allow it to blossom.

Thanks I love her dearly and want what's best, and know that's the same for my DS. I didn't realise how different it was in my day. They have her in preschool for the 3 other days and was amazed they could send her based on the rules I knew 25 years ago

Amy71452 Thu 28-Sep-23 15:27:34

62Granny

You can try and distract her as far as the dummy goes, give her some cuddles or sing a little song, I would probably give in if she was wasn't well.
I remember my dentist ( very old school) telling me that he could tell straight away if a child had had a dummy for to long as it encouraged the front teeth to overbite , perhaps that's why so many children have to have braces on their teeth these days.

She already looks to have her teeth affected a little. I think they give her a bottle for bed as well. I'm hoping it doesn't affect her when her baby teeth fall out

Callistemon21 Thu 28-Sep-23 15:32:00

Their child, their rules.

Potty training - current thinking is that they'll just do it when they're ready, I believe.
Certainly times have changed just after my DD went to school nursery at 3 over 35 years ago. Children had to be potty trained before they started unless there was a reason they could not manage it. A couple of years later the nursery teacher was not allowed to discriminate against any child who was not toilet trained.

As for the dummy - she won't want to start school using it! Other children might tease her. She might want to throw it away for the fairies' babies one day.

Callistemon21 Thu 28-Sep-23 15:34:28

Amy71452

62Granny

You can try and distract her as far as the dummy goes, give her some cuddles or sing a little song, I would probably give in if she was wasn't well.
I remember my dentist ( very old school) telling me that he could tell straight away if a child had had a dummy for to long as it encouraged the front teeth to overbite , perhaps that's why so many children have to have braces on their teeth these days.

She already looks to have her teeth affected a little. I think they give her a bottle for bed as well. I'm hoping it doesn't affect her when her baby teeth fall out

In my (probably limited) experience of several children and grandchildren, family and friends, thumb sucking affected the front teeth more than a dummy ever did.

Lots of children have braces now.

Glorianny Thu 28-Sep-23 15:35:59

Don't worry about her teeth, most experts think they will be OK if she stops before 7 and thumb sucking is more of a problem www.bos.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/British-Orthodontic-Society-DigitsMarch2019.pdf
Just follow the parent's lead, she is their child and they are trusting her to you. I don't think late potty training will harm her.

Daddima Thu 28-Sep-23 15:37:36

‘ Academically’? She’s three years old!
She is also not your responsibility, so just enjoy the time you spend with her, and follow the rules she is used to.

Callistemon21 Thu 28-Sep-23 15:40:14

Glorianny

Don't worry about her teeth, most experts think they will be OK if she stops before 7 and thumb sucking is more of a problem www.bos.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/British-Orthodontic-Society-DigitsMarch2019.pdf
Just follow the parent's lead, she is their child and they are trusting her to you. I don't think late potty training will harm her.

Not just my observations then 🙂

I think the problem now is that toddlers probably wear disposable nappies, designed to wick the moisture away.
A wet, soggy towelling nappy was probably a great incentive to change into training pants and use a potty.

Amy71452 Thu 28-Sep-23 15:40:28

Daddima

‘ Academically’? She’s three years old!
She is also not your responsibility, so just enjoy the time you spend with her, and follow the rules she is used to.

I know, silly choice of word. With her letters and number etc, she's above expected at 3, it's just these things. But I can see all develop in time is the approach

Callistemon21 Thu 28-Sep-23 15:41:28

Daddima

‘ Academically’? She’s three years old!
She is also not your responsibility, so just enjoy the time you spend with her, and follow the rules she is used to.

Perhaps she can read and recite her times tables?

Amy71452 Thu 28-Sep-23 15:43:33

Thats the problem she'll wee and not feel she's wet until it's soaked so isn't learning

Callistemon21 Thu 28-Sep-23 15:45:04

She'll do it when she's ready.

Probably suddenly and both in the next year before she starts school.