Heather and Milo reading together before friends arrive to spend an evening at her home | photo: AP
When our kids were younger, Heather was a little bit obsessed with putting them to bed at each other’s houses in order to allow us to have nighttime plans with each other. We pulled this off quite a bit when we were rookie moms. With five kids between us now, it’s not really worth the hassle; we’re more likely to suck it up and pay for a sitter. Back in the day, however, it was not uncommon for me and Ryan to bring a Pack and Play to a dinner party and put our baby to bed in our friend’s bedrooms.
When Julian turned two, he started sleeping on a mat at his little preschool. This liberated us from the pack and play, so we’d just bring his jammies and his objects d’securitie (I just invented that expression) and put him to bed anywhere. He is a champion sleeper, so this worked well for us. We went to dinner parties and enjoyed adult company while respecting our kid’s bedtime. Win/Win.
When we left our friend’s houses, we’d carry our sleeping toddler to the car, snap him into his carseat and drive home. He’d usually wake up, look around and ride quietly home where he would fall asleep the second we put him in his crib. Like I said, champion sleeper, and believe me, my second child does not behave this way. So, for those who can pull it off, take advantage!!
Heather, the big advocate of this idea, was once featured in “Be frugal but totally cool,” an article about parents finding ways to use babysitters less. Unfortunately for us, they did not mention our book which includes at least three date night ideas that don’t require sitters. In the picture, she and Alec are entertaining their friends Jeffrey and Ha with a game night, while their kids sleep in their own beds.
Your 43rd weekly challenge is to either entertain at home after your child has gone to bed — or to pack it all up and go out to someone else’s home and execute the famous Half-Sleepover Move.
Have you done it?
Tag any of the Rookie Moms challenges on Instagram or Twitter with #rookiemoms or @rookiemoms so we can give you a virtual high-five!
Sigh… when my eldest was little, he’d go to bed everywhere and anywhere. Rocked. We don’t appreciate what we have when we have it, though….
I also think more people need to think about sharing sitters and taking turns. You go out this weekend and we’ll watch your kids, we go out next weekend, you know?
Tracey – totally depends on who you trust to be with your kids. I don’t know many moms I would trust with my lil’ one, no matter how much I’d like to go out. I have noticed you didn’t mention the most natural choice of babysitters – grandparents- can I ask why?
Sounds so awesome… and would never have worked with my kid. We found ways around that though (mostly entertaining friends at our house).
i remember growing up and going to my parents’ friends’ houses for dinner and playing with their kids. then, at bedtime, my brother and i had to go to sleep in their friend’s master bedroom while my parents played games downstairs. we did this until i was at least 9 or 10. i have high hopes of continuing this with my own kids and have been a huge fan of taking the playpen to our friends’ places for game nights – i guess i have a champion sleeper as well. now that we just had our second, i can see that this will begin to get a little harder but it’s still our goal! 🙂 so worth it.
I miss that shirt.
This seems like a great way to get a child used to the idea of a babysitting share. More on that here: http://hintmama.com/2013/12/11/todays-hint-3-creative-strategies-for-cutting-childcare-costs-this-holiday-season/
This is a brilliant way of having a date-night and still looking after the kids! I love it! Thanks a lot for sharing. This tip can save $hundreds in sitter costs. 😉