DDs 1 and 2 have heaps of sleepovers with my parents and we all love it - girls love gran and grandad's house, my parents love having them and DH and I love time to ourselves (now with DD3).

I'm not ready to leave DD3 at all and can't imagine that changing any time soon but when it does it will only be to leave her for an hour or so and only with my parents. I'm not comfortable leaving my children with anyone but my parents and maybe my big girls with one of my SIL but that would only be for a few hours, not overnight. My MIL last looked after DDs 1 and 2 almost four years ago. We got home to be told that DD2 had screamed and "been inconsolable" for the entire time that we had been gone (about 3.5 hours) but that "it doesn't matter because you (DH and I) are entitled to a night off". The girls haven't been left in her care for even 5 minutes since that time. I can't describe my anger at her lack of care for my baby's distress.

It is a very personal thing, which is affected by the character of the child, their relationship with the carer and your relationship with the carer.