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.
I don't think you're weird, I think you are doing what works for you.
Only my two oldest have stayed anywhere else - and that wasn't until only recently on a regular basis (so at 5.5 and nearly 4) - my DS stays with my brother or my mum. Not often either. My DD1 stays at my sister's place - only had one time successful so far, the other time she was crying and wanted to come home so we went and collected her lol
However, my mum did take DS for one night to my aunt's place when I first had DD2 to give us a bit of time alone because I was struggling with her breastfeeding and reflux issues, and he wouldn't have turned 3 yet.
I agree with others - I don't think you're weird & that you should do what feels right for you. We're lucky as we have a good village too. It was awhile before ds had his first sleepover but we did leave him with dp's mum for short amount of times from when he was young. Both sets of grandparents live within a 5 minute drive for us. Imo it's about finding a happy balance for your family & that's different for everyone
Our plan for when the baby arrives is my mum will take DD while DP is with me then when im settling in with the baby he will collect DD and take over from there. My mum is babysitting here so if its an all night thing its not really a sleep over and that was my mums choice. I have wonderful family and friends but no one who has asked or seemed too keen to have her. Maybe if i was asked i would maybe feel more inclined to.
She has slept through the night since about 6 weeks, there were a few rough nights with teething and illness but shes generally good. But i just worry if she woke up and i wasnt there what would she be like so thats stopped me also.
Good sleeping has never been a thing around here, but it's never bothered my parents or my parents in law. I was always very conscious of this particularly with my parents in law as my niece and nephew (who also stay often) are excellent sleepers, but that was my issue not theirs. When they were little they loved to walk the floors with them at night time, as they felt they were really helping and it meant I could rest after feeds.
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