Unreasonable request?

dee12807

Once again I need your opinions on an issue. This may sound totally petty, but it makes me nuts, and that's why I'm running it by you all first.

MIL will be watching DD (new baby) 5 days a week when I go back to work (and I am totally grateful!!!) One thing that always bothered me when she would watch DS is that he always came home smelling strongly of her perfume. I can't stand that for some reason and have noticed it a few times already when she has held DD. Would it be way out of line to ask her to not wear perfume when watching DD?

ChicagoBroad26

I would have your husband ask her not to wear perfume. We have this same issue with my dad. He looooves Ava, but his super strong cologne makes her sneeze so I have repeatedly asked him not to wear it around her. Sometimes he remembers, sometimes he doesn't.

lrn327

Yes, we had the same problem with MIL and C when he was a newborn.  We blamed it on his super-sensitive skin (totally true!) and she laid off the stuff for a while.  You can tell her your pedi advised you to avoid contact with fragrances and other irritants if that might help.

jnicolen1

Agreed, I'd have your husband ask. If it were my mil, I'd tell her the pediatrician noticed slight allergy symptoms and told you to use all free and clear soaps etc and not to wear perfume. But she's stubborn and I know that's the only was shed respect it. Otherwise she'd say I was being silly.

Serendipity117

lrn327:

Yes, we had the same problem with MIL and C when he was a newborn. nbsp;We blamed it on his supersensitive skin totally true! and she laid off the stuff for a while. nbsp;You can tell her your pedi advised you to avoid contact with fragrances and other irritants if that might help.

My mom was/is the same way. We blamed it on O's skin when he was small too.

missmuffin87

Haha. My MIL's perfume makes me gag. She makes hazel stink like an old lady. I just have to bathe her the second we leave her house.  Props to you if you can get yours to lay off her grandma potion. 

dee12807

Thanks! I will totally have H talk to her, and he can use the sensitive skin excuse (DD has terrible cradle cap and eczema, so it's not completely out there). I'm glad I'm not the only one that's bothered by things like this

kat81again2

If it were me I would not ask her to do it, probably. She is doing you a huge favor because I'm assuming you are not paying her. It's not like it's cigarette smoke. Also because it's your MIL and not your mom so it will probably sound pushier. It's a tough call, though, and you know your relationship best. 

ETA: I just read the other responses and actually if you have your DH do it ('cause it's his mom) and blame it on what the pediatrician says then you can totally ask.  

Nicole0012

kat81again2:

If it were me I would not ask her to do it, probably. She is doing you a huge favor because I'm assuming you are not paying her. It's not like it's cigarette smoke. Also because it's your MIL and not your mom so it will probably sound pushier. It's a tough call, though, and you know your relationship best. 

ETA: I just read the other responses and actually if you have your DH do it ('cause it's his mom) and blame it on what the pediatrician says then you can totally ask.  

Yep, all of this! At first I would say not to ask, but the suggestions of the other posters sounded reasonable. Good luck! 

jillybean800

Yeah, my son always smells of my moms perfume.  My H can't stand it, but I don't mind because it smells like my mom, which I like, haha! It smells like my childhood! Probably if the tables were turned, he would like the smell of his moms and I wouldn't. I think you can mention it, but be sure not to use the words "stinks of your wretched perfume"