The granny thread

[Deleted User]

I am going to be a first-time grandma in a few months time. My dd and her dh only live a couple of miles away and I have volunteered to be a carer for their baby when dd goes back to work, as she must.

My concerns are purely practical because my third and youngest child is now 30 and obviously things have changed. I don`t intend to leave things until the last minute because it will mean a big change in our house and to our lifestyle. I am retired, fit and healthy and my dh is fit and healthy and due to 3/4 retire in a few weeks. We downsized to a 3 bed townhouse with steep stairs and getting the larger items now is helping me to assimilate baby gear into the house a bit at a time

Downstairs: there is a large, sunny kitchen, north facing study, cloakroom and understairs storage. We have a patio and full use of the communal gardens

I am hoping to keep childcare within the confines of the groundfloor as I spend all day here anyway and also for safety reasons.

My plans so far: I will put a graco travel cot with bassinet in the study. A babydan playpen in the kitchen and I have already bought a playgym for it. I have bought a nice quinny buzz pram from ebay and have ordered the matching car seat. I have also bought a safety 1st bouncer

Will this do for now? The reason I bought the playpen so early is because I want baby to be used to it by the time he/she is rolling about

I will need to get the bedding etc but that can wait until after the birth

Can someone please give me a list of the smaller items needed for birth to about 6 months. I won`t be taking on child care until then but I want my dd to be able to come visiting without packing a big bag each time.

Also what are the new recommendations re sleeping position etc?

If any grannies, who do the caring, are reading this then how do you cope?

Zara33

Just want to say congrats and good luck.

tanith

I am a granny to 7 wonderful grandkids from 2yrs to 20yrs and from your post around the same age as you. Are you intending to take on the care of your Grandchild on a daily basis? If so I have nothing but admiration for you and your stamina, I couldn't nor would I want to look after a 6mth old baby on a full time basis no matter what the needs of my children.. I feel that now I have retired the days are my own to enjoy , and if I choose to look after my 2yr old grandaughter here and there its for her and my enjoyment but NOT on a daily basis I would soon feel resentful....

I fully understand that this is not what you asked but I wonder wether you and your family have thought it through and realise what a committment you are making.... I mean no offence but just put myself in your shoes for a moment and just had to convey my thoughts...

EDIT: I meant to convey my CONGRATULATIONS TOO....

seven-day-weekend

Don't know the answers to your questions, don't have the privilege of being a Grandma yet, (even though I am 57:eek: :rotfl: ) but how wonderful that you will have another little one to love!

I wish you well and hope you find your role really fulfilling!

(Try posting this on the Silver Savers board as well - you may get more replies!)

bunty109

Congratulations!! You sound like you are going to be a dream granny!!

I'm not a granny btw (a mum here!), but I would look to get a changing mat and maybe some wipes as they can be a bind to carry round and a proper changing mat is always preferable. When the baby is older, if s/he is at yours for long periods then you will need a highchair. I can't recommend the Handysitt enough: it goes over an ordinary dining room chair and it's small enough to take out/away with you (maybe you could look to get one and then you DD could borrow it for holidays etc). They are a little pricey, but you can buy them used from Ebay.

Good luck!!!

Janepig

Well you're nothing if not thorough!! Your DD and sil are very lucky to have you!!

Sleeping position is "back to sleep" and "feet to foot". Basically lying baby on his/her back and if you put baby at the bottom of the cot with their feet touching the end then theres no danger of them wriggling under the covers and getting too hot.

It may be an idea to keep a change of clothing for baby, some bodysuits/vests, socks etc... nappies and wipes or cotton wool, nappy sacks and changing mat. Our baby gym was (and still is) over the changing mat so baby has something interesting to look at whilst being changed. Some little rattling toys. Bouncy chair with head hugger (these are quite reasonably priced, even from new). We also found a bumbo pretty indispesible for the few weeks between DS learning to sit up and learning to climb out of it.

Ets - my tip for highchair (and there's a thread on it here somewhere) is the Ikea Antilop. A snip at around £12, you can get an inflatable insert for when baby first uses it, and so easy to clean. We had a really expensive highchair bought for us for DD which was a nightmare. When we had DS I finally lost my rag and ditched it and got the Antilop which is fantastic. Best buy ever.

Hope that helps a bit. Good luck.

Jxx

Spendless

When my eldest was little, the items I had at all the 'nannys' houses were spare nappies,wipes, bottle, milk (I formula fed), spare clothes, calpol and measuring spoon, nappy rash cream. The situation was different when I had youngest (ill health in 2 grans and my mum looking after my sisters twins that she'd had between my 2), so I didn't work but if I had spare dummies would have been a must.

ETA-My maternity hospital also did a 'grandparents evening' for their parentcraft classes, so grandparents were made aware of things changing over the years.

minimoneysaver

Just a thought, have you looked in the local papers? Many parents get rid of baby things that have had very little use in the papers and you may find that you will be able to pass them on through the papers again when you are done using them.
I have the Mothercare cube like high chair. It turns into a table and chair, which is really useful for colouring and crafts etc.
I would also make sure that you have a supply of bibs, bottles etc. If you are using bottles, avent do a microwave steriliser which is brilliant. It is cheap and doesn't take up too much cupboard space.
Make sure you have an area to change the baby. You don't want to put strain on your back by bending over to change nappies. You can buy nappy changing units from Argos for about 50 pounds and they have lots of handy storage shelves. This is another item that you can usually pick up on ebay or in the paper if funds don't permit the full 50 pound spend.
Good luck and congratulations for stepping up to the mark. I wish there were many more grandparents like you in this world. x

Anneliese13

Do you have a steriliser? A cheap cold water plastic box and some Milton will do since you can wash and leave bottles to soak every night while you don't have the baby. I wouldn't bother with bottle warmers either. There are new guidelines including not preparing bottles in advance any more so they shouldn't be in the fridge and too cold anyway.

The Health Promotion Agency have an online booklet detailing how best to make up feeds:

http://healthpromotionagency.org.uk/Resources/breastfeeding/pdfs/Bottlefeeding%20Nov%2006.pdf

I got a nice flask from Argos!

Good luck, and congratulations :beer:

ariba10

We have had that much pleasure with our five Grandchildren, that if we come around again we are going to miss out on children and go strait to Grandchildren.

it'smeinit

Wow! congratulations.:T
We were given the best gift anyone can have, our grandaughter. she has brought a new lease of life to our family. She will be 2 soon and we try to have her stay most weekends, I and my dh still work full time so weekdays it's not possible, Yes she can be very tireing but when she goes home the house seems so very quiet, and I can't wait till she is back again.
You are entering a very exciting time of your life. Our house is now full of dollies pushchairs and toys. But we love every bit of it. :hello: