First time babysitting

DGS 1 was about 11 months when DD went back to work on shifts and my SIL had to go abroad with work. That was the first time I really had "hands on" him.
He was still being fed by mum at that time.

I have to admit I was scared about how he would react. He was quiet and reserved the first day I picked him up from nursery. That night I put his nappy on back to front and DD had a wet Gro bag to sort out when she got home.
The following day he was fine I picked him up from nursery again and he was very jolly and enjoyed his bath. He had a lovely time and went straight to bed. It did surprise me how quickly I remembered what to do.

When I visited on Tuesday I got tasked with changing 9mnth DGS2s. I then rediscovered the difficulties of changing a nappy when you are holding the legs up to get a clean nappy on and the baby is twisting around to escape.
Happy days.

I don't remember when I was first left " in charge"of a grandchild, but it was certainly very early, albeit only for a couple of hours.

I thought this would be about babysitting in general, and remember going with my friend to her aunt's after school, where we bathed her 4 children ( aged between 2 - 8) and put them to bed. We were 13.

My first GD's first sleep over was for a weekend when she was 4 months old, (8yrs ago). DiL brought her with enough stuff for a month and 3 A4 sheets of instructions!! Needless to say, two Grandchildren later,we don't need the instructions. ?

My little dgd was 10 days old when she came to me for her first sleepover! I've never enjoyed a sleepless night so much!

When I was15 I used to babysit weekly for 2 young kids who slept all the time.

One week I arrived and they had had a new baby, during that week, wwho they left me to look after. I spent all evening on the phone to my mum. I had never handled a new born before. Now that's trusting!
P.S. never went there again.

When we went to Manchester last Sept my step GS was 3days old having arrived a week early. DSD and partner asked us if we could baby sit as partner had promised his children a trip to the cinema to see the new Star Wars film as a Christmas treat. Did we refuse? What do you think??. He was 4days old and was as good as gold , slept right through !! They had a good time too!!

We were allowed to "do the night shift" on our second overnight visit after DGD came home from hospital at 2months old and weighing all of 4.5lbs!
We moved to the same town 4 weeks later and then got to babysit plenty, but not overnight ... no overnights until after the cot-death danger was over at 6months.
I well remember being left with a still small sickly baby while DD went out saying all was well cos I was a nurse ... had been, and never involving children never mind preemie babies!!!
Nowadays we often babysit and have sleepover parties most weeks. ?

Lovely for you Imperfect. Remember the worries you had over how to be with the young family. So pleased you can be involved. Guess each new Mum is individual in their needs and wishes. Often it's not about trusting others but their own preferences for themselves with their baby. Wonderful when it includes others but not necessarily implied lack of trust when it doesn't.

My DDIL was only too happy for me to take dgs out in the pram at 10 days old for a couple of hours so she could get some sleep. DS had gone into work for a few hours.

I've babysat him since for a couple of hours and I will be looking after him for a week at the beginning of April when the nursery's closed (I suspect I shall be knackered, he's two and a half now!)

Can't wait! ?

DD must be an exception. She was living abroad when 1st DGS was born but I babysat him and his new brother when the youngest was a week old

I think it must be easier somehow to 'ask mum' - or in this case for me to actually suggest it to my DD. I don't think it was so much about trusting M over MIL on her side of things - just that I was there ... But I was very pleased she felt able to go out, I am sure it will have done her good.

Gosh I am impressed. Think that must be difference between daughters and dil s. Never trusted until we had them full time for quite a few years.