Older grans babysitting

I feel blessed to be able to look after our 2 GD aged 2 & 5 for 2 days a week, it gives me a reason to live, yes I am tired by the end of the day but don't mind, I am flattered that our daughter trusts us to care for her precious ones

My DS (main carer for his DD) told me he couldn't understand how working parents could afford the cost of childcare. He was very surprised to hear that many of them will be getting childcare for free from the GPs, and said that he would never expect that.
I don't live close to them, so the question doesn't arise. I would offer to child mind if I lived nearer but I definitely wouldn't go along with any "expectations" or emotional blackmail, as some GPs seem to be getting.

RockNanny said:
"I am at a bit of a loss now as to how to change things so that my DD and SIL do not feel disappointed in me."
I'd say Don't bother changing anything. Your DD has no right to pressurise you or to give the impression there is some sort of competition with the other GPs.

My granddaughter is just 2 and lives in Australia, so regular childcare is definitely off the agenda! However we are visiting at the moment and are babysitting tonight - I am only 62 and pretty fit, but getting her into her cot is quite a struggle. I am taking her swimming tomorrow, have done that before and enjoyed it. DH (65) spent ages playing with her in the sea this afternoon and had an hour or more nap this evening while I put her to bed! Last time we were here DD and SiL went away for 3 days - we had a great time with the little one, who didn't ask for them at all, but it was pretty full on and exhausting. We need to make the best of any time we have with her. I have warned DS and DD2 that they had better hurry up and have children if they want us to be hand on grandparents!

I was 55 when I started looking after 3 month old grandson. Having not cared for a small baby for 25 years I was very worried by the responsibility and tired at the end of the day. I loved him dearly but found the only way to cope was to have a routine which included going out for a long walk, visiting my DOM for a cuppa and then lunch and afternoon nap for baby. something he did until he was about 4. I think our house was so much quieter than the nursery he went to other days. Once he went to school I looked after his small sister and cousin for 1 day a week. Now coming up 70 I am glad I did it but not sure I could manage all the lifting and nappy changing. When they come to stay now its all computer games etc and we have a great time together.

Currently looking after one grandchild (18 months) 3 full days a week. Delightful times but feeling tired by the 3rd day. Am 63 years old but keep fit with lots of stretching and flexibility exercises which help when crawling around the floor!

I have to admit that I'm not 70 but 60 next month! I look after my DGD1whom is 4yrs old and my DGD3 whom is 13mths for 3 days a week and my DGS2 whom is 3yrs and my DGD4 whom is 10mths one day a week so child caring for 4 days a week. By Friday I'm bushed too!! But feel I'm so lucky being able to have such a fantastic relationship with them all. There are disadvantages to it that I catch all the bugs and germs that they catch too which isn't nice! My husband works so I don't get any help!

Just met an American of 66 years old on holiday. She drives 80 miles a day to look after grandsons of 3 and 5, take them off her teacher daughter hands first thing, do the school run etc. She saw it as a gift to her daughter when the pregnancies were announced. Impressive and I would say quite sacrificial!

I think if you are over 70 and looking after a baby or toddler then you deserve a medal! At 74 I know I couldn't do it. I am fit and very active with five grandchildren between 13 and 6 and I am happy to babysit if their parents go out in the evening, or they need dropping off or meeting from school because their dad is travelling and Its a workday for DD. But to be on a regular childcare schedule at this age isn't something I'm interested in. During the summer months we will have one or two of them for an overnight stay which is fun, but I just don't have the energy or desire to be "locked into" a regular babysitting schedule any more......maybe because I've come to realize that life is short and I want to enjoy my garden, my tennis pals or just pottering around my home!

At 78 I have a 13 yr old and a 9yrold at least 3 times a week ........... I know ........ different to having a toddler . They can be here at 7 am or after school , I prefer the mornings cos they eat breakfast and head off to school , but in the afternoon it involve homework and tea ! I feel I am just minding them now , they have their phones etc and we don't get much interaction . Today just the 9 yr old , he got out the paints and worked away , took himself out for a walk then asked nicely could he play on the Laptop ........ we made lunch together and it was nice just the one , he is heading home now and I got the laptop back

I have 5 GC living locally and have always resisted a regular arrangement - working on the principle that what you do for one, you do for all. I'm now 65 and their ages range from 10 down to 2. Since retiring from work six years ago, I spent four years supporting elderly parents, with Alzheimer's and vascular dementia thrown in, a further year selling their property, catching up with friends and holidays. Then my daughter was diagnosed with cervical cancer. My life went on hold for a year while she underwent pretty radical treatment and I spent a lot of time with her two, aged 6 and 3. This allowed her to concentrate on dealing with her condition. She did and is now fully recovered. I now feel as though I know those two GC better than the others - and am grateful to have had that opportunity. Difficult though it was at the time. . . . The only other time my age impinges on childcare is with the two year old. He's a bruiser! Not only is he very heavy to carry and move in and out of the car or the pram or a swing on the park, even, his pram, car seat and other essential equipment I find very bulky, very heavy and very difficult to deal with. The whole experience is physically exhausting! I love to chat with them all - and find I still have much to learn.

I am 69 and do a minimum of 2 13 hour days per week looking after a 5 year old before and after school and a 22 month old all day. I also do many extra days and part days (e.g. when children are ill and can't go to nursery or school on the other days). I love that I have such a close relationship with them, but I am beyond bushed by the end of the day. I have just found that there will be a third one later in the year. Part of me is pleased, part of me very very daunted! I also have another two DGC resident at half terms. So many mixed feelings I would like to talk about, so much tiredness, so little time.........

I am 72 and have 6 grandchildren. The youngest is 10 months old and my daughter will be going back to work when the baby is a year old. The baby will be going to nursery 3 days a week and daughter will have one day a week off , son in law one day a fortnight. Therefore they have asked me (or us) to childmind one day a month ( the other grandmother will do the other). I love looking after the baby who is adorable (aren't they all?) but worry about how I will cope. I've got a bit of a bad knee at the moment and a dodgy back sometimes and I worry about carrying her up and down the stairs as they live in a second floor flat with no lift. Fortunately the pushchair is kept downstairs. Daughter says put her in a sling to take her out , but a) it's hard to get on and do up and b) I find it very heavy for any length of time. I also worry about any accident happening on my watch as I used to look after my eldest grnchild at the same age and he fell and cut his head, needing stitches when I was minding him which has made me neurotic ever since, though I wasn't blamed. I'm hoping DH will be able to come with me and help with the carrying but he often had meetings so may not be able to every time.

I'm 63 and have looked after my four year old GD since she was a baby. It actually made me ill. I began to suffer from vertigo, due to exhaustion. I now find her a dream to be with as she can talk and do most things for herself. I wouldn't want NOT look after her now.

I think the penny is beginning to drop with this generation that if they dont produce babies until they are 35 + we the grandparents may struggle to look after their offspring.
We have 16 grandchildren and so can't/wont commit to any regular duties - but we are available for emergencies, illness, some weekends away , weddings etc. We thoroughly enjoy time spent with all of them ranging from 7months - through to teenagers but we also make sure we have plenty of time booked into the diary for ourselves.
Although with so many of them not many days go by without a call!

Only one more term then the youngest (one day a week) will be starting school - I'm a bit really, she is a joy most of the time!

I am 65 and look after, 2 grandchildren aged 8 and 4, they are both at school, but one day a week both parents need to be leaving for work at 7am, so i get up at 6am. in order to be at their house to supervise showers, breakfast, and take them to school, I try to leave the rest of that day relatively free, so that I am rested when I collect them from school at 3:30pm.I give them tea and take them home when parents arrive home from work at about 6pm. I also collect them on at least one other day in the week, and have to fit this in around shopping and caring for my 90 year old mother, who lives a 50 minute drive away, twice a week. I share the elderly caring with my sisters who live closer to her. I find that as long as I pace myself, I am able to cope and have quite a busy social life as well. I have rheumatoid arthritis and I am waiting for knee replacements, so not the fittest Granny at the school gate!
I find that when I am not needed for child care, or haven't seen them for couple of days, I get a bit sad, so I think at the moment the benefit works both ways.

I met an grandmother 68 years the other day ,who was devastated . She looks after her 2 year old GD every day , and whilst carrying a bowl of soup, the GD ran to her and the hot soup burnt the child's arm . She said her hands are not as strong and she is so tired .Perhaps much as we love our families we have to make them realise we are getting OLD !! I love all my DGC and look after them for a few hours at a time ,but I know I am not capable of doing everyday now.

I'm off on Saturday to look after DGS aged two and a half for a week.......I'm sure he'll survive and hopefully I will too! Never had him for more than a couple of hours so should be fun ??
I'm 62 and hoping I will survive the week because the following week I'm having a new kitchen installed and have to pull out the old one first!
DGS2 due in 8 weeks so I am hoping for more granny time then too.

I will be 68 next week and have had to look after one 4 yr old grandchild every day, since last Sept.
It is just for a few hours when she is at school, as I meet her off the school bus. But the holiday periods are so very tiring, I believe that is why I have this hoarse voice at present. She is the only child, so continuously wants me to play with her. I natually love her to bits, but thank goodness today and tomorrow a mum has offered to have her over.

I will be 66 in a couple of weeks time and look after my 3 granddaughters (6, nearly 3 and just 1) all day every Tuesday and every other Friday morning. Tuesdays run something like this: 8am girls arrive, 8.40am take eldest to school and then take the other two to pre-schoolers gymnastics, home at 11ish for drink and a snack and a sleep for the littlest one, 3pm pick up eldest from school, home for drinks and snacks and then at 4.45pm take her to dancing. Her Daddy picks her up from from dancing at 5.45pm and then comes to pick up the other two. It will all change in September when the middle one starts nursery on a Tuesday afternoon and has to be taken there and then picked up again before collecting the eldest from school. I haven't quite got my head round that yet!

Once they've finally gone home I collapse on the sofa with a large g and t and do nothing for the rest of the evening!

Friday mornings are much more relaxed with time for baking, walks, games or whatever else the middle one fancies doing (within reason!).

Yes, it's exhausting but I love it and I think it's such a privilege to be entrusted with these three precious girls, and to be able to spend time with them. I often say that I was born to be a Granny!

I am 67 and look after my grand-daughter during half term and nursery holidays. Get very tired as we play all the time. She is 3 yrs old.

We are early 70s and have a mixed bunch of 8 GCs, some his, some mine, all ours, aged between 26 years and 3 years. The older lot gave us a lot of fun in our middle age, but the little ones? Oh my! And now we have an adorable GGS. With the best will in the world we can't do it any more. We would love to turn the clock back and have the energy and fun again but we can't.

To be really honest - we want this time to ourselves. We've done our duty and and enjoyed it - it wasn't our fault that one son wanted to live out his adventurous youth before becoming a middle aged father.

Trouble is, there is always guilt, isn't there?

Note that a lot of grandparents are 60 - 65 but I think they will notice a difference in engergy levels when they get past 66 - Lets face it some of us enjoyed motherhood more than most and its the same with being a grandparent some will enjoy it more than others We should not feel pressurised into doing more than we want to. We have got the children we deserve and if we have brought them up to expect too much from us its our own fault. So stand firm granny and grandpa and only do what you want to!

I look after DGD age 2 for 2-3 days each week now DD has returned to work. She is a lovely little soul and very well-behaved, but at age 68 with pretty bad arthritis I find her totally exhausting! She spreads all her toys out on the floor, and says "Nanna come down here!" - of course I get down on my hands and knees and have God's own job getting back up again!
I'm glad to be able to help, but as someone else mentioned, I live in constant fear of not being able to cope and letting DD and SiL down. They have enormous financial commitments, and nursery fees would be a blow. I also hate the thought of my dear wee dumpling being looked after by strangers, tho' the sensible part of me knows that when the time comes she will probably thrive.
If I win the lottery, I shall employ a professional nanny to help me, tho' I shall have my beady eye on proceedings!

The first time I ever left my daughter with my Mum, just to pop into town and do some shopping, my daughter, who was just toddling, locked Mum out of the house by pushing the bolt on the patio doors when Mum had popped out into the garden for a second! I rang them from town and couldn't get an answer, so I panicked and shot back as fast as possible and found my daughter looking a little bit worried on her own and my Mum aged 81 in the garden, frantically trying to persuade her to open the patio door! Luckily it was a nice summer day, but my Mum was extremely frazzled by the whole experience!