First day on my own

PaulB Good luck with the move and the new career as childminder!!

I moved from a 2-bed house with garden on the coast to a 'studio apartment' in London to look after DGS when DIL went back to work. I had to clear tons of 'stuff' and spent a week doing runs to charity shops and the tip. Brought a lot of old paperwork with me to sort in the evenings or while DGS was having a nap. Ha ha! Some of it is still waiting to be gone through 6 years later as I was too exhausted in the evenings Often fell asleep on the bus going home as a journey which should have taken 25 minutes usually took twice as long, as I was travelling through the City in rush-hour

I've moved again since then and am now just one walkable mile away from the family. My DGS is at school so I have no reason not to get the shredder out, during term-time anyway

I hope your move goes well and you have lots of magical times with your DGD and family. I am very lucky and very happy.

Hope the move goes well, Paul. Onwards and upwards!

Thank you all so much for the replies and very welcome advise. To add to the worries, we've just picked up the keys to the new house we'll all be living in, so there's the stress of a house move to suffer as well. On a positive note, I'm finally getting to clear my old house of more then 20 years of the crap I've managed to collect and start anew. I've been dragging my heels since my wife passed away (over 12 years ago) and found it very hard to let go so am finally making the big move. Go me!!

Belated birthday greeting Paul. I was also apprehensive when I was first handed my 9 month old Grandson for the day when his Mum went back to work -and that was after 28years of caring for babies as a nurse! There seemed so much of a maternal pull on me to get it right! Yes we had our good days and bad days and yes I am cream crackered at the end of the day but we have built up a glorious relationship and I hope he adores his Narnie as much I as do him. Keeping busy with activities makes the time pass so much quicker and you feel like a child yourself again. I'm an expert on Thomas the Tank Engine and all his friends now! When baby has a nap get your feet up and relax/nap!!! You get in and much as you give out and the rewards of that beautiful Grandparent/Grandchild relationship is wonderful. Good luck. ?

Have you actually moved in yet? I assume this will be before the Mum returns to work, so there will be a period of adjustment and the baby will get used to you being around. I do hope all will go well for the whole family, you are very brave! How many hours a day will you be doing the childcare? Hope there will be 'you' time as well.

The issue is perhaps the breastfeeding.
Good for your daughter to be doing this, it's the best start in life as everyone now knows - but poor old you to not have the required equipment!
As this was just a "keep in touch" visit, I hope you have a while longer for you, your daughter and the little one to adapt and, as ninathenana says, to get used to breast feeding from bottles!
A pat on the back is surely due for getting through this tricky first day.

Aha! And congrats on surviving. I started this summer to care one day a week for my new grandaughter - I'm 70 ..... well the first time I was completely knackered - I have a broken back and knees that both need replacing - so I slept for most of the next day. But as the months progress I am actually getting more accustomed to it - and yes - fitter too and more and more able to cope. Now when she visits I get huge smiles and she reaches out for me. It DOES get better and better, hang on in there it is all so very worth it.

Happy Birthday, Paul

I'm 67 this week and have a 14 month old DGD! We pick her up once a week (so far) about noon from nursery. That helps a lot as she is used to being with other people, eg being held by various other adults. That solved a lot of the clinginess with DIL, as before DIL went back to work, DGD was with her all day all the time.

Before nursery, she'd fuss when DIL would come into the room and we were holding her... she'd almost leap out of my arms trying to reach DIL, and fussing her head off it DIL didn't take her right away. And you are right, she wanted the boob, even though we were left with breast milk in a jug. I didn't know until my DIL told me that her boobs actually 'jumped' when the baby cried!

Her going to nursery has sorted that beginning at 10 months, and now she's happy with almost anyone LOL!

How old is yours?

Phew Nellie moser bet that was hard work! But persistence pays doesn't it?
Yes Cornergran I find myself rocking backwards and forwards slightly sometimes. . . . .

Until very recently DS2 now 18mnths got in a real paddy if his mum went out of his sight. He is a lot better now but I looked after him a couple of times and he just screamed.
He kept trying to throw himself backwards out of my arms but then if I put him on the floor he would just crawl back for a cuddle and scream again.
I think he has finally understood I am not a great big Nanan monster and has turned out to be quite friendly.

you get so used to 'chuntering' to little ones there's a risk of doing it when minus the child, get some strange looks

Yes and looking out of the window searching for birdies or cars, in fact, anything often works

Baby app on phone. It's wonderful. Turn sound to white noise or dopler (sounds of mums womb) works wonders

Been there still doing it and on my fourth now.

Highs, lows, good and bad. Best advice take each day as it comes.

Dread it sometimes but when they walk in the door love them to bits. Soooo funny, tiring and unexpected!!! just wish I wasn't so anxious and could just enjoy it because the last 8 years has flown by so very fast.

I was just reminding DS that when GS2 was first left with me as a toddler he would shut himself in the bedroom and scream solidly for about half an hour. Now he can hardly be bothered to say goodbye to his mother when she leaves.

If you have problems turn on a tap,usually children love running water !Mirrors work as they get older,don't worry as they get older they cry because you are leaving when Mum gets home ! Good luck

Make the most of this time they grow up so fast hope you had a good birthday

I'm so glad I read this thread. I am having dgs 1 day a week from end October. I've been so worried about coping and I didn't know why. I've had him for the odd half day or few hours but the only full day I did have him stressed me out! He was fine all day but when it got to the witching hour - 6pm ish - he cried and cried. My own son was colicky so it's not like I hadn't experienced it, although 30 something years ago! I was counting the hours until he was reclaimed! Now I love this little boy so much I was surprised to feel so anxious. I'm planning lovely days for when I have him and can't wait. I've put it down to being out of practice (and age!).

Happy birthday, Paul! Bet you never thought you'd celebrate your 60th in quite this way! Well done on how you managed, it'll get easier as you get used to each other. Hope you enjoyed some celebrations in the evening???

In the future there will be less rocking and floor pacing, but oh my goodness those meltdowns will be 100 times worse!! Love them to bits but even earplugs won't cut it, enjoy ?

PaulB - I've just seen off second grandchild to his new school this lady week and I would like to say, it has been a privilege to look after both GC through their formative years on a daily basis and realise how lucky I have been to do it. Despite being self employed, I was still able to look after them, since young whilst their parents went to work. They have brought tears, tantrums and a lot of happiness too. Now they've both moved on, although still helping them in small ways, I am able to carry on working (because I have to) and have to get my life back on track to do other things. But knowing that many do not get this opportunity, I would not have missed it, so please enjoy and learn to relax and play too. It's like a second childhood!

Just a practical tip, a t-shirt that mum has worn (& is unwashed) can do a great deal to settle the tinies.The only consequence of this is that when she is 4 years old (plus?) she will be wandering around with a manky piece of cloth that bears no resemblance to the original garment. Happy Days & well done,and remember that not even mums can always calm the crying babe!

If it's a contact day assume your daughter still isn't back to work so the suggestion of spending time with the baby in the interim is a good one. Happy days, just wait til s/he is a toddler and on the run. Best get in training now...?

Yes, our youngest DGD has just gone off to school, we looked after her too, and will feel a bit lost on that one day.
(I met her from school on that day this week, looking so grownup in her little uniform)

Happy birthday Paul
And well done for surviving this day

I remember the trials of a colicky baby, but your DGD was just missing her mum and knew that things were different, hope she will be fine next time.