A different Christmas this year

A lone child, only 2 years old. He will need you to play with him. Don't go stuffing him with extra food just get down on the carpet with him and play. If the weather permits bundle him into his buggy and take him for a walk in a park.

Lots of cuddles and yes, TV to give you a break.

Your time and your love ❤️

What a treat! A little boy to spoil on Christmas morning and a new grandchild too. I suspect that you'll be coming and going to the hospital a lot which will be time consuming.
The little boy will probably be awash in all sorts of emotions- general Christmas excitement, missing mummy, being at gran's house, somehow everything different. Lots of cuddles and reassurance required! You'll never forget this Christmas. Try to enjoy it. Best wishes.

A 2yr old will not make too much distinction about what actual day Christmas will be on.

Poor little lad he is a bit young to cope with mummy being absent and a new sibling but obviously no real option.

Back in the late 70 I was in hospital about 10 days after a C section with baby no 2 and they only allowed siblings to visit twice a week. My son appeared to be OK left with his dad and my mum but he acted very sad and upset when I got home with DD, I was really cold shouldered.

I think it would be far better to keep your grandson in his own home, even if you go there to look after him. At least his dad should be around. even a child of about a year can feel very upset by not being in a familiar place.

I realised this when we returned home from holiday when DD was about 10mnths. She had been unsettled when we were away and when we put her in her high chair back home she sat there looking around and giggling. Hopefully your daughter will be home sooner than I was.

Yes the little boy will need lots of love and reassurance. Christmas itself will not be so important to him.
As Anya said play with him and don't overwhelm him with food and presents. Stick to some sort of routine so he feels safe. Most of all enjoy the time with him. Good luck to your daughter too.

Dont over egg the pudding, take your lead from your grandson and be honest with him.Maybe you could buy a scrap book and tell him its for his mummy when she comes back from the hospital and let the little one paste cut up Christmas cards and photos of himself at your house, if you can find the time a written note on each page about Grandsons activities, chatter and even meals on that day means he can sit with Mummy and Daddy when he is back in his own home and show them what they missed and it will be all about him not the baby. Enjoy what will be a magical unique time. You might just need

Thank you everyone! These are lovely and especially grannypiper - I love the scrapbook and photos idea - Mummy will love looking at that with her toddler when she gets home from hospital!

Grandson comes to us at least once sometimes twice a week for the day, so is very comfortable in our home and Daddy will see him too when not with Mummy in hospital.

A very exciting Christmas - I'll post and let you know how we all get on!
I think we will need though as well!

I hope all goes well.

Poor little boy and poor Mummy to be away from her "big boy".
I hope that he will not be too aware of the significance of the actual day, missing mummy will be hard enough, but maybe not making too much of it and having a REAL Christmas with all the trimmings when you are all ready will make up for it.
I know this is different but DH was in hospital in London over Christmas some years ago, quite poorly, but over the worst and came home at the end of December so we planned a family get-together for the 6th of January which we called (possibly wrongly) an Orthodox Christmas. It was great and perhaps enjoyed all the more because the Christmas "pressure" was off.
But how exciting to have a Christmas baby!!

Our son was born quite unexpectedly on 24th December, and our daughter was two and a half years old, o.k. we were a family, but it was a bit of a frantic Christmas, with everything happening, however, she seems to remember quite a bit, especially mummy sitting up in bed doing the sprouts and stirring the custard, so I would suggest that perhaps you get your little one involved in 'helping' with the basics of Christmas morning, and let the excitement seep through.

love the scrapbook idea

Just stick to his routines so things feel more familiar and give him lots of cuddles. How very exiting to have a Christmas baby - and 2 Christmases!

I'm sure DGS will be fine!
I looked after my DGS for 5 days whilst DDIL was having DGS2, again by CS are a failed induction. He was 21/2 and we did lots of lovely things like trips to the park, feeding ducks, babycinos galore and fun cooking and painting.
Admittedly it wasn't Christmas and I was at their house with DS staying all day at the hospital and coming home after DGS's bedtime because things were somewhat scary.

He did go to the hospital to meet his baby brother and all went really well.

A very exciting time for you!

I would just carry on as normal, he is used to you and let him be in charge of showing you the new baby so he feels he has some control and is still number one boy at gran's.

I would consider hving Christmas a week late he won't know.

We had our daughter and 2 grandchildren one year after son-in-law left the marital home. Our grand-daughter was 3 and after she had gone to bed I sprinkled very fine glitter dust on the duvet and at the side of her bed. We told her that it was the Christmas fairy who was checking that she was asleep! She still remembers this and she's now 15.
Well worth doing despite the fact that I was vacuuming glitter dust up for days!!

I had DD on the Wednesday and on Friday morning was taken home by ambulance absolutely desperate to see my DS who was 23 months old. Well was I disappointed! He ignored me and made a bee-line for the ambulance.

All he wanted to do was sit in the front seat of the ambulance (which the driver kindly let him do) Baby and I didn't get a look in until I told him that his new litle sister had brought him a present of a fire engine. Then he was very interested!

I think it's easy to forget that little children just do not see the world as adults do.

Is it possible to stay at your daughter's house? I think that would be easiest for the 2 year old so that he's at least in his own bed. I think I would do that if I was in your position and it was possible.

If all goes well, big bro will be able to visit mum and baby bro, which will be the perfect Xams for all - just spoil big bro just a little - maybe a special stocking filler from new baby bro looking forward to lots of special games together when I can learn from you!

Hopefully if all goes well your DD will be home for Christmas day. Both of my daughters in law have had emergency c sections and have been home extraordinarily quickly.
Congratulations on the new baby and I'm sure your DGS will have a wonderful time with you.

Meant Santa!,

Make him feel extra special, visit his litle Brother or Sister and let him kow how lucky the new baby is to have such a lovely big Brother. He will love Christmas with his Grandparents and maybe Daddy will be able to be with you all for a while. Lets hope Mummy comes home soon, and you wll have a wonderful second Christmas together, Congratulations on your new Grandchild when it arrives. Happy Christmas.

It will be lovely, the scrapbook/ record of events will please your daughter and be a lovely reminder of the Christmas when she had her second baby. Enjoy, and hope you get some sleep...!!!!

Definitely take him to hospital let him open some presents sitting on bed with his mummy and maybe pack up some nibbly bits to so you can share them whilst there and a flask of tea/ coffee. No reason it still can't be special.

I'd have Christmas on 22 nd this year! Child won't know difference, and his parents could come too.

If your daughter is quite well after 24 hours and baby is fine tbh it wouldn't surprise me if she was discharged before Christmas day as they prefer to have the least staff as possible. It might be an idea to bear this in mind. You could have extra people around your table.