Havent things changed!

We live at opposite ends of the same town from DD, SIL and DGD and have a little room specially for the wee one.It was the small extra bedroom and we had no other use for it since the attic room is my messy craft room. We have a toddler bed and big vinyl stickers on the walls ... a huge tree with monkeys and some random fairies right now!

While we don't have the vast number of toys as she has at home, there is plenty here to keep DGD occupied so she often comes empty handed.
It'll be great when she grows into a booster seat in the car as her car-seat takes up so much space.

It's lovely being so near and being able to be a part of her growing up ... even though Granddad is her favourite and I'm reduced to an also-ran!

Ps. Those big muslin squares for mopping up baby puke etc come in handy as brilliant window cloths when babe has grown! Give the cloths a good wash first of course! xx

Hi my GSS are now 13 and 8 - brothers. We're lucky to live about 5 miles apart from family, so near enough to do school pick up etc. One day a week has been the norm for childcare before school age (when I was still working I did 5 days in 4 'before reducing gradually to retirement. ) They still have one day a week to come for tea after school and this is just part of their routine. Appreciated by D and S in L! It's been brilliant as we've been with them from the day they were born to teenage for one. It also has meant we have been involved in local primary school as volunteers when needed . I'm now 68 - husband 63 and we're now gearing up for travel and independence - just the two elderly cats holding us up now! We are so lucky - and I know everyone isn't so fortunate in family relationships. One snag - son in his 40s doesn't have children - yet! We're on our way. Good luck and enjoy the time and enjoy giving them back!

Our four DGC all arrived in a period of 4 years - so had a baby and a toddler for most of that. It was wonderful! Like other Grans mention we too had all the equipment needed for both arranged and ad hoc sleep overs and I felt really sad when we finally passed on the last of it.I love babies!

Ours are now 14,13,11 and 10 and we see less of them but the bonds formed when they were babies seem to have endured and they all seem to like a big Granny cuddle when we do see them!

About 4 years ago I got a call from DiL, would I pick GS up from nursery, he had a rash and they wanted him picked up as soon as possible . I was quite near and it would take some time for her to leave work.
I put him on the sofa and he fell asleep only to wake up soaked. I went to a neighbour to beg a nappy but she wasn't in so I had to use a tea towel secured by huge kilt pins I had had for years. I did tell mum to bin the tea towel !!

Teetime why can he not bring his with him ?

MaryS what a good posting so cheerful and positive it was lovely to read. Enjoy your lovely GS - you have done well to get some things for him at your house it will make visits much easier. They will soon settle down and be more relaxed with the baby once they have grown in confidence and established a routine. My Gs now 12 wont come for visits as we don't have PlayStation!!!

I've only got one nappy left now -redundant since last GS is now toilet trained. Never thought I'd miss changing nappies. Never mind. Still got a house full of toys and the child seat in the car has converted into a booster seat. Enjoy these years!

We are just moving house and it makes us realise how much baby/child stuff we have floating about! Some of it can go, as no little babies now - I am told that they are all planning no more, so 7 it is!

Great to see a happy post. We did the same. The GSx2 are now 7 and 4 and we still have spare PJ's and a set of clothes for each.
Something else to think about in a few months is a stair gate. We used one on the door between the kitchen and lounge/diner.
Enjoy your babysitting

We did exactly the same as you and 9 years down the line * Mary* we haven't regretted it at all . We now have 2 kids rooms at our house. One is the baby room with a cot etc ( which double as my craft room as the baby can't get out to get to my stuff ) and one is the big kids room, where we now have bunk beds.

My daughters and SiLs love it. We can take the children ad hoc, so if they pop by and one child or another asks to stay they can with no need of the parents transporting vast quantities of stuff.

If the children come to stay we have everything we need , we can do a complete clothes change in an emergency etc.

We were lucky we had the room so it wasn't an issue.

The only thing Id add to your list in due course is a high chair .We like our little ones to sit at the table with us as soon as they are able.

Enjoy the time with your grandchild, I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot more of him

You are a very lucky grandma. Enjoy .

How lovely that you were able to do all that to make visiting easier for your family .... and without upsetting the parents. Some new parents do seem to be very prickly these days.

I hope next weekend goes smoothly and leads to many more such visits