Caring for two grandchildren close in age

I have no advice but admire you for taking that on.

Good luck.

Oh how lovely Nando. It will be a lot easier once lockdown finishes.

What about getting a sand and water table to have outside? My GS adores his and will spend hours on it. Get a good, big one though. There are a LOT of awful, cheap ones around.

Get a twin buggy and take them for walks. Hopefully they will sleep for an hour after lunch so that you get a rest.

We cared for a 4 year old and year old twins once a week. They are 10 and 7 now and I'm missing them so much.

My advice is get plenty of sleep and eat well to keep up those energy levels-you're going to need it!

Also give yourself a medal, especially if you're doing this alone.

Your daughters are so lucky!

Good luck to you. I wouldn’t even consider such a commitment. I know I just wouldn’t be able to cope. After lockdown, selfish as it may sound, I want to get out and enjoy what’s left of my life. Helping out in emergencies and baby sitting is one thing but the kind of commitment you are taking on is admirable.

Hi I looked after my 2 GDs (sisters ). 1yr 1 week apart from the youngest being 8 months.

I tried to have a routine eg going out with double buggy to the park whilst younger one had morning sleep. Trips to the Library, mums and tots which was often grans and tots, sadly not available at the moment

Toys which both played with. Story time and for a few months managed to get both to sleep after lunch. I also used the travel cot as a playpen for youngest which DIL did so youngest GD was used to it.

As Gagajo says time in the garden good. I did find winter seemed like longer days and yes on occasions did short times on iPad of Peppa Pig, In the Night Garden with parents agreeing ?

They are now 3 and 4 so easier in many ways but looking back it went quickly and I only had them 1 full day a week.

Good Luck

Thank you everyone. Have the double buggy and two of everything else! Will definitely go for the sand and water table. Main issue I think is getting them down for naps.

Apart from eyes in the back of your head, definitely a double
buggy, easy grab snacks for you, keep your mobile charged and on you. I couldn’t do it, so best of luck.

I done this twice a week until one started school, outside in the garden as much as possible. Taking them to play centres and parks was at times interesting.

Make sure you have several changes of clothes and enough nappies, snacks etc.

Quiet time before nap so that they can wind down is essential. I do hope you enjoy your time with your GC.

You are brave. Our friends are having another and their oldest is only very small and the mother in law looks after ALL the grandchildren of her own grown up children. I can't even think it is safe or fair on the woman. It is why it makes my teeth itch when people moan about their family and HOW they look after their children.

Anyway, my advice would be to do what YOU can cope with and if that is staying at home and in your own garden, in a routine, do that.

Hi Nando
I would suggest you engage the help of another family member, eg your DH.
I currently care for our 2DGC 2 or 3 days a week, the older one normally attends full time nursery which is closed at the moment, the younger is 1.3mths. My DH helps, I said I cannot do it alone. They are both very active and keeping them safe is my priority, not to mention meals, drinks plus changing the little one.
Having said all that, they are a joy and delight and we feel we're making a contribution to the family, as both parents can work.
Good luck with it all, plenty of toys and books are great and a little tv time is ok too.

My GSs used to love doing the washing up - would play for ages in the sink. Also had lots of percussion instruments for making music. Wooden cars and trains were always a hit. And watching Mr Tumble when we all needed a rest.

Are you on your own? Once they stop needing the buggy you might find that you prefer to stay in the house rather than go out as keeping tabs on two active little ones can be difficult - and sometimes even un-nerving.

Fortunately I had my DH to help.

We have a box of duplo which all DGC have played with (was DS's who is now 34!) Plenty baby/child plates and cups and outside toys. Maybe spare wellies and waterproofs as toddler's favourite activity in rainy weather is jumping in puddles and he gets soaked each time! It's harder just now as all the toddler activities have stopped. Hopefully they will both nap at the same time. Good luck x

I think the fact that they’re close in age will be an advantage. I have six grandchildren, two cousins, now age eleven, were, and still are the best of friends, and were always easy together.
Since lockdown I’ve been looking after an eleven year old, a seven year old, and a toddler one day a week, that really is hard.
Good luck, and enjoy.

I am really touched that so many of you have taken time to give me such useful and constructive advice. Thank you so much.

I think routine is your friend here. Can you put them for naps in separate rooms but at the same time? That way you'll be able to draw breath. I look after my grandson two days a week and when he goes for a nap I tidy up and then have a cup of tea. It helps me gather energy. Good luck.

In addition to Duplo, have a look for Lego Quatro on Ebay. It isn't made anymore, but is lovely BIG bricks (twice the size of Duplo) so easy for little hands to grab.

Also have a look for Yakka Dee on BBC Cebeebies. It focuses on one new word at a time and is really good to encourage speech in toddlers. It is on iPlayer.

Hopefully the weather will gradually improve, so much better if you can get outside, even if it’s only in the garden.
Definitely worth investing in a few outdoor toys.

I had my twin grandsons a couple of times a week from when they were about 6 months old, they are now 3. Yours are still young, so if you can get them to have naps at the same time, saves them getting overtired and gives you chance for a cuppa and recharge. Anything musical at that age keeps them occupied. I agree with the double buggy others have suggested, although my husband is home so we just bought two separate buggies and two car seats for the boys. We bought or were given lots of second hand toys, our dining room looks like a toy shop. Boys have loved the little ride on cars to charge around the house on. And they have always loved books even when very young. And messy play is always a favourite if you don’t mind the clearing up. They are exhausting when tiny, but absolutely worth every precious moment you get with them. Have loads of fun.

I used to be a child minder and I found a regular routine helped to settle little ones really quickly. We had set times for meals, snacks, play, naps, outings etc. Worked well for me

Lucky you, you’ll find as they get a little older they will play nicely together which will take the pressure off. Make the most of it, children grow up so quick

DGD and I would do bus rides because there's lots to see out the window (without buggy). I do remember getting on the bus into town, and just staying on it, because it was fun! And we'd go on the train occasionally (sometimes with, sometimes without buggy)

Phew. Good luck. Hope you’ve got lots of energy.

When I had my last daughter I started minding another child at 4 months, there were 3 days between their birthdays. It was fine, a bit like having twins but without the night shift! As they got a bit older thay loved being propped up at either end of the carrycot with a few toys between them, they always played very nicely together.

The one thing it did show me was just how different babies are in respect of their development, my daughter was quicker at some things and the other little girl quicker at others.