Caring for two grandchildren close in age

Thank you everyone. Some great ideas there. As I said earlier, thank you so much for taking the trouble to pass on your tips. Cherylrov - sounds like we are in exactly the same boat!

I looked after both of mine, 4 months apart, a grandson and granddaughter, from almost birth, they are now both 5, it us hard, adding into the mix my 3 chihuahuas, and my full time shift based job! However, they are such good friends now, there's also another little grandson age 2, but because of c19 pandemic, o barely know him! Its such a privilege to be able to get so close to the grandchildren! But I had to let things go a bit at home and there were times it felt like chaos, but I also had my own children close together, 3 under 3, age 21, so this feels like a 2nd turn, id so go for it with an open mind, and just relish it! And if you have dogs? Get a room divider!

Sounds like a lot of fun to be had I had my GS twice a week 13 months apart from youngest being 3 months I used a tuff tray .... sits on floor and they sat in it with toys / messy activities etc shaving foam paint .... kept it all in one place and not all over house . I took them out for walk at nap time found it easier for me ..... it was all trial and error at beginning but oh I was tired but loved it . Enjoy

Agree that if you can have someone to help you, it’s so much easier, even if it’s only for a couple of hours, maybe a friend.
Good idea about preparing food before hand, it’s difficult trying to make lunch whilst watching them. I used to put mine in their high chairs with something to play with ,at least their not in any danger then.
Maybe when their a bit older, open a packet of dried pasta, a couple of saucepans various spoons and small cups, lots of fun spooning and pouring used to keep mine entertained for ages.
You’ll soon get in the swing of it .

My advice would be don’t do it as I wouldn’t want to be tied down for so many days a week, but you must feel differently!

We have a grandson just about to turn 6 and a granddaughter 19 months. We’ve looked after our grandson since he was 2 weeks old having him overnight to give his mam and dad a break. We’ve done various combinations with them even having the both at the same time overnight! At the moment we have each of them one day a week and grandson at least once a week for a sleepover! We then help out when needed on other days. I’m finding it hard to home school and our 19 month old granddaughter has decided not to nap when she’s here! As others have said lots of toys and outside stuff it does help if you’ve got a second pair of hands to help out. Saying that tho I find it very tiring. I’m more vocal than DH and say when I’m tired he just gets on with it. Like Erica23 we put the youngest in the bath sometimes to calm her down and pass a bit of time. Have to say Nando I admire u for taking it on lol hope all goes well for u x

Yes I’ve done it, hard work but fun. Don’t forget to eat, I used to wonder why I felt dizzy, then realised I hadn’t eaten or drunk anything for hours.
If all else fails, put them in the bath, it passes time on, and you can sit down for a while ,watching of course. Good luck.

Haven't been able to look after my grandchildren for nearly a year now, but used to do 1 day a week regularly.
2 years between them, one of each, ages now 2 and 4. I used to put their car seats in my car and take them to the nearest soft play Centre. They'd use up lots of energy, make friends there and we'd have lunch at the cafe as a treat. Worth every penny! (And as an added bonus, they would sleep well that night too!

Enjoy the time you have with them. ?

Wow you're brave! But as someone else said it's probably like having twins in the house. Stock up in nappies and baby wipes, and energy drinks and ear plugs (for you!). There is just 10 months between two of our GC and they pretty much amuse themselves and play well together. When one settles down for a nap (usually in the middle of the floor) so does the other one. We just throw a cover over them and walk quietly around them as we go to make a cuppa and enjoy the break. There's lots of good advice here. Good Luck. We'll await your next plea for help!!

I looked after my Dd’s twin girls from one year old. You’ll find you have good days and not so good.
My advise as others have mentioned is to baby proof the rooms, make sure you have plenty of toys, especially things like balls and cars which they can push, even crawling baby can do it. Get non-toxic non staining felt tips and plenty of paper and help them to draw, on their high-chair tables.
As someone mentioned in Summer get a water and sand pit. I even had a tiny plastic slide in the house.
We always had story time and singing before nap. Both either side on the chair with my arms round them holding the book.
Oh! What happy times!

We used to have all our DGCs toys downstairs. During LD1 I tidied them all upstairs as we didn't see the DGC. Now we have started childcare again they decide what they want to play with and that is brought down. Yours are too little for that, but useful for when they are older. Also there are some really good nursery rhyme and action rhyme DVDS out there that you can watch and sing along to. But my best advice is to have a takeaway or a ready meal for when they have gone home. Cooking is the last thing you will want to do!

My two DDs managed to have babies just five weeks apart. I had them together one day a week from six months up to now. They are now five. It is hard work but so worth it as they are now more like brother and sister than cousins. As they get a little bit older they start to entertain each other. My advice is to be mega organised. Have meals etc ready so you have to do the absolute minimum of anything but them. Have two of as much as you can to avoid arguments. Accept that you will not always be completely in control! Decide what toys/activities you are going to do each day and have things you can produce to divert them all set up and ready to go. Good luck.

Baby proof the rooms as much as possible. That way you can sit and relax and they are in no danger. They can potter about with their toys and while they may make a mess it’s easily packed away.

I am in a similar situation as both daughters had lockdown babies and are about to return to work so I will have 2 10month old babies 2 days a week. Must admit I am running a little scared but can’t help one without the other and they have both isolated during their leave so I can do it. Have been looking after daughters eldest whilst he has been off school so am praying he goes back in March before I take on the babies.

These ride-a-trikes are good and can be used in and outdoors. If tge 16 month is toddling he will be fine the 9 month will grow into it. They and have races and wee ones live thinking they can go quicker. My GS used it for conveying bits and bobs when DH tied a cardboard box on the back as a trailer. As mentioned, water and sand table is great. Place it somewhere so that the utensils can be hung up within reach for them. Don't go anywhere near playdough, makes an awful mess especially if more than one child using at the same time. Train sets little wooden ones like Thomas the Tank with a battery usually entertain young ones young children (and adults!) and help building skills . Anything outdoors if you can have a little raised bed for them to mess about with. Good luck braver than I would be and that's from someone who had a 2 and a half year old and twins with a DH who worked away a lot. Children are definitely for the young.

Child-proof the room you will be in with them.

No flexes at floor level, a washable rug or two instead of carpets, no ornaments that can be grabbed and broken, No books at child level.

Make sure that book-shelves etc. cannot be pulled over, the same goes for coffee tables etc.

Get a stable stool for the older child to use when you need to wash her/ his hands and face.

Buy a couple of plastic or otherwise unbreakable mugs and plates for meal time and a plastic tablecloth.

Perhaps a couple of soft toys and a set of bricks that live at your place and an old plastic mixing bowl and spoon for making teddy's lunch, and a cushion and rug for teddy's afternoon nap. Having to be quiet so teddy can go to sleep often gets the toddler who is NOT TIRED off for a nap too.

ENJOY YOURSELVES!

The library is an excellent idea, not only for borrowing books, they also have story reading mornings, and singalong sessions, I took one of my grandchildren every week till she started school.
Another thing I found great, was gym sessions for tinies, I absolutely hate soft play, but it’s sometimes something to do on a wet morning, but you will need nerves of steel, and a high tolerance of noise.

Depends on how old you are, I suppose. I'm 69, fit and healthy, but I only have one grandchild at a time - or I hope to! It doesn't always work out like that.

I would have naps with them.
Good luck.

Lots of scrap paper and crayons, paints if you have a place to do that, maybe the garden. Baking things with them, let them help shape dough, also have plasticine to play with. When it gets warm a tub of water in the garden and all the toy plates and cups or just yoghurt pots and empty used plastic containers to fill and empty. Both grandchildren loved that. I only had one at a time though. I had only 22 months between my own children but was younger then .

I used to look after my two grand sons before they started primary school for one day a week. I too used to haunt the library, the church playgroup, and the park. We always had an afternoon rest (me too!) And I selected The television programmes we would watch which became part of our routine and which we all enjoyed. I love that part of my life and now that they are more grown-up we still share that bond, which will never be broken. I’m really sorry for people who won’t or can’t or don’t make a one day a week commitment.

when the libraries open take them to the Bookstart sessions - there are always other grandparents to chat to and it's free!

Hats off to you! For me an absolute priority would be to get them into a routine of a good nap - at least an hour - both at the same time!

I did one day a week with gdc1 (I offered) ) but when gdc2 arrived only 15 months later I thought it’d be too much, so we helped with childcare costs instead.

Should add that I was an older granny - 67 when the first arrived, maybe would have felt differently if I’d been ten or more years younger.

We found a wooden train set indispensable: all the grandkids loved it.