Watching 4 month old grandson

Really? You can’t remember how to look after a baby?

Relax and enjoy, ask parents where he has nap both my grandchildren used to like to sleep in my lap .if pram available go for a walk.

FannyCornforth

Really? You can’t remember how to look after a baby?

Why be rude? To the OP, I always ask the parents about sleep practices. It seems like the recommendations have changed. Have fun!

Yes it is always scary looking after someone else’s baby, it is such a responsibility.

I would ask for a list of his routine and anything else important.

But you will really enjoy it I’m sure.

Are you looking after him at your house or theirs? Definitely try to follow his routine. Split up the day depending on naps. Always get out for a walk. I looked after dgs1 from 11 months but I took him before to get used to him and to looking after a baby again. It's easy to forget how hard it can be! I read up on things like baby led weaning etc as my daughter used that. I was very careful not to announce a new tooth or crawling and walking for the first time as that was his parents prerogative. I would take little videos during the day and send them to my daughter. I also kept her up to date with his nappies, how many dirty ones etc, what I had fed him and if he needed Calpol. Good luck. It's lovely to be so involved and I feel very fortunate. I'll be doing the same with dgs2 from November!

Just say no.

I would ask for a written schedule as a guide, practices change over time and parents have their own way of doing things.

Good luck.

Practices are very different now, and continue to change.
Advice when my girl was a baby - solids from 6 weeks. Lie baby on their front.

So, it's hardly surprising that people don't know what the guidelines are now.

When mine were babies we were told to lie them on their side, advice is changing all the time.

Yep.
No foods with nuts in now, I think, until they're over a year old.
Swaddling seems to have made a come back, I think?
That was definitely out of the question for mine.

Peanut butter is now encouraged in small amounts from 4-5 months, particularly in those who might have family history of allergy!
Advice definitely changes all the time. But it may depend what advice parent has been given, so follow that! 4 months is pretty young to mind someone else's baby- does mother have to go back to work?

It will all come back to you! Just check with parents when he sleeps (and how, on back or side, in sleepsack etc.), how much he eats.

We had a nice little bouncy seat, and a floor mat with bright colours and dangly toys, which was handy.

Wallsendgram my youngest son was 25, when I started looking after my first grandchild - so you can imagine !! I was starting all over - nappy changes, nap time and once to my daughter’s horror, I bought the wrong Aptamil. Fortunately, no harm done . You will be fine but as others have advised, get a written time table from mum. And don’t panic, like I did, if and when they have a bug. Good luck- you will enjoy it .

Take advice from baby's mum & dad about his daily routine regards sleeping & feeding....and then go and enjoy your precious time with your grandson....It all comes flowing back to you...John a mother/toddler group...It will shock you how many granny's bring their grandchildren...Great for letting the wee ones play and you can meet and make new friends.. I loved those days when my GC were small...Enjoy...

FannyCornforth

Really? You can’t remember how to look after a baby?

Nice.

Wallsendgran its not clear from your post whether this is a one-off or if you are going to be caring for your grandchild on a regular basis? Perhaps you could clarify. How much contact have you had with the baby up to now?

It will come back to you, Wallsendgran, although the rules change, babies' needs don't.

Ask for a list of what the parents want for their child.

Luckily my DIL is very easy going.

Yes it is always scary looking after someone else’s baby, it is such a responsibility

I was very worried, *Whitewave^ but they seem to have got through the experience ? and I feel closer to them because of it.

Elizabeth27

I would ask for a written schedule as a guide, practices change over time and parents have their own way of doing things.

Good luck.

This!

Right from when my granddaughter was a baby (she is now six) when I look after her I send photos on WhatsApp to her parents of what she’s getting up to!

Why do some people say “watching” when they mean “minding” or “looking after” ?
It sounds so passive.
Is it a regional thing? (

It's American, I think.

I looked after DGD a day a week 0-4yrs old. DDiL gave me a sheet of general stuff.
Always take a bottle of milk when you go out
And a nappie
Laugh a lot
Yes I used to send photos too and would email mum and dad a brief outline of what we'd done
Enjoy

My daughter and her partner booked a concert a year in advance so I babysat for my 9 week old lovely granddaughter. I made sure that I spent time with them in the preceding weeks so I felt more confident. They have a fancy ‘milk prepper’ machine so they took a little video of how to use it for me and her Nanny. I had an absolutely lovely time, and I was so pleased that they trusted me, and she was happy and smiling when they came home. Have a lovely time ☺️X