Older grans babysitting

No! It is exhausting looking after little ones. I am 70 now my eldest grandson is 15 which was tiring enough but if another grandchild was born I would be knackered.

I'm 67 and have had a 4 year old and a 2 year old all day - I'm too tired to when think of a reply! But a worthwhile investment to ensure a relationship with them when they sit down!

I don't feel old until I look after my grandchildren. I love them dearly but find them exhausting. I remember when we had them stay with us for three days, my husband did a little dance on the front path as they were leaving!

I am 70, just one 4 year old once a week. She is delightful and usually very easy, but has recently found the word no and that it can be emphasised by a foot stamping the floor.

(she does look funny when she does it though, so I have to keep a straight face)

I am 68 I see my grandsons 3 and 11mnths about every two week but dgs2 still quite clingy and cries screams his head off when mum is out of sight.

Last time I was there DD had to go out and left me with the screaming baby. All I could do was to cuddle him and sing to him to try and calm him. he kept trying to throw himself out of my arms but if I put him down he just wanted to crawl back to me. After about 20 mins he fell asleep in my arms and I put him in his cot and he slept. I was quite worried about how he might react but it actually gave me some confidence that I could manage.
My next challenge would be trying to get them both to bed. DGS was fine with me at the same age. I am apprehensive about managing both, but I think I might just be feeling wimpish.

I don't think I could cope at the age of 75. When my first DG was little and lived nearby, I was in my early 50s, working and had loads of other commitments, though I gladly did my bit at weekends. But when the others arrived, they were a long way off, so it was a decision I didn't have to make.

I think our baby rearing days end when we hit the menopause for the very reason you are mostly finding, the older we get the less energy and patience we have. It is exhausting looking after youngsters and I for one like annodomini am quite happy that my grandchildren were mostly small when I was still working full time and now I'm retired they are starting families of their own. I love to have them but I could not physically look after them for any length of time apart from occasionally or in an emergency and I actually wouldn't want to. OH and value 'our time' too much to wear ourselves out struggling to 'help out' even if that is selfish I think we've earned it.

Interestingly the parents don't seem to ask for your month of childcare in the summer when they can put themselves in the bath,to bed,cook meals and go off to do the things the parents like.

Still having 3 year old GS2 either before or after preschool everyday. I still find it mostly fun rather than tiring, but I'll be 70 in June and might not want to take on a small baby now.

I am 67, and OH is 69 with PD. We have a 10 month old one day a week and a 3 year old another. We are completely bushed by the time each of them leaves. But....I find that easier than when a DD comes with both their children - it becomes more chaotic than it is when we have them on our own. They have fun with us, but it is quieter - lots of reading, board games, craft etc. - bit when there is more than one there (even with a parent there) it is totally exhausting.

I reason that very soon they will all be at school - many of our GC already are - and this busy time will not last long. And we will miss it when it is gone!

But the basic answer is yes - we both find it very tiring - but love them to bits and will soldier on!

I no longer need to look after DGC on a regular basis but I think sometimes it is not age which really counts - at 75 we are almost 20 years older than the other Gps of our year olds DGS - however DiL has asked if we could babysit for them to go out as she knows we could cope (twins) whereas she does not think that applies to her own much younger parents.

I'm 62 and don't have GC to look after as they're 18 and 14 now and the other two are on the other side of the world but my friend has her two GC aged 3 and 1 several times a week and overnight and I know she finds it tiring at 64. My SIL has looked after her GS now nearly 4 since he was born - she's only 58 but says it's exhausting as he's a very active little chap but they wouldn't have it any other way. I'm not sure I would have the stamina or patience with them now let alone when I'm 70 plus - hats off to all of you!

I'm 70 this year and do some strenuous babysitting involving looking after the gc when they're unwell, taking them swimming (I don't go in) taking them to Ballet and Martial arts and as I don't have a car this involves a lot of walking. This doesn't happen every week but I am always on standby.

I do wish I was younger, pushing 60 would be nice. I do get really tired and by whole body aches after a long babysit. I worry about getting ill and not being able to help out.

The bonus is a good and natural relationship with the grandchildren. I make them laugh and they make me laugh so maybe they will come and visit me when I'm in the Old Folks' Home

I am 62 and DH is 70. We have DGS (4) one whole day a week and after pre school the other days. Sometimes he stays over night. We will have him every day during the school holidays. Mostly it is fine though the occasional strops are very wearing! We are also having our two DGDs, 4.5 and 1, for three days over the holidays. The two older ones play nicely for the first couple of days but then the tiredness sets in and they can get grumpy. The little one, we will have to wait and see, not too good at sleeping through the night. Hope the weather will be good so we can tire them out in the garden/park! DH feels it more than me, he is a very light sleeper whereas I sleep the sleep of the comatose. I will have to get my act together when the girls are here too! After the Easter holidays we get some time off!

We're the age of one of our DIL's grandparents. While not being regular sitters/careers with their little one we are involved and love it. Yes, it's tiring but also so much fun. We are asked and trusted, not sure why but our age counterparts aren't involved in the same way. Perhaps health as we are relatively fit. We have two older ones for fairly regular sleepovers and help with holiday care. Easier now they are oldear and self sufficient in personal care. Planning is the key with them so we aren't exhausted at the end of the day. We involve them and they help plan in down time so we can all re-charge, it works for us. Not sure what the future years will bring but for now it is both fun and a privilege to be involved. A neighbour of nearly 90 cares for her great grandchildren! Babies are more tiring I think, it is relentless, we're lucky there are two of us to share the load. Good luck Victoria hope you can enjoy the little one and not be too exhausted by your day.

We were 61 and 62 when our first grandchild was born. We looked after her 3 days a week from 4 months old and the occasional weekend. When she went to school she was dropped off here at 7:30 and had breakfast, H took her to school, picked her up at 3pm, we gave her tea and she was picked up at 6pm. There were reasons for our involvement I won't go into .
We have 5 other GC and haven't had any ivolment in looking after them for any length of time,only in times of need.
I was often very tired with the care of the first but I am so very close to her,she is 17 and a half now and not a week goes by when I don't see her a couple of times. I am far closer to her then any of the others so it does have very special rewards.

I was heartbroken when my daughter told me her children would be going to nurseries when they were six months old. I could not imagine doing that with my children, but she said that young babies were tiring, and she did not want me to be making myself tired looking after her children. She was right, if I did have to have the grand-children when they were younger I was exhausted at the end of the day. We were 'older' grandparents, and grateful to our daughter for her consideration.

Oh how I agree about the special rewards anne - the two I had the most involvement with are now in their twenties and have their own homes - b oth invite us for meals and meet us out or DGD comes and takes me out when she has a day off. Both keep in touch at other times via a text, call or message. I feel now I am so reaping the benefits of earlier times. I have told DGD that when I am in an old folks home she is never to come visiting without a pair of tweezers in her bag!!

I was sixty and DH sixty four when our only grandchild was born. He is now nine. From day one we looked after him for two days while DD was at work. I can't imagine looking after a baby or - more especially a toddler - now. GS is a very active child - like my own son at that age, if he has to stay indoors for too long he's like a caged tiger - and his level of activity and the rate at which both of us seem to have run out of steam is increasing exponentially! He still expects DH to play football, even when he has his friends there and we are just supposed to be watching over a kick about in the park (and it can all get a bit fast and furious) and of course grandad can't help letting himself be drawn in! Then he can't get up the next day. Children don't understand the concept of ageing! I am not so much physically challenged by him as mentally. He will argue the hind leg off a donkey in his efforts to get his own way (and he's so charming with it!) and I find that just as exhausting as any physical activity. Like a verbal Chinese water torture! BUT... I would rather be run into the ground than not to have our time together, which is a great joy.

At 65 I find the 2x days looking after a 3yr old (having been up to be on duty for 7:30 for two older DGCs school run) and then collecting and caring for all 4 DGCs from end of school to 6ish are my most tiring days! Think I would find the 100% demand on attention from a baby exhausting now..I did do it for both DGS for 2 x days a week but was eight /three years younger! Why does the aging process seem to accelerate when you get to mid 60s! Or is it just me?? I am reasonably fit but the aches and pains get more noticable by the day

Right get up off the sofa and go to collect the maure and mulch..i am on a mission today..the garden maybe harder work than a demanding child!

I was 71 when the first of our three was born. We travelled to them once a week to look after her once she was a year old and my daughter went back to her job as a teacher. She only worked two days and the other GPs did the other day. It was a long journey and that alone was exhausting. I found the day tiring but I felt privileged too and we bonded so well with our lovely little girl. We were with her when she took her first steps too - what a joy. She goes to nursery now as does her sister. I do frequent babysitting for their boy cousin but he's much nearer though far more exhausting. I just about cope! Time alone with any of them guarantees a good night's sleep !

I feel as if I have been baby sitting/child minding all my life. My own children and then my grandchildren were well spread out in age.
Frankly, now at 78, I have had enough. My youngest grandchild is now
13 and is being home-schooled, so I have become her English teacher.
It never ends! But, I do love them all and am aware of what richness they have added to my life. It's just that enough is enough.

My grandson has lived with me since birth...now 12. He and his many pals are always in and out of the house, having meals, drinks, snacks and even sleepovers. They play pranks on each other which is funny.
Now that the school hols are here again we'll be out and about too.
I take them to rugby twice a week, 9am on Sundays and to boxing training. I'm of course up at 7am on schooldays. I walk his dog while he's at school. It keeps me feeling young and keeps me fit. I get great hugs from him and every day he tells me he loves me..... they won't go on much longer so I appreciate them while I can .
I LOVE it and wouldn't have it any other way. I'm sure grandparents who don't have contact with their grandchildren would love the opportunity I've had.

Oh my ! I so admire those of you who have posted here (and others like you) who are in your 60's and 70's. I am only 54 with one DGD who will be 3 in July. Her sister is due in early June and I am already fretting how I will cope with looking after 2 grandchildren. I get physically tired as I could do with losing weight and I have some osteoarthritis. I also work part-time in a job that involves much standing and stair-climbing. I was with my daughter the other day and we got discussing my babysitting - or lack of it . I look after my DGD now and again but it turns out that her paternal grandparents are babysitting much more than I am. My daughter admitted to feeling exasperated with me because I often don't seem very eager about looking after my DGD. I love her to bits and everything she does amazes me . However, as I admitted to my DD, I get pretty anxious (I am anxious by nature) about doing something, with regard to her care, that might displease her parents. I still feel like I have to watch her almost constantly and my daughter tried to reassure me that this isn't so necessary now she is older and more capable. My DD said that she and my SIL have never expected me to babysit (same for any of the grandparents); they chose to have children and it is ultimately their responsibility. However, she is pretty canny with emotional persuasion and in saying that they ask the paternal grandparents to babysit more than they ask me (I used to do the same . Karma ? ), and that DD's father and stepmother drive a good distance to spend just a few hours with their DGD, I now feel embarrassed and guilty. I try to give my everything when I am with my DGD but, like I told my DD, I have got used to living on my own and being happy with my own company and I think this is a factor in how I view babysitting. I am at a bit of a loss now as to how to change things so that my DD and SIL do not feel disappointed in me .