A few minutes of tv . I am now an arch-criminal

* How about letting him listen to the radio instead, or playing him a CD of some music or children's story, or reading a book with him?*
Pretty sure OP does all that already.

For goodness sake a bit of appropriate TV does no harm,

There's me. When I brought up my three DC in the 80s, we didn't have a TV until 1986 and it was kept in our bedroom and watched together as a family, often with home made popcorn. We seldom watched programmes as they were broadcast but usually taped films or school videos. We had very strict rules on diet: no refined sugar of any sort in anything and all wholemeal flour. My DM, a very good cook, went along with all this and it certainly meant the children's teeth were immaculate and their health was very good. Now my DD is a bit laxer as regards food, and pretty strict about screen time. I agree with her, radio and books are preferable as the pictures are so much better.

How about letting him listen to the radio instead, or playing him a CD of some music or children's story, or reading a book with him? Then his imagination will be engaged. I do understand how tiring a small grandchild can be, however well-behaved. Maybe if your childcare time was limited to one or two days that would help - you don't have to provide it for three days, or indeed at all. I do basically two days childcare a week, not full days but from 11-5 and with two different dgc - I'm not paid but am much appreciated. I do also sympathise with your children's views - I don't have a TV myself and believe screen time of any sort needs to be very limited until at least age 5.

Maybe the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree!!

I wonder how many times you let them think they have got away with trying it on that is the fun part them thinking they have pulled the wool over your eyes!

welbeck I thought St Bernards were the preferred Nana dogs

My children were always very determined, Whatdayisit!
And still are.

We always obey orders , well at least within reason.
Now the DGC tell us what they are allowed to do but I can always tell if they're trying it on.

Welbeck???

welbeck oh no, DD had a Staffie, a wonderful dog who would have given her life to defend any member of the family.
However, even so, DD never left her with DGS!

She was such an amazing dog.

Yes Callistemon i chuckled when i read your post i must have been typing when you posted!
Maybe babies spent the whole of the 80s on their sides with the rolled up blanket! Nowadays you would be able to buy a purpose made rolled up blanket to stop the roll onto their backs!
I do remember being horrified at the thought of baby 3 going on her back! Anyway as you said babies do what they want and that one co-slept ! She didn't want to lay on her back either!

apparently staffordshire bull terriers are known as the nanny dog because they are so good at looking after babies.
are we not meant to leave them to do that any more ?
who'd a thunk it !
can't keep up with all these changes...

Whatdayisit
1974 - tummy sleeping, resulting in an unhappy baby
1976 - back sleeping, babies will turn their heads to one side so if they are sick it will be ok.
1981 - sleep on side with rolled up blanket behind but they didn't reckon with my DD who, from a tiny age, wriggled and wriggled until she was on her back.

Then your post shows how rules changed yet again!

Many people here may dislike my views, but they are views many of today's parents hold.

You forget that we are the parents of today's parents

I don't know any who are like you.

My first child babies slept on their side with a blanket rolled up behind their backs to stop them rolling on to their backs because that could kill them (guidelines in 1989.
Fast forward to 1991 babies on tummy to sleep any other position death may ensue.
Lo and behold 1997 back to back campaign the only safe position on their back. We did manage to keep up with the changes back then as well.

Isn't there a saying about teaching granny to suck eggs.

Oh dear.
I've heard stories of grannies who thought child car seats weren't necessary, that babies should sleep on their backs, that it was fine to put a drop of alcohol in the baby bottle, or to put cereal in the baby bottle, etc.

None of that was the norm when my DC were babies and they are in their 30s and 40s now.
What a lot of strange, very old people you must know.
They sound like the norms from the 1930s or 1940s. Or even before that!

That's why a lot of parents insist on their rules. The rules have all changed.
They keep changing, often back to what they were.

The rules re sleeping do keep changing - it was considered absolutely necessary for babies to sleep on their tummies when DC1 was born - mine hated it.
Then that was considered wrong when DC2 was born - back was appropriate, after that it was compulsory to put a baby on its side with a rolled up blanket behind.

So if the medical profession keeps changing the rules, I think any sensible grandparents will listen to the parents and act according to their wishes.

However, babies don't always like rules - an older baby will wriggle on to its back anyway.

The OP was talking about 20 minutes of TV- not something dangerous. Unless it was Eastenders.

Good grief OldMom. The rules are constantly changing and always have. You are addressing a bunch of women who have - and not necessarily in their own opinion - successfully reared children. When you have done that come back and lecture us.
You have took the original post out of context. It was a tiny bit of tv.
You see when we were bringing our children up we weren't permanently attached to mobile phones. What is the guidelines about how much screen time a parent has? That will be far more damaging to a child being constantly ignored by their parents because they are glued constantly to social media.
I assume your child is in bed while you lecture us grannies on how to do unpaid childcare to your so high standards.

Oldmom I agree about keeping up to date but unlike you, I believe most grandparents do that, even though they’ve seen some things like baby sleep positions change forwards and backwards since their own children were babies.
As I previously said we had our DGC 5 days a week and we discussed rules beforehand.

I find your post rather patronising-do you think only parents get it right? Who was it fed your husband orange juice 50 years ago? Was it not discussed? He won’t remember because he was too young but to continuously feed a baby something in sufficient quantity to be deleterious to his health would surely have been picked up. My DD supplied the breast milk and then the formula for DGC and that’s what they got.
As I previously said we had our DGC 5 days a week and we discussed rules beforehand. As it happened there were no issues but if there had been and we couldn’t come to an agreement, our DD and SIL would have been welcome to pay for childcare elsewhere.

@ Callistemon

Not in the US, but the terminology is pervasive. I'm not in the UK, either.

Many people here may dislike my views, but they are views many of today's parents hold. A lot of things have changed in the last few decades, particularly regarding child health and safety. Grandparents insisting on their rules are all very well, but it is important that they keep up with current guidelines regarding car seats, sleep positions, child proofing, diets and screen time. I've heard stories of grannies who thought child car seats weren't necessary, that babies should sleep on their backs, that it was fine to put a drop of alcohol in the baby bottle, or to put cereal in the baby bottle, etc. My husband has permanent damage to his digestive system because he was fed orange juice from 3 months onwards. Most of those things were considered OK 50 years ago, but they are not now. That's why a lot of parents insist on their rules. The rules have all changed.

You have to be firm that if you are doing the childcare then you make the rules. You can discuss generalities with the parents but it just isn't going to work in the long term if they think they can dictate how you relate to your grandchild every minute of the day.
I have done all the childcare for my two grandsons for over six years while my daughter has worked and I couldn't have done it if I hadn't been in charge and able to make my own decisions.
If the parents don't like the way you are bringing up their children they should get someone else to do it - alternatively they could do it themselves and find out how difficult it really is.

I have given one day a week childcare for many years . Three days each week would be too much for me , that really is an imposition. My daughters have always recognized that my rules may differ from theirs . The GC understand that too - it works! As for tv , of course I resort to C Beebies . The GC need down time and grandma deserves some respite. I think if your daughter does not like her children watching a bit of tv she should find alternative care ! As for telling you off - who does she think she is ? WOW, I am speechless,how dare she! You give her there days a week free childcare , that is a massive commitment and IMO far too much . Jog on indeed !!!! We are in our 70s now , my daughter recognizes that and is very grateful for Grandma day.
I have brought my children up , it's not my job to raise my grandchildren too . Tell your daughter if she is unhappy with the way you care for her child then that is fine , she can pay nursery fees and you can have your life back. Be brave and let your daughter know how you feel.I imagine she will back down because she knows she is on to a good thing! and if you feel 3 days a week us too much you must tell her.

A few minutes of TV has certainly generated a lot of conversation
here ?
After googling 'current guidelines' Re: Oldmum I find it is acceptable for a toddler to watch TV - I checked NHS & Government guidelines.

Callistemon

Is Mister Maker still on or can you find re-runs?

If you let him watch those then he can go home full of lovely ideas what to do with scissors, glue, paint and show Mummy and Daddy how creative he can be.

Callistemon and don't forget glitter, I always find that's such a hit with the parents when they are presented with their child's latest artistic creation to take home in the car ?✨✨✨

Cotton wool

Been there, done all that!
Still have the glue, sheets and sheets of coloured paper, cottonwood, brushes, straws etc etc but have just thrown out old paint pots, old Playdoh.

Callistemon

Is Mister Maker still on or can you find re-runs?

If you let him watch those then he can go home full of lovely ideas what to do with scissors, glue, paint and show Mummy and Daddy how creative he can be.