Struggle carrying grand babies

Severe osteoporosis will impact what you are able to do if the bone is badly damaged the muscles and tendons take on more of the work. This causes pain. You need to be careful of micro fractures and low impact breaks. How many hours a week are you having the twins?

Abitbarmy, my youngest grandson is just huge for his age (18 months). I've had to resist picking him up - as I dread being floored by my (long standing) back injury - and out of action for a week or so, along with all the pain. So, I'd still say, just don't do the carrying!

I empathise. I have two GDs, 12 and 13, and from the moment they were born I was very involved (my daughter was a single mother, and wanted/ needed the help). My partner and I had both girls to stay for extended periods, from birth until they started school, at which point we had them most weekends and holidays. I'd carry them around, play with them, be up at night with them. All with relatively little difficulty. I now have a 1 year old GS and my daughter isn't happy that I'm not as involved with him, but I just can't do it these days. I can't carry him for more than a couple of minutes, and am totally exhausted if I babysit for even a couple of hours, and it takes me a couple of days to recover. DD doesn't seem to understand that I'm over a decade older than I was when she had her girls. I'm only 62, but I've had a chronic pain and fatigue condition for over 20 years. I managed in my 50's, but I'm wrecked now. I love him to bits, but I can't have him overnight on my own, not least because I worry that I'd drop him! My partner and I don't live together (we used to, but we're both neurodivergent and quickly discovered we're better with our own space), and so I'll go and stay with her for a couple of nights and we'll have GS then, so we can look after him between us. DD is constantly trying to guilt me into having him on my own, but I can't (she actually asked me why I "won't" have him. When I said it's "can't" not "won't", she asked what the difference was!). I'd love to be more able, because he's an absolute joy, but it is what it is. Aging sucks!

The sort of sling that might be useful is a ring sling, the baby sits above your hip, the adjustable bit is on the other shoulder, and is padded so the weight is distributed over both sides of your body. When my child was little my mum used to use my sling and found it comfortable. When properly adjusted you have 2 hands free.
Might be worth considering if this appeals

We look after our nearly 5 year old DGD after school 1 day a week and 1 day a week during school holidays and have done since she was a year old. Same with her 2 year old brother but we don’t have the on the day as they fight. I would be unable to look after them at all if I was on my own (DH does all the lifting and taking in and out of car seats). We do love having them. I am the same age as the OP and find it much harder now. I have had arthritis and muscle pain constantly since 2018 which is getting worse. If DD had another baby (highly unlikely) I would have to say no to childcare. My DGD asks me to play down on the floor with her but it’s just too painful for me. I’ve no idea what my problem is but it’s seriously affecting my quality of life and GP’s seem spectacularly disinterested. I considered myself quite fit for my age until I was 63. I had a blood test for RA. When the result came back it showed the blood test was lost or unusable with no further action required???

Mamo
I suggested one earlier but I don’t think the OP thought it a good idea. I thought it was great and passed it on to my sister. She has a bad back and it takes the pressure off.

I’m 73 and got arthritis but can still lift my 3 year old grandchild onto counter for the ‘plaster sticking’ routine. Are you sure you’re that strong as you say you are!? I’m a swimmer and a weight-lifter …….she’s my last kiddie to lift around and I don’t do it much…..I would be more concerned that you can’t do it , for your sake !

dublintrends.com/products/baby-hip-waist-carrier-stool-portable-infant-front-facing-ergonomic-seat

What about one of these, OP? I found one a huge help when I minded my granddaughter as a baby…

I woukd say that at that age of the twins ,even if they can walk soon you have no option but to
A)do nappies either on the floor with a changing mat or as I did on a bed with mat.Both involve backs and carrying them and you will be doing that a few times a day.
B)assuming you drive and want to get out,you have the car seat problem.not many children independently get into a car seat completely by themselves till much older .
C)assuming they have nap in the daytime,carrying them upstairs and putting into travel cots on your back again
D)putting double buggy’s or any buggy in and out of your car very heavy these days
E)lifting them into high chairs for lunch .
I cannot see how these aspects of year old babies can be avoided
On the good side is that your husband can help,it’s only one day a week and like all things baby related it’s only temporary as they grow and pass this stage so wish you luck and fun with them.

I agree with Shelflife - don't do it! Carry them that is. I did with older grandchildren but with the younger ones I've not been able to lift due to arthritis. My husband has done the lifting. I've sat a grandchild on my knee and bumped down the stairs, then when older sat them next to me and bumped down. They thought it was a great game! I've also taught them to crawl upstairs. Any nappy changing is difficult now due to either lifting or me getting down to the floor then up again. On the whole grandchildren accept our limitations and when there are two
of you it's possible to play to individual strengths. I'll sit and read or sing nursery rhymes with them or take them for short walks in their buggy. My husband has no problems standing or lifting. It's frustrating but we can only do what our bodies will let us. Don't put your health at risk.

Please be careful. I have had several injuries while caring for my 2 and 5 yr old grandsons. Worst was a torn shoulder muscle from the little one tugging on my arm. Not to mention a bad fall tripping over discarded toys! Sitting on the floor is painful, getting up a struggle. And lifting the little one into and out of his car seat has done my back no good at all! It’s better now the older one can help herd his sibling, but I can’t imagine coping with twins.

I have my GC occasionally, usually one at a time. at 79, lifting an carrying is a definite no-no. My DGS is 9 but the size of a 5 year old (he has Down syndrome) he is a solid ton weight) I just wish my DDs had their children 10 years earlier!! If that gives you any hope Abitbarmy how you will cope in. the future. I don't have them on a regular basis any more, but love having them.

I have a dodgy left knee and my two year old grandson already knows I can't carry him unless it is an emergency (I am 62 by the way) He seems to accept this quite readily and has even started carrying bags etc and opening doors for me! I think we can easily damage backs, hips etc by lifting heavy or awkward weights and so I just don't do it.

I think some gentle weight training may be what you need. I started with a personal trainer recently for other reasons. I wanted to improve my strength, stamina and flexibility.
An unexpected benefit is being able to lift my 3 yr old grandson onto his favourite windowsill to guess which colour car is going to come down the road next!!
I'm quite short and the windowsill is at chest height. I hadn't previously been able to do it without effort, but recently it seems effortless.

I have a lot of musculoskeletal issues. When my child was a baby, I used a semi structured sling/carrier a lot (an Integra) and when she was a bit older I also used a HippyChick which was brilliant! That’s just like a big bum bag that they can sit on and you don’t end up doing the sticky out hip thing! These really were useful.

Gosh I do feel for you. I have 7 year old twin grandchildren and found it no problem lifting them up when they were younger.
I've also got a 10 month old grandson who stayed with us last month for a couple of nights. Lifting him in and out of his travel cot and carrying him up and down stairs was a major feat. My poor knees and back.
Loved having him though 😍

I struggled too , especially if I had to take them up or down stairs for any reason. Naps etc. DH not much help! It got easier once they could walk a bit and could climb stairs before that! Maybe previous poster was right and weight lifting is the answer 🤣
What I did find a help though in the car is to have a little folding step so they can climb into the car seat.

Double stroller will save your life

Please put your health and your husband's first. If you are exhausted after just a few hours in the arrangement, dial it down

You are not alone .

A decade ago when I was much slimmer and fitter - aged 60 I couldn't pick my granddaughter up .
Aged three she was much too heavy for me .

My daughter asked me to take her upstairs for a bath .

I had to hold her in my arms and go up the stairs backwards very slowly on my bottom taking one step at a time !

Her mother was very busy .
I should have told her .
My advice is to tell your children that your grandchildren are too heavy to carry .

I sympathise I'm the same age and consider myself reasonably fit however I look after gc number 3 2 days and struggle to carry her up to the car she's 13 months hopefully walking soon

We have the IKEA high chair too. It’s very good, can go in the dishwasher if you take the legs off but it’s a pain!

Thank you again all of you for your very kind and helpful comments. Suedonim I’ve just acquired a second (second hand IKEA) so we’ve got a pair now but I know what you mean! We are at least able to now get rid of the bouncy chair and when stuff comes out of the loft it won’t be going back in again this time!

I look after my GS who is a heavyweight - he was over 9lb at birth and has continued at that centile of weight! I find lifting him not exactly a struggle but it’s a challenge. He is also prone to throwing himself around when being lifted and I do worry about overbalancing. That could lead to a fracture if you have osteoporosis. Not only that, there’s the buggy and as for his car seat, that itself weighs 13kilos.

I think maybe you need to plan carefully to have everything at hand, Abitbarmy to minimise needing to go up/down stairs. Have all babycare needs on the level you spend the most time, even if it means baby equipment etc in the living room for now. I’m looking forward to getting rid of the high chair! No matter where we put it, it’s in the way. 😫

Do be careful Abitbarmy, I gave myself a prolapse lifting and carrying sacks of compost etc from the garden centre and pulling them around the garden. Unknown to me, my pelvic floor muscles were weak and couldn’t resist the pressure from the abdominal muscles which you will use a lot picking up and carrying youngsters around.
Strongly advise you take up pelvic floor muscle exercises, plenty of advice on how to online. Every older woman should do them. Believe me, you just do not want a prolapse!

Abitbarmy

When their sister used to get fretful I found walking around looking out of different windows and walking around the garden helped calm things.

That is exactly what I had to do with my youngest dgc almost constantly between about 7 and 9 months, to stop him crying, so I know how hard it can be.

I really struggled, even though I am still early 60s and fit and healthy. My wrists became extremely painful. ((Never had any problems with the other dgc through my 50s.)

Fortunately, he started walking early and within weeks no longer fretted, and my joints have recovered, but I doubt I could do it again when I am a few years older, not even for one child, let alone twins.

I'm sorry, I know that none of that is of any help to you, but I just wanted to let you are not alone in struggling with these things.