Caring for grandchild.

What a sweet grandma you are Wren
I’m sure all will be fine. Distracting them is good, as is taking them outside.

Some babies can go through a clingy patch around a year. It lasts a couple of month but passes. I think madgran's suggestion about getting him used to longer periods with you ahead of mum going back to work is very sensible.

He may well be crysome for the first few weeks, but will soon get used to it and it will just become part of his usual routine.

Madgran77 Yes, thats good advice about finding out about routines, food, etc.. I'm sure it will be fine. I've only ever had one child, his dad, he's 35 now 7 throughout the years have never had much contact with looking after babies, so this really is all very new to me, I just want to get every thing right I suppose..

Thank you for advice & suggestions Buffybee & Madgran77 , I appreciate any helpful advice. I'm feeling a bit nervous about looking after my GS, he is getting to the stage now where he is walking & getting into all sorts, as toddlers do, I just hope that he won't be so fretful that he cry's all the time he's with me. He's great with me when his mam is around but lately if she leaves the room, he's toddling after her crying. And I used to be able to soothe him to sleep but now he look's for his mother or father when he get's tired & he seem's to fight having a nap as much as he can, I suppose that's a normal toddler thing though.

I would suggest that longer periods are built up with you before his parents go back to work...initially with them around and in and out; then with you for say 2 hours ...4 hours ...6 hours and so on

Use those times to build up some little routines together; particular toys/baby jigsaws/ books or whatever that are new to him and therefore connected in his mind to time with you. Little meals together (with mine it was toast fingers when mum and dad left) and so on.

I would also suggest talking to his parents about routines and expectations re food, sleeping. etc to avoid any misunderstanding. Enjoy! Its good fun.

Hello Wren, I've looked after all my Grandchildren from 12 months on, when Daughter went back to work.
The best thing that I did was find Play Groups, the ones in Church Halls, run by volunteers. There's usually quite a few but if you can't find one on the right day in your area and you drive, try another area.
You can get a list of them from the Local Authority usually but ask other Mum's and Grans as there are sometimes ones not on the list.
I had mine full time, so I found them for every morning, usually 9.30 to 11.30, they're usually only about a pound of two.
Then home for lunch and hopefully they might nap for an hour and day nearly gone by then.
I found, if they fret, it's better to get them out of their home environment, even if you only take them in the bus to the Shopping Centre. It distracts them and they soon look forward to going out with Gran.
Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine.