Sole charge of two toddlers - help

Thanks Ana. Yes there are a couple of people who would be able to help in an emergency. (Real, or me losing my grip lol).

Good luck! Littlest is really quite wee to be looked after by someone she does not know well, but you can only give it your best shot. It is a complement that they trust you to have the children, but if you have any doubts perhaps you could discuss them with your DD and only do what you feel happy with.

I think you are incredibly brave - but it will work, because it will have to. My own mother used to be ill and so I would be sent to stay with one of my grandmothers for a week. We all survived ok. The only thing I missed was my toys!

Caring for your GC in their own home will make it so much easier. Good luck.

Thanks again, especially for all the advice to nap when the kids are napping - something I always tell my DD but young mums are too worried about piling up laundry etc. Won't be a problem for me!
Mishap - I am terribly complemented, and whilst it will be a challenge, I would have been very upset if the MIL had been asked, LOL!
And janerowena, I agree that it will work because it has too. As I reminded DD on the phone yesterday, she was left several times a year with my mum (4 - 5 days at a time) when I travelled with her dad. Sometimes she got very upset, and my mum let me know about it, but it did not affect her in any long term way!

schnackie It will work out fine. You're thinking ahead and making plans so it will all fall into place. We have eight grandchildren and have had sole responsibility for them many times. It's always easier in their own home with their own things around them. Even better if there will be contact with their friends. From our experiences I would say...make sure you know their routines, snack and meal times, going out times, nap times. Favourite toys are a must and those precious things they have to take to bed. One of ours took two dummies to bed - we didn't know this and couldn't understand why he kept asking for his dummy when he already had one! Also how articulate is the two and a half year old? Any weird family words can cause problems. We had one demanding a cup of tea - it turned out to be warm milk which his parents told him was tea. Many years ago my mother used the words 'do something else' for a poo. My poor brother, aged four, kept telling his friend's Mum he wanted to do something else and she supplied numerous alternative toys until he burst into tears and said 'I've done something else in my pants' Get those details right and you've nailed it. Five days will fly by, by the time you've got them up, breakfasted and dressed it'll be time for an outing, another nap or another meal. Above all else, enjoy the time with them .... you can always catch up with sleep when you get home! Have fun!

nonnanan you really made me laugh with that story! I have found out recently that DGS takes himself off to his room and closes the door when he needs to go, and doesn't like to be disturbed! Sounds like he is ready for potty training, but as apricot said, this will not be included in my duties, thankfully!

I agree with Ana. I'm looking after my grandchildren for the weekend in July and mum and dad have already told the neighbours what will be happening and I can go to them if there is an emergency.

I was very happy about that because although the children are 7 and 4 I'm not as strong as I was or as quick off the mark.

Got into a panic when babysitting my GD when she had tonsilitus and really needed a second opinion. Very glad when mum came home.

It's lovely though when your grown up kids ask you to babysit and think you're up to it. I have a cushion with Super Gran written on it

nonnanna I did have a laugh at that.
My DM always referred to it as Number Two.

Take a big bag of little treats with you-don't have to be expensive or even new, charity shops are great places to pick up things. If things get a bit trying producing something from the bag will provide a distraction. Ask for a detailed routine of what usually happens-nap times etc, but be ready to abandon it if necessary. Invite their friends to visit and play. Your DD obviously has a great relationship with you and totally trusts you,you should be really proud.

Night time rituals are the critical thing. Ours have particular songs and poems (some from their own childhood when I sang the same to them) and woe betide you if you get them in the wrong order!

This is the lovely night poem that my children heard as they went to sleep, and 2 of my GC also hear:

Hushabye my darling, don't you make a peep.
Little creatures everywhere are settling down to sleep.
Fishes in the millpond, goslings in the barn,
Kitten by the fireside, (child's name) in my arms.
Listen to the raindrops singing you to sleep.
Hushabye my darling don't you make a peep.