Young mothers who rely on their own mothers to babysit their kids are some of the luckiest people on earth. That’s because finding someone to watch the kids is not an easy task, not unless you are a member of Sittercity.
Having grandparents as sitters when you need them really takes off some of the pressure from parents in situations when child care is needed.
Many grandparents pitch in to help babysit their grandchildren. They really enjoy the time they spend with their cute little grandchildren. But in spite of the advantages of having the grandparents watch the kids, parents should be aware of certain limitations.
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Even if the grandparents wholeheartedly accept the duty of babysitting the kids, there are glaring limitations that should be taken into consideration. Also read: How to Get Your Instant Discount on Sittercity
Here are some considerations that need utmost attention when grandma and grandpa have to babysit:
Prep Your Children’s Stuff
In the event that the kids have to stay with grandma and grandpa for the day, make sure they bring along some food, toys, and extra clothes. It is best for them to have everything they need. This way, grandpa and grandma would not have to think of other ways to keep them busy.
Be Considerate With Time
Ask them how long they can accommodate the children. If a certain time frame is established, then it is a must to abide by it. It is almost certain that grandpa and grandma have other things planned.
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Offer Some Form Of Compensation
Although most grandparents will not accept payment, it is best to be sensitive with their needs. Be it in cash or in kind, find ways to compensate them for their babysitting hours. Show them that their time and effort are very much appreciated.
Curb Expectations
Not all grandparents have the energy and patience to play with children. They may not be able to keep up with their running. So parents must not expect their own parents to run an extra mile for play time. It is best to brief the children to keep their activities indoors. Encourage game boards, reading, or even some arts and crafts.
Having grandma and grandpa babysit is a great bonding opporunity. However, it is best to consider the limitations that come with it. In instances wherein the grandparents are not available to babysit, you might like to look in to online sitter services like Sittercity to take care of your sitter needs. Also read: Sittercity or Care.com: Which Is Best?
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Do you have your parents watch over your kids often? Do your kids enjoy having their grandparents watch over them? Has there been instances when the grandparents also can’t watch over your kids? If yes, what did you do? Feel free to share your experience.
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A nerd at heart (haha), I have been following and analyzing the world of online sitters for a couple of years now and have seen a lot of innovations and changes in this market. In between taking care of my loving (and demanding 😜) family and writing, I also do a lot of “traveling” on the Travel Channel and Discovery Channel. Read More
My mom’s a wonderful grandma but she’s too busy with her own activities to babysit my kids. I can’t rely on her.
As a grandparent myself, who is fortunate enough to have my grandchildren close, I get to spend lots of time with them and they LOVE every minute of it. Your comment, and attitude toward having your parents NOT watch your kids, is SELFISH! Shame on you! You’re a terrible mother and person!
I don’t understand. What part did it say that grandparents cannot watch the kids? The way I understand it, grandparents are just being spared from the responsibility but are not being preventing from watching their grandkids. Why judge a mom and call her terrible? I don’t get it.
I’m guilty of this. I always depend on my parent to watch my kids. I feel so guilty now. But given that you have a promo code that will allow me to try out sittercity for three months, I’ll sign up. This should be good news for my parents.
Oh my ….my parents are too old to watch my kids. 🙂 For me, Sittercity is the best way to find a child care provider that has been trained and certified to watch children.