While babysitting other people’s kids is never an easy task, if you’re getting older yourself, having the energy and stamina to keep up with little ones while their parents are away can be a real challenge. But if you’re a grandparent living close to your children, you may get asked to babysit for them on occasion.
So to help ensure that you feel comfortable during these times, here are three babysitting tips for grandparents caring for their grandkids.
Keep Your Medications Out Of Reach
While you might not have enough medications now that you need help from assisted living staff to keep track of everything, even the most innocuous of pills can look like candy to little kids. Knowing this, it’s vital that you keep your medication out of their reach while you’re caring for your grandkids.
To do this, it’s best to keep your medications stored in the childproof containers that they come in from the store or pharmacy. Additionally, you should keep these containers stored in an area where your grandkids won’t be able to see them. This way, the temptation to get to them won’t even exist for them.
Don’t forget about any medication that you might have stored in your purse or bag, too. Children can usually easily get to these items, so make sure you keep your bag or purse up and out of the way, as well.
Use Childproofing To Your Advantage
Whether you’re watching your grandchildren at your own home or at their home, what can be helpful for you is to keep them kids to just a few general areas of the house. This way, you can conserve your energy and keep from having to go up and down stairs while you’re babysitting.
To help you make this happen, try to use childproofing tools to your advantage. If a baby gate is available, use it to block off areas of the home that you don’t want them entering. You can also close doors and put childproof door knob accessories on so they can’t get into those spaces either.
Help Them Get A Break From Screen Time
Although it can seem easy to let your grandkids just sit in front of the TV or their other devices while you’re babysitting, many grandparents feel that they’d rather use this time to build a deeper bond with their grandkids.
One way to do this is to give them a break from their screens by doing things like crafts, reading, or sharing a beloved hobby of yours with them. While this might be a little more work than just watching videos, it will prove to be beneficial for both them and you.
If you’re a grandparent who will be caring for your grandkids on occasion, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you prepare for this event.
