your baby's having a baby

Becoming a parent changes a person in a monumental way. Your priorities change and your focus becomes loving, supporting and protecting that tiny person you just brought into the world. 
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As time goes on, you learn what works for you and your family. You develop a kind of parenting philosophy that comes with a toolkit. In that toolkit are tools you use to keep your baby happy and healthy. 

Now, that toolkit you put together likely looks a lot different than the one your mom used when you were a child. And if your children have children, their toolkit will look different from yours.  And that’s ok. But if you’re hoping to be supportive and helpful to your child who is now becoming a parent themselves, it’s best to use and respect their toolkit. 

So, your baby’s having a baby! Congrats! Want to be a supportive, modern grandparent? Here are a few tips:

  1. Do a little research: baby health and safety advice is constantly changing as new info/research becomes available. Odds are that what was recommended when you had a baby is totally different from what’s recommended now that your baby is having a baby. 

Spend some time getting up to date on important guidelines such as baby sleep safety, feeding options, etc. Not only will this keep your new grandchild safe & healthy, the information will make you feel more confident when caring for that sweet bundle!

   2. Ask questions: it’s likely that your child has made some decisions about the type of parent they want to be even before their child was born. So asking questions or clarifying things before you do them will show that you respect their decisions and want to do things their way. 

You might also want to ask how you can help. They may want you to support them by doing laundry or cooking a meal, rather than holding/feeding the baby, for example. 

  3. Keep being a parent: your baby will always be your baby. The arrival of a grandchild is a super exciting moment, but don’t forget to check in on your child. Letting them know that you’re proud of them and that you want to be there for them can go a long way. 

About to become a grandparent? Birth|Baby|Sleep has many resources to help prepare parents and grandparents for the new arrival. Check out our classes, blog posts and social channels for more information.