Being the Fabgrandma means that sometimes the grandchildren come for a visit. Whether that means mom and dad will hang out too, or they plan to head out for a date night or a weekend away, there are plenty of things you should have on hand for when the littles come over. I’ve learned a thing or two through parenting and being a Grandma that I hope can help you too. Here’s what you should pick up before the Grandkids stay for the night.

Extra Comfortable Bedding

Kids love comfortable things. They enjoy fluffy blankets, cozy pillows, and maybe even a stuffed animal or two. While a throw blanket is fine for the couch, I find that investing in extra Comfortable Bedding goes a long way to keeping the grandkids cozy when they are away from mom and dad. You can even get a few air mattresses, so they don’t have to sleep on the lumpy pull-out couch that has needed a new mattress since 1972. I am all for being resourceful, but I know the grandkids will sleep much better if they are comfortable in their beds.

Allergen-Friendly and Kid-Friendly Foods

Okay, grandparents, let’s have a chat. I know that when we were younger there were not as many allergies out there. No one knew what gluten intolerance or celiac disease was, and we all pretty much got to eat those PB&J sandwiches without harm. Nowadays are different and for whatever reason, some of your grandkids aren’t going to be able to eat all the same things you do.

The great news is that there are plenty of allergen-friendly companies out there that have already created lasagnas, chicken nuggets, and even pizza that’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and sometimes even flavor-free. Just kidding, many of them taste amazing. It’s important to take your grandkids’ dietary needs seriously and to listen to their parents when they ask you not to feed them certain things. As a bonus, having your grandkids’ favorite foods on hand might make you a favorite in their eyes and it will win over their parents as well.

Diapers, Wipes, and Spare Clothes

When you’re watching babies and toddlers especially, you never know when they are going to have an accident. Having extras on hand for when they stay the night helps a lot. You can go through baby diapers very quickly if your grandbaby has a few poop explosions. While mom and dad will likely send Spare Clothes, keeping a few things around just in case can’t hurt either. It also helps when you want to let the grandkids help with messy projects. They can use your spares to get messy and stay clean in the clothes mom and dad sent.

Age-Appropriate Activities

Let’s face it, your curio cabinet probably doesn’t have too many kid-safe things to play with. Instead of spending all your time getting frustrated that the grandkids want to get into things, why not have some fun things for them to do at your house instead? Coloring, blocks, cars, pretend play, and even bubbles and sidewalk chalk can go a long way to helping occupy your grandkids’ time. You could even plan a few baking activities that you don’t mind them getting too dirty from. There are plenty of fun and easy age-appropriate activities to do with all the grandkids.

A Good Nightlight

Being in the dark is scary. Some of you adults still sleep with a night light, and that’s okay. What’s not okay, is expecting your little grandchildren to be okay in the dark away from their parents. You can do better. Invest in a few nightlights, so you always have some on hand when the grandkids stay the night. Put one in their room, one in the hallway, and even one in the bathroom. There are cheap character-style nightlights at the dollar store if you love a good bargain as I do.

Final Thoughts on the Grandkids

Having grandchildren is one of my greatest joys. I love when they spend time in my home. It’s so exciting to see them grow up. I want to create great memories with them so that long after I am gone, they still tell the stories of playing chalk at their fab grandma’s house and eating their gluten-free cookies and treats when they were here.

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