In all the years that I was involved in Well Baby Clinics I believed that once I got the granny to trust my word, I had already won over the mommy of the baby. In most instances the very proud grandmother wants to help, but it is usually over twenty years since she had her own babies.
If this grandchild is the first in the family she is out of practice, and many of her methods may be outdated.
Granny at the Clinic
The maternal grandmother is usually the person I targeted. A daughter normally heeds what her mother tells her. It becomes more tricky when it’s the mother-in-law. If grandmother accompanied her daughter to the clinic I always made sure she understood what I had to say and hopefully accepted the ideas.
I never encouraged the grandmother to take over, but I always looked for ways in which she could contribute.
Parents are busy
Parents are busy raising, disciplining, feeding and clothing their children. Grandparents have more time to do a little spoiling and slipping in the little treats. (They have much more time for the grandchildren than they had for their own children). Grandparents have time to browse around shops for the item which you may need and don’t have the time to find. They are very important in a child’s life and play a vital part.
Using Story
Once I explained to a grandmother that I wanted the little four year old, Sarah, to feel part of her new brother’s life. She needed a doll so that she could mimic her mother and the new baby. The following week mother arrived with the baby in a carrycot.
Little Sarah carried her own carrycot made from a covered shoebox. In the little carrycot was the doll swaddled in its own bedding just like that of her little brother.
Sarah was excited when I weighed ‘her baby’ and made a little card for her doll. She loved her visits to the clinic each week. And even asked questions about her doll, just like her mommy. Granny had succeeded in her ‘project’.
The mother of a deaf mother was also vital to me. She could explain to her daughter what I found difficult to impart and her daughter could clarify her questions through her mother. It was a wonderful partnership!
Involve grandparents; they have a lot to contribute.
September 2012
Teresa Denton
Teresa (1941 – 2014) was a Community Nurse in Johannesburg, South Africa, and a keen writer.
Dear Dawn, this was such a special blog, thank you for sharing.
I like your mom’s philosophy, she was indeed a wise bird.
I think we would have got on rather well.😊
I pray that Jo does include me, having our new baby so close, I want to be part of every step.
June xx
My mom would have loved you! Being a granny is such a special relationship. I never knew my grannies, so am a little sad I did not have the gift of learning from her and experiencing life with her.