Leaving your children in their grandparents' care, whether it's for an afternoon or an extended stay, means providing these beloved babysitters with information and instructions related to health and food concerns, among many other pieces of vital personal information. Decide how much should be shared in your situation; draw up a list that you and your parents or in-laws can go over together.
Contact Information
Leave grandparents with the phone numbers and addresses of all potential contacts they'll need. Write down your cell phone numbers and email addresses. Provide the names, addresses and phone numbers of the places where you'll be staying. Include the dates of when you'll be at which location. Also, leave the names, addresses and phone numbers of friends or neighbors who may be of service in an emergency. Provide them the locations, contacts and phone numbers for your kids' schools. If the grandparents will be taking the children to after-school activities, leave the names, numbers and addresses of the organizations and coaches. Finally, leave contact information for your attorney and life insurance agent, as well as a copy of your life insurance policy.
Medical Information
Another vital piece of information for grandparents is all of the medical details regarding your child. Write down all medical conditions he has, such as allergies, diaper rash or a tendency to spit up. List the medications to treat the conditions, especially a schedule of medication if there is one. Leave details about general over-the-counter medicines he may need, such as fever reducers, headache relievers, band aids and antibacterial creams. Grandparents will also need to know about their grandchild's medical insurance. Include your insurance company's name, your policy numbers and member ID number. Also write out the names and phone numbers of all of your kid's doctors, particularly his pediatrician and dentist.
Nutritional Information
If your child is a finicky eater, make it easier for her grandparents with a list of her favorite and required food and drinks. Spell out what she is and is not allowed to eat and drink for meals, snacks and treats. Leave a schedule of meal and snack times, even if she is a good eater who is content with a wide variety of foods. If you have an infant, provide information about bottle-feeding, such as details about breast milk or formula, where bottles and nipples are kept; give instructions on how to use and clean the bottles. Explain where baby food is kept or which baby food needs to be made from scratch, as well as how much food to give your infant and when.
Other Information
The rest of the important information to leave grandparents should address the many other details to keep your child at ease about your separation. That means maintaining your child's routine. Include schedules for nap and playtime for babies, and play dates and homework for older children. Point out the favorite toys and games your children like playing. Leave a schedule for meal times, bed times and teeth brushing times. Explain where bath toys, bubbles and soaps are located. Get specific about discipline, such as time outs, and what you expect the grandparents to do if your child misbehaves. Grandparents should also know the rules older children must abide by for the television, computer and cell phones.
