Hellobee Boards Topic: How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?

Hellobee Boards Topic: How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:20:48 +0000 lemondrop on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2356253 Sat, 14 Nov 2015 02:40:23 +0000 lemondrop 2356253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Every few months we set something up to take a date night. Recently I called my mom since we were going through some job stress, so she stayed a couple days to help out. It was beyond appreciated and I think both grandparents and kiddos are enjoying the spoiling a lot now that they are a little older. Alivoo01 on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2355303 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 09:54:20 +0000 Alivoo01 2355303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Neither side lives nearby so hardly ever. peachykeen on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2355137 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 07:53:54 +0000 peachykeen 2355137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I really wish we could! I grew up with one set of local grandparents, so I really miss that extended family set-up. DH's parents live 4 hours away from us, so they visit once every 2-3 months. My dad lives 15+ hours away from us - even flying, he'd still have to drive 4 hrs to an airport with reasonable flight prices, so we make an effort to see him a few times a year. My mom died less than a year ago and I'm really sad LO won't know her. I'm really excited my sister will be moving to our city soon, though! DD loves her, so she will be a big help to us. daniellemybelle on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2355060 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 00:31:47 +0000 daniellemybelle 2355060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It's hard to answer this question because we live pretty far away now. We've had grandparent visitors almost every month so far and expect that more or less for the foreseeable future (every other month for each set). So, we get to plan date nights and so forth then. I also know if all three of us were really really sick, or if we needed help for some other reason, my mom would be there in an instant. <3 When we lived in the same city as my parents, my mom provided regular childcare for LO and we leaned on them a lot. I miss it! youboots on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2355033 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 22:56:54 +0000 youboots 2355033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I would not call it help but I'm hanging out with my mom 3x this week for 6-8 hours a day, I'm with her and T most of the time except for a couple dr appts. simplyfelicity on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354999 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 22:07:17 +0000 simplyfelicity 2354999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ They always offer but maybe once a month...my mom actually watched DS today so I could go to the doctor for mastitis. She also watched him while I took a nap. MrsF on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354982 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 21:33:38 +0000 MrsF 2354982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We've only asked my mom for childcare maybe 10 times in 3 years (although one was when I had LO2 and two other times were also for overnights). We've also asked her to sort of "monitor watch" after the kids are in bed while we go out if we are spending the night in the same place. For emotional support - I call on my mom maybe every other day depending on how life is going. She's a huge support to me. ETA: I should add - my mom has done a LOT of coming up here to play with the kids with me when DH is working late or traveling for work. It brightens everyones day to have her here. Mae on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354967 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 21:18:48 +0000 Mae 2354967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My parents are here a lot of their own choice, but I don't really ask them for much. Mostly I've only asked for help when I have an interview and my husband can't cover child care. Or this past week I asked if my mom wanted to come hang out for a while because my husband was out of town on business for a while and I knew I'd be bored. She did and it worked out well because I ended up with an interview when he was out of town that I couldn't have taken otherwise. mrsrain on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354950 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 21:00:54 +0000 mrsrain 2354950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We live in New England but both sets of parents are in the South. So only once or twice a year, I guess. Lilbear on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354914 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 20:30:06 +0000 Lilbear 2354914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Rarely. Maybe 1-2 times a year? My parents are 1.5 hours away and my MIL is 15-20 minutes away BUT she doesn't drive at night, so they always have to spend the night when they watch LO. We have a 2 bedroom apartment in NYC, so it greatly inconveniences us when they stay over (LO can't sleep in her own room and she is usually keeping us up all night in our room due to the environment/routine change). Totally not worth it for a date night. We actually just rarely went out for my LO's almost first 2 years. 8 months ago we signed up with care.com and it has changed our lives! We go on dates again! Fwiw she still sees grandparents about once every 2 months, but we always travel to them. Mrs. Oatmeal on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354893 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 20:04:38 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2354893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My parents and my MIL live within 5 minutes, so we call them a lot! My mom doesn't work so she will often come and sit at my house during naptime so I can run errands kid free! autumnlove on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354815 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 18:53:10 +0000 autumnlove 2354815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Every time I give birth and 2-3 date nights a year. mauxie on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354775 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 18:20:31 +0000 mauxie 2354775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Mine are local but since our kids are in daycare and DH and I have pretty flexible work hours, we rarely "need" them to watch the kids. The last time my mom watched DD was when I was in the hospital delivering DS. She will watch the both of them when I deliver baby3. My sis has babysat a couple of time this past year but only after they've already gone to bed. Finfan on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354753 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 17:45:20 +0000 Finfan 2354753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Probably 5 days a week, they watch DD1 for an hour or so. DD2 is a newborn, so they have been coming over for a little bit to watch her so I can tidy up. They've also been doing preschool transportation for us. My inlaws are great and living about 5 houses away. My parents live about 2.5 hours away and I ask them a few times a year. My inlaws take extended vacations out of state several times a year and I like to have backup care due to some chronic health problems DH has. FannyMae on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354734 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 17:28:53 +0000 FannyMae 2354734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My mum - pretty much every week. She lives 5 minutes away and looks after DD for a few hours maybe on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon so they can spend time together. She normally babysits her every second Monday as routine. My MIL - every second Monday, but if I have an emergency she is quite happy to take her a few hours for playtime. She looks after the other grandkids too on some days of the week and likes to have them all together for play time, so I might go over and stay for an hour before popping out to do groceries and then come back. lilyann on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354713 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 17:13:10 +0000 lilyann 2354713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My parents help out whenever I ask, but we see them at least once a week, just to hang out. Mrs. Sunshine on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354706 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 17:05:39 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2354706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We never ever ever ask my in laws. They see her daily but I will never ask them to babysit. We ask my parents like every other month? But the girls see them weekly and we have dinner over there bi-weekly. My mom is super great and the best emtional support so sometimes she just kind of watches them without being asked. But I rarely ask twodoghouse on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354668 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 16:38:29 +0000 twodoghouse 2354668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I wish my parents lived closer. I'd probably have my mom over daily just to hang out! We see my ILs once a week, but we only have them babysit a couple times a year after the kids are asleep. sapphire on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354652 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 16:33:48 +0000 sapphire 2354652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Each set helps out at least once per month. Andrea on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354572 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 16:05:46 +0000 Andrea 2354572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Everyone lives too far away so we can't call them for help, unfortunately. BandDmommy on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354546 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 15:54:32 +0000 BandDmommy 2354546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Husbands side of the family- never My parents- for the birth of DD. gentlelunette on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354503 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 15:38:12 +0000 gentlelunette 2354503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Between my mom and MIL, I would say maybe once or twice a month for a dinner out or an event of some sort. Rockies11 on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help/page/2#post-2354493 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 15:34:29 +0000 Rockies11 2354493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I have asked my mom exactly twice in three years, both times I have been in the hospital. They live 3 hours away, but are gone for 6 months out of the year. My ILs we've never asked, but if either are here visiting we usually go out for dinner one night. It's a bummer because I could use the help, especially when pregnant! mrs.shinerbock on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help#post-2354426 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 15:11:36 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2354426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My parents live 1.5 hours away, so babysitting usually means an overnight stay and then they have to make arrangements for their dogs and it's a bit of a hassle. So I only ask every 3-4 months when we have something big like my company's holiday party or a birthday. sera_87 on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help#post-2354375 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 14:55:25 +0000 sera_87 2354375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Only when it's a medical reason. (New baby counts). I mean my mom visits more than that and always offers to watch them for us to have a date night or whatever while she's here, but me actually asking- yeah only when we have a medical reason to. Smurfette on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help#post-2354360 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 14:51:39 +0000 Smurfette 2354360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Not often. Every 2 months or so. They did just watch her for 4 nights while we were on a trip. They live 45 mins away, so they can't really help during the week cause they both work. But I know if I needed a sitter really any time (at night) they would help without a doubt. But I feel bad asking them too much since they have their own lives. So we hire sitters. IL's live 4 hours away and make no effort to come see her. babypugs on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help#post-2354341 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 14:46:09 +0000 babypugs 2354341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We are REALLY lucky. My mom loves to watch my daughter even when she's disgustingly sick, so I rarely have to take a day off work to watch her and she's always happy to do date nights. I try not to abuse it because I don't want her getting tired of it, but she's always happy to help in a pinch. travelgirl1 on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help#post-2354325 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 14:40:06 +0000 travelgirl1 2354325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Never. But once we move, I would so it if I was sick and needed help, or if I was pregnant and had extreme morning sickness again. Mamasig on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help#post-2354314 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 14:35:41 +0000 Mamasig 2354314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @sungirl: same! That's probably why I'm ok with 3 kids. My mom just moved in with us. She watches DS2 every day and is back up for DS1 if he is sick. She'll also watch them for date nights every few months. If I have a quick errand to run, she'll watch them for me. LuLu Mom on "How often do you call on Grandma and Grandpa for help?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-call-on-grandma-and-grandpa-for-help#post-2354285 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 14:22:54 +0000 LuLu Mom 2354285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ both sets are local, I bet it averages 1-2x a month.