Preparing Grandparents and Loved Ones for Todays Parenting

One of the greatest joys for some parents is watching their children become parents themselves. Having a strong support system can help make an expecting parent’s transition into parenting significantly smoother. For many new parents, this support system is their own parents, soon to be grandparents.  

Julie Doucet, a childbirth educator at OhioHealth, teaches GRAND!Parenting, a class for grandparents or relatives who want to refresh their memory on infant care and learn about boundaries when supporting their child in becoming a parent. This class is offered at OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital and at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital as well. Classes at Riverside Methodist have been paused but will resume in October.

Julie says their goal for the program is for grandparents to leave feeling not only confident in their ability to care for their grandchild but also equipped to nurture and strengthen their evolving relationship with their grandbaby’s parents. 

“Finding balance means embracing the idea that parenting styles evolve over time and vary according to each family's unique circumstances,” said Julie. “We emphasize the importance of respecting the parents' choices for their child, regardless of personal agreement or understanding.”  

In class, the instructor covers a wide range of topics regarding childcare, boundaries and validating feelings. 

Newborn characteristics: Julie says that it is common for newborns to have unexpected characteristics such as a skin condition or cone-shaped head. She emphasizes the importance of family members keeping any unhelpful remarks to themselves.  

Validating feelings: In class, she discusses the importance of validating new parents’ feelings. There is often a wide array of emotions a new parent will experience, so listening without judgement is important.  

“It’s important to acknowledge that they can feel thankful for a healthy baby and still find the transition challenging” Julie said.  

Safe sleep: A crucial part of childcare is ensuring infants are sleeping safely to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Julie says that it is important to adhere to the ABCs of safe sleep to help keep infants safe.  

• Alone: Infants should be placed alone on a firm mattress in a crib or bassinet without any other items such as pillows, toys or blankets.  
• Back: It is important to always lay the baby on their back when sleeping. 
• Crib: Babies should only sleep in a crib, bassinet or pack-n-play. 

Feeding: Grandparents can support breastfeeding by providing snacks and drinks for the nursing parent, handling household chores for added rest, and learning proper storage and handling techniques for expressed breastmilk.

In class, there are other topics covered like car seat safety, bathing, baby proofing and more to help grandparents feel confident when taking care of their grandchildren.  

“Supporting the new family involves more than just caring for or holding the baby. It's about truly being there for their grandbaby’s parents by assisting with household chores, preparing meals, and running errands. This allows the new parents to bond and rest and can significantly ease their transition into parenthood,” Julie said.  

Julie says that grandparents can play a key role in noticing early symptoms of postpartum mental health issues. In class, grandparents are taught to calmly address their concerns in a secure environment. If a parent is facing severe mental health issues like self-harm or psychosis, it is imperative that they get emergency medical help.  

Aside from GRAND!Parenting, OhioHealth also offers Maternity Tours, Breastfeeding preparation, Childbirth Education classes, Baby Care Basic classes, Infant Choking and CPR. Later this year, there will also be a sibling class for pre-school and school-aged children. 

Click here for more information or to sign up for a GRAND!Parenting class.