Are You a Grandparent to Newborns? Here Are Some Ideas
If you’ve just become a grandparent, that’s great news! Hopefully, you are enjoying this newfound title. Whilst it’s all well and good cooing over the baby and spending time with your family, there are also some more serious things that you need to give thought to. Here we have put together some of the basic things you need to consider when you become a grandparent, to help you, the child, and the parents of the baby. Read on for more information.
Decreasing Term Life Insurance
Although slightly morbid, having a tiny new human in the family can make you think about the fact that you are no longer a spring chicken. To make sure your grandchildren are looked after, you may want to encourage their parents to take out life insurance, or take out a policy yourself. There are lots of different policies out there, but if you or your grandchild’s parents have a mortgage to pay off, it might be time to set about finding the right decreasing term life insurance policy. This is a sensible type of cover to have in place, as it means that your grandchildren should have financial support should you or one of their parents pass away.
Helping Out with Baby Duties
Although it may be obvious, this is the time for you to help out as much as possible without being ‘too much’. You need to respect the boundaries of the child’s parents, taking into account that they are probably exhausted. Small gestures such as making the family a home-cooked meal or keeping an eye on the little one as they sleep can mean a lot to the parents. You just need to ensure that you always listen and respect their wishes, as they may have a different style of parenting to you. Try to maintain the peace! Just let them know that you are there if any help is ever needed. This is also a great way for you to be a part of the child’s life, by spending special time with them as they develop at such a rapid rate.
Starting a Trust Fund
By putting a small amount of money aside for the baby each month, into a Junior ISA for instance, you are setting them up for their future. This money should accumulate over time until your grandchild reaches the age where it is appropriate for them to have access. This money could go towards a grand lifetime purchase, such as their first car or home. It will mean a lot to them knowing that you helped to get them there.
Gifts for the Baby
On a similar note, getting a gift for the baby that they can have with them throughout their childhood and into adulthood is a special thing. It could be a toy, blanket, or even some sort of jewellery. Whatever you think they would like to keep with them through the years. This token will be something that can remind them of you forever, showing how much you love them.
Enjoy your grandparenting duties!
My name is Louise and I am the Digital Marketing and Administrative Assistant at MyBump2Baby. I have been writing in the parenting niche for over 2 years specialising in fertility, pregnancy, baby and baby name support articles.