Tips and Inspiration for
First-Time Grandparents

Twins, Triplets,

Quadruplets

... Oh, my!

Multiple birth rates are much higher today than they were only a few decades ago. If your family is welcoming a set of grandbabies into the fold, here are some things you should know.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the birth rate of twins increased by more than 70 percent between 1980 and 2004, and the birth rate of triplets and higher-order multiples soared by more than 400 percent between 1980 and 1998.

What to know

Multiples are more likely to be born prematurely. According to the March of Dimes, multiples account for only 3 percent of the births in the nation, but more than 20 percent of admissions to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

They aren't always going to be double (or triple) the fun. Think about how difficult it was to survive the first months with only ONE newborn! Dealing with the demands of two or more infants places a heavy burden on a young family.

The pregnancy can be very difficult on the mom. Carrying all those babies wreaks havoc on the mother's body. Expect her to have a longer recovery time than women with single births have. While a healthy woman gains 20 to 30 pounds during pregnancy, mothers of twins gain 35 to 45 pounds.

How can I help?

Man your post. A house with multiple infants can feel like a war zone. Be a good soldier by changing, holding, feeding, and cleaning the babies whenever you can. Together, you can do it!

Enjoy the babies. Moms of multiples are often so exhausted by raising your grandbabies that they don't have much energy left for playing, bonding, and enriching them. Step in and take up the work of fun.

Encourage the parents. The moms and dads of little newborns often feel like they can't give any one baby the necessary attention. Shower the parents with praise, telling them what a good job they are doing.

Capture those precious moments. Busy parents of multiples say the first year flies by as they simply try to survive. Take pictures and package them in albums and in other keepsakes as gifts for the parents.

First Foods

The latest thinking on the age to introduce babies to solid food is when they are between four and six months, according to The American Academy of Pediatrics. That is perhaps a different age from the one we remember giving our kids that first spoonful.

"Many parents ask what food(s) should be the first foods they offer to their baby," Dr. Charlotte Cowan, a pediatrician at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children in Boston says, "It is prudent to check with your pediatrician before offering your baby any food to see if [the physician] has any concerns about your child or specific feeding tips – like whether to start with cereal and fruit or vegetables first."

Babies who receive proper nutrition in their first year are more likely to be healthy throughout life. They need the following in their diets for optimal mental and physical health: calcium, protein, vitamins, fat, carbohydrates, and iron. Before solid food is introduced, breast milk or formula is a baby's primary source of nutrition; once food is introduced, milk or formula continues to be a diet mainstay and "[milk] remains a critical component of a child's diet throughout childhood," says Cowan.

As babies grow, parents should gradually introduce nutritious foods, including mashed fruits and vegetables, whole-grains, dairy options like cheese and yogurt, and chopped lean meats and poultry.
Be aware of the fact that every baby is different,
and make sure you are up-to-date
on the information available
on food allergies. Ask your
pediatrician how to tailor first
foods to a baby's special needs.

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baby-food maker Beaba.
Popular in Europe, it's
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Retail Price:
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Available at:
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Expert Tip:

I tell my patients that if the fruit begins with "p," it helps babies "poop," says Cowan. "Applesauce and bananas tend to constipate children, while peaches, pears, plums, and pineapples will help!

Recipes: 4 to 6 Months

Simple Squash

· 1 to 2 winter squash

Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Bake in a water bath, with the cut side of the squash face-down, at 400 degrees F for 40 minutes. Remove, let cool, peel, and puree. You can also peel the squash, scoop out the seeds, and boil in water until it's tender; then mash or puree.

Pear and Apple Goodness

· 1 ripe pear · 1 ripe apple · 1/2 cup water

Peel each fruit and cut into chunks. Place in a saucepan; add the water. Simmer until tender; strain. Either mash fruit with a fork or place in a food processor to puree.

Get more recipes »

6 to 9 Months

Apple, Peach, and Banana Treat

· 1 apple · 1 peach
· 1/2 ripe banana · 1/4 cup water

Dice apple and peach; add the water; simmer together until tender. Strain to remove all traces of skin from fruit, or peel fruit before simmering. Mash the banana into the now-soft apple and peach and puree.

Sweet Potato and Avocado Medley

· 1 small sweet potato
· 1 ripe avocado, peeled and diced

Bake sweet potato in its skin for 45 minutes at 350 degrees F, or until tender and easily pierced with a fork. Cool the potato; peel; mash or puree it with the avocado.

What To Feed Them:

Foods your grandbaby can enjoy:

Foods to steer clear of:

No more than four ounces of fruit per day.

Saving and Storing:

Besides allowing you to become a creative chef, making baby food can also be a time-saver. Prepare more than enough for one serving; spoon the remainder into ice cube trays and freeze. When frozen, place the cubes in dated freezer-proof bags and use within two months, according to the website BabyCenter. When ready to serve, steam the food to warm it.

HushLittle

Baby

Click here for more than 100 songs you can sing to your grandbaby.

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