Looking after two toddlers HELP

[petalflowercherrybomb]

DP and I (child free crazy dog people) are looking after nieces aged 2 and a half and 16 months this weekend due to some tricky family circumstances. We take them out for the day around once a month but often with DPs mum (their Granny) or SIL in attendance. Now we are going to be looking after them solidly from tomorrow lunchtime to Monday morning at our house which isn't exactly set up for kids...

Older one doesn't have any words and has limited understanding but loves to climb things. Little one is smiley and babbly. Both are very high energy and mobile.

What do I need to know?! Beyond the gin and the fancy lamp what do I need to hide? How are you supposed to make them go to sleep? I have so many questions!

You're doing great op.

You'll watch my 2 next weekend?!

You are doing so well!! Yay! Rocking aunties! How was night time and how is it going today? It’s fine just to do the same thing each day, kids don’t mind, definitely for just a few days anyhow, it will be a novelty just staying in a different place

You’ve had lots of practical advice. I’d just add, let them go at their own pace - they will amuse themselves for quite a while stepping repeatedly on and off a bumpy paving stone or some other random thing that’s nothing to do with toys or playgrounds or anything you’ve picked. As long as they’re safe and you’ve nowhere you need to be, it’s actually quite peaceful.

They have left and I am shattered. Such lovely kids and I'm missing the cuddles already but now I need to sleep for a week.

DP, dog and I curled up on sofa about to smash a box set. Think we're all a little shell shocked. I am also concerned that DP turned to me midway through rocking little one to sleep last night and said 'I want one'... a conversation for when we've had some sleep perhaps!

Thanks all for the excellent advice!

Oh yay! Well done, you are both amazing (and the dog!) you have given those children a lovely long weekend and really helped out their parents, sounds like you did an amazing job (and would be great parents!!!)

@petalflowercherrybomb this was a great read - thank you! And bloody well done because you effectively jumped down in to the trenches without your tin hat and came out the other side, amazing! If you were my DCs auntie I would be very very grateful.

Such a lovely thread well done op!