Looking after 15 month-old God-daughter for first time

[Northend77]

Hi all. I am looking after my 15 month old GD this weekend for the first time. I don't have any children of my own (yet, hopefully) and little experience of youngsters in all honesty but I am excited and want this weekend to be a success! My husband is quite a natural with kids as his sister has several but he will be working for half of the time she is with us and I really want to be able to do this myself as well! I have ideas and plans on what to do to entertain her and will be meeting up with my sister in law as her twins are of a similar age however I have odd questions that keep cropping up, like will she be able to brush her teeth herself?!!! Her parents are extremely laid back and don't seem to be worried at all - they laugh off my panicky moments - and I am looking after her so they can have a weekend to themselves. I just wondered if any guardians/parents could advise me on things I might not have thought about (however obvious they may be!!). Help!!!!

She won't be able to clean her teeth, no. We still have to sometimes supervise DS who is 8 .

Do you have any other specific questions? Do you know what she drinks and eats and when she naps and where?

Do you know if she can get herself to sleep, or if she needs e.g. rocking to sleep?

Does she need to be fed or does she self-feed?

Tips for nappy changing? Some children at that age only like to be changed standing up.

Blimey, thank you JiltedJohnsJulie and AngelDog. I will be asking her parents about food/drink and any routines she has such as when she goes to bed. I have some of my old story books still and would love to read to her but will ask if that's what they usually do. I will have her travel cot and will put it next to our bed so she's not stuffed into a strange room on her own at night.

I believe she feeds herself - when we have gone round for dinner she's often feeding herself straight from her highchair and will find out if she has any allergies.

AngelDog - that's totally new to me regarding the changing of the nappy! I have changed nappies on my sister-in-laws twins but they are not confidently standing yet and always lie down. My GD is very confident on her feet so that might be one to ask!!!
I am taking her swimming at our local pool as she loves it (and I have done swimming with youngsters before) and they have a great kids pool area. Plus I'll have my mum with me!
I'm excited and daunted at the same time but I'm sure it will be a bit easier than I think it will!

Also any important 'jargon' - some children that age have words they use with particular meanings but which wouldn't be understood by someone other than the parents.

I'm sure it'll be fine. My DS would have been dreadful being left with someone else at that age, but then we'd never have suggested it, nor been remotely laid-back about the prospect!

Have fun. :)

Thank you, I will add jargon to my list of questions for her parents! She has recently started to really chatter a lot so I'm sure she will have much to say!!
She has stayed with other friends of theirs so its not a completely alien concept to her, just to me I suppose! Even my best friend wouldn't have let anyone else look after her daughter at that age but I suppose everyone is different and I imagine it can only be good for the child?
Thanks again for your help

Well I had nothing to worry about, the weekend went brilliantly and gd was a complete sweetheart. She slept through both nights until at least 6:30, only grumbled a couple of times (the nappy changing on her back was one and apparently she does that to her mum too!) but was mostly full of smiles and giggles. Can't wait to have her again later this year!!!
Thanks for your help and suggestions

I read your thread last week but didn't have anything to add to what the other posters had already said. I'm pleased that you both enjoyed your weekend - your gd sounds great, and you sound like a lovely godmother to have