“I come from a big Greek family where grandparents were an important part of children's lives, but my children's rules and boundaries are so strict that I feel as if I'm on the sidelines. I want to be a part of my grandchildren's lives! What can I do to play a bigger role?” ~YiaYia Maria
Welcome to the first installment of Grand Advice, where we answer questions from real grandparents.

As excited as they may be, grandparents should not assume they are welcome at the birth of their grandchild. Grandparents who are hoping to be present for their grandchild’s birth must first find out if parents want them there. Read on to find out what to do if you are invited to witness your grandchild’s birth, and what to do if you are not.

Those toys you’ve been saving may have hidden hazards. Discover essential toy safety tips and get our toy safety checklist. Learn about old toy hazards, age range recommendations, and new toy safety guides for gifts for your grandchildren. Keep your grandchildren safe when you choose toys!

Grandparents can play a crucial role in helping parents plan for the fourth trimester. Discover the importance of postpartum planning and the areas that can be made less stressful with a solid plan. Learn about feeding strategies, sleep solutions, mental health awareness, and more for new parents in the postpartum weeks.

One of the things that most grandparents look forward to is being an active part of their grandchild’s life, and being a long-distance grandparent makes that far more difficult. Thanks to technology, , it’s not impossible to connect with your grandchildren on a regular basis. Check out our favorite products that help you be a part of your grandchild’s daily life.

The start of a new school year is always exciting for our grandchildren, especially if this is their first year of preschool or kindergarten. As grandparents, we have the opportunity to make this time of year a touchpoint for connection. Read on for ways to celebrate with them while building a stronger bond.

What’s the biggest mistake a new grandmother can make? Donne Davis, founder of the GaGa Sisterhood, shares it with us in this post, along with her L.O.V.E formula for building a loving bond with your grandchild’s parents. If you are a new or expectant grandparent, you’ll want to read on to make sure you avoid this common grandparenting mistake.

If your grandchild’s parents have been serving cookies with dinner or asking you to stop commenting on how picky Junior is, this post is for you. Food neutrality is a hot topic among parents, who are trying to break the generational cycle of disordered eating. Learn about what food neutrality, disordered eating, and why your grandchildren may be able to have a healthier relationship with food than past generations.

Every visit from the grandchildren teaches me just a little bit more about how to prepare for the next one. In this post, I share three things I learned after they spent four days at our house. Read on for wisdom you might be able to use when your grandchildren visit your house. There’s a lot you can do in advance to make visits from your grandchildren go smoothly!

More than anything else, new parents need a supportive village. Grandparents are a natural source of emotional support, practical assistance, and wisdom that can uplift and strengthen exhausted parents. The key is to approach the grandparent-parent relationship with love, understanding, and effective communication. Find out how to foster positive intergenerational relationships to become an essential part of your grandchild's village.

Are you a grandparent who uses guilt trips to get your way? Discover the destructive power of guilt manipulation in grandparent-parent relationships and learn how to break free from this cycle. Explore signs of guilt trips, the reasons behind them, and effective strategies to foster a healthier dynamic. Build stronger family connections with understanding, respect, and open dialogue.

How can grandparents get involved in the process of finding a doula to join the new family support team? Sheryl Cooksley of Family Tree Doula Services explains the emotional, physical, and instructional support that doulas can provide to new parents. It’s valuable information for any grandparent who wants to support new parents but can’t be there in person.