For those of us fortunate enough to have grandparents close by, chances are good that they are the primary – if not the only – babysitters entrusted with your precious little ones. Even those who live farther away are likely to be called in for the occasional overnight duties.

Taking a few extra steps to make sure both the grandparents and the children are comfortable will go a long way in making it a good experience for everyone.

• Send them to a baby care class. For new grandparents, a refresher course on caring for infants may be appropriate.
• Provide a detailed schedule. Children – particularly younger children – will adjust better if all of the things that are familiar and comfortable remain the same.
• Make them aware of all safety concerns. Whether its food/medication allergies or a particular child's keen interest in climbing, the more information you provide the less likely there will be problems.
• Provide clear contact information. In addition to important phone numbers (cell phone, pediatrician, dentist, a neighbor or friend) be sure to provide instructions about when you should be contacted. For example, "Call me if he cries for more than 20 minutes."
• Provide general guidelines regarding discipline. Explain some of the typical behavior or discipline issues they're likely to face and how you handle them.
• Leave mementos for the kids. Particularly if you will be gone for several days, leave a photo book or record yourself reading a favorite book or singing a bedtime song.
• Allow them to focus their energy on the kids. Prepare dinner in advance, don't ask them to do household chores and encourage them to relax once the kids are in bed.

Being well-prepared and providing plenty of detail about the child's routine is critical, particularly with infants and toddlers. The longer you will be gone, the more information and preparation the grandparents will need.

In short, do what you can to make things go smoothly. You're not in charge for a blessed few hours – or if you're really lucky, days – and all parents need that now and then.