Not very grand as stand-in parents
LEAVING children with the grandparents could turn them into pudgy smokers as adults with an increased risk of cancer, says a study
They are over-indulged with cakes, biscuits and sweets and allowed to play video games or watch TV instead of running about outside, warn scientists.
Grandparents also tend to smoke in front of them, exposing them to secondhand fumes and making them more likely to pick up the habit as they get older.
Dr Stephanie Chambers, of the Glasgow University team, said: “Parents often find it difficult to discuss passive smoking and overtreating grandchildren.
“As parents rely on grandparents for care, the mixed messages children might be getting is a discussion that needs to be had.”