Are Baby Boomers the Best Grandparents or the Worst?

Few milestones in life are more exciting than becoming a grandparent. The generation born between 1946 and 1964, also known as Baby Boomers, has received a lot of negative attention as Generation X and Millennial parents expressed their discontent about their parents' absence as they start to raise kids of their own. One mom of four even shared why she believes Baby Boomers make the worst grandparents, explaining how this generation demanded to become grandparents and then disappeared when their kids needed help.

While certainly you can't assume the intentions of an entire generation based on the stories of a few, we know that every parent and grandparent's experience may be a bit different. Considering how many have already shared their frustration with the level of involvement of their Baby Boomer parents, we're sharing some of the positive traits this generation brings to grandparenting.

Considering Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964, as of 2025, this generation includes anyone between the ages of 61 and 79. According to a 2015 study by the Pew Research Center, 83% of Americans over 65 have grandchildren.

The same study from the Pew Research Center found that about 7 million grandparents claimed they were living with a grandchild. Although this study was from 2013, that number was up from 5.8 million grandparents living with their grandchild in 2000.

Even though millions of Boomer grandparents are living with a grandchild, the majority don't have childcare as a consistent responsibility. One survey discovered that out of the U.S. grandparents who do help with childcare, 72% said they only help out occasionally.

On the other hand, a 2023 Harris Poll showed that grandmothers are helping to raise their grandchildren in many cases. 42% of working parents rely on grandmothers for child care, according to the poll.

Every family has different needs when it comes to support and raising children. Some grandparents live far from their grandchildren, and others live in multi-generational households with their grandchildren. What works best for one family isn't necessarily what works best for another, but here are some of the things we love about Baby Boomer grandparents.

Baby Boomers are pretty tech-savvy, as far as generations go, but no matter what their experience with technology is, they're willing to adapt to stay connected with their grandkids. We've seen adorable scenes of this on shows like Bluey, when Nana learns how to video chat with Bluey and Bingo.

Baby Boomers focus a lot on accomplishments. Although this can often be construed as a negative thing, it also means they cheer on their grandkids and will always be there to celebrate them. Whether it's in the audience at a play or in the stands at an athletic game, they're often the best cheerleaders.

Many Millennial parents complain about Baby Boomer grandparents spoiling their kids. Grandparents should indeed respect the boundaries of the parent, but the intention is often good. Baby Boomer grandparents love to see their grandkids happy.

Especially when it comes to their first grandchild, grandparents have a lot of parenting wisdom they can share with their kids. But it doesn't stop there. Many grandparents have a unique bond with their grandchildren, and this provides grandparents with an opportunity to impart wisdom on their grandkids as they get older as well.

Baby Boomers grew up in a very different time, and their experiences were vastly different from the kids growing up today. The resilience they developed throughout their childhood and early adulthood is something they can pass on to their grandchildren.

From playing an important role in raising future generations to helping their own children become confident in their parenting skills, being a grandparent is an important role. A strong bond between the grandparent and grandchild has a positive impact on both parties. By far, it's one of the most important relationships in the world.