Grandparents take parenting classes

>>> seems like every day there's a new study about the best ways to raise children. now even prospective grandparents can freshen up their skills when it comes to caring for newborns. we get the story from nbc's kevin tibbles.

>> are you going to wake up? come on, sweetie pie .

>> reporter: baby sophia is barely a week old and boy is ann loving her new role as a first-time grandma.

>> i just love to hold her.

>> reporter: it's been more than 30 years since ann 's own kids were born. and just weeks before baby sophia arrived, when ann 's son mark and his wife denise were still attending prenatal classes at seattle's swedish medical center , ann decided she might be in need of a refresher. so she went to grandparents school.

>> right up here, grandparent tips.

>> we know that some of the things we did 30 years ago, we can do a little bit better now.

>> reporter: the expectant grandparents are taught the new way to swaddle a baby.

>> this will come up over the shoulder.

>> reporter: and everything from nutrition to nap time.

>> when i raised children, the only thing we had was a dr. spock book.

>> reporter: things have definitely changed. no bumpers in the crib, no toys or mobiles either. and always lay baby on its back instead of the age-old practice of on its stomach. for mark and denise and sophia , presumably grandma's already getting an "a."

>> it's just way for her to kind of participate in the pregnancy.

>> she's been waiting for grandkids for a long time.

>> reporter: and now time to put her grand parent graduate degree to good use.

>> and then bring this piece up. from a dummy we practiced with in a class, and then to have this real live living little beauty.

>> reporter: while grandma ann learns the new fangled ways, denise 's father eric chang introduces the customs of his native taiwan and cooks for the new mom. and he also gets to serenade his new granddaughter.

>> reporter: anything to help the exhausted, overwhelmed and sleep-deprived new parents.

>> it's really nice to see them both have time with the baby, and enjoy getting to know her.

>> you're not going to be a doting grandmother, are you?

>> who, me?

>> reporter: of course she is.

>> there we go.

>> reporter: now she's also up to date on how to do it. kevin tibbles, nbc news, seattle.