When you’ve spent every waking moment looking after your baby since the day they were born, leaving them with someone else for the first time can give you palpitations.
However, you can’t spend your whole life in their presence, so you’re going to have to make the break at some stage. Here are some tips on how to do it:
- If you’re worried about whether or not you’re leaving your baby too soon, talk to friends about when they first left their baby with someone else. Knowing what other people are doing will help you make your own decision.
- Ease your baby into not having you around. Start with short intervals of fifteen minutes. When this is no longer a big deal to them, try longer periods of time.
- Leave them with someone they already know, who you trust completely, like your partner or your mum. Leaving them with a sitter for the first time will only give you more to worry about, and they probably won’t react too well.
- Make a quick exit. If you linger around, they might sense your apprehension and get worked up. Long goodbyes are never good.
- Make sure they are fed and watered before you leave – by covering all the basics your little one has less to cry about.
- Have whoever is minding your baby do it in your home. This way their routine won’t be upset, and they won’t be confused about the change of scenery. Also, you won’t have to pack a bag – which is always a bonus.
- Write down everything the person minding your baby needs to know, such as what time they get fed and go for a nap. It’ll help rest your mind, as well as your babysitter’s.
- Leave them with something that smells like you to snuggle up to, like a t-shirt or jumper. This will help to comfort your little one.
- Ask whoever is minding your little one to keep you updated. Anything to help keep your imagination from running away with itself, is worth doing.
- Don’t feel guilty – every mum needs some me time. You’re doing yourself and your baby a favour by looking after yourself, so enjoy it. Everything will be fine.
