So you are going to be leaving your child to go back to work or they are going to nursery. It can be a hard leaving them but you can’t be there for them all the time! It’s an anxious time but remember this is normal and something all parents go through. Can you remember your first day at school? I certainly remember that feeling when my mother was waving goodbye to me on my first day at school – it was fear! Reassurance is needed but you must be prepared to leave even though they are upset and crying, it’s an essential part of their development.
What you need to make sure is whoever you are leaving your child with is competent to look after them. If you are sending you child to nursery then take a tour and ask all the important questions. Search the nursery name online to see if there is anything regarding the nursery. If it is a baby sitter then check all references carefully, interview them and trust your judgment.
How to prepare your child to be left alone
You should be able to leave your child in the care of somebody else around 3 to 6 months. Leave the child with your mother or your partner’s mother. If you do this early on then leaving your child will be normal. This is what we did with both our kids and the two of them never blinked an eye when we left them at the nursery! At some time though they will cry when you leave them but the best thing to do is say your goodbye and leave quickly – they will be okay in a few minutes and if there is a problem then the nursery will phone you.
Ground rules for the person you are leaving your child with
Leaving ground rules is important but don’t come up with 101 different rules! Think about the most important things and write them down then go over them just before you leave. Go through your house and make sure everything is childproofed.
This is very important – make sure they have your mobile number and make sure they can phone you! Remember some people are still unable to use mobile phones!
Grandparents are usually lets say lenient with their grandkids but they still need to follow the rules. Be firm with them regarding this, if you don’t then it can lead to tension – I am saying this from personnel experience!
Have a dry run for leaving your child
Have a few dry runs for leaving your child before relying on it. Leave them for an hour go and come back and see how they cope. Don’t make a big deal of it all; just behave like you would on a normal day. Your child will pick up on your anxiety.
Nicola Sanders writes for a baby boy names site. It has plenty of of other baby releted information including Pregnancy, Baby Health and Breastfeeding Tips.