Gentle Strategies to Prepare DS for My Return to Work?

[Whirlwind]

DS just turned 2. I have been a sahm his whole life. He'd never been away from both me and dh at the same time until a few months ago when we moved close enough to my parents to let them babysit for short periods. He adores them and will let us leave him with them without crying or signs of anxiety, though he will ask about us after we've been gone a while. He's happy to see us when we return, but not super emotional. Ds understands a lot but still doesn't talk too much. He still breastfeeds several times a day.

Now I am getting ready to go back to work for about 20 hours a week, starting in about 2 weeks. My parents will babysit ds, unless dh is home from work early or something.

Any tips, advice, recommendations on how to make this process as easy as possible on ds? The longest we've been apart is 3 hours or so and I will have at least some 6 hour days soon.

Sadly, dh has to go out of town the week I start. I imagine that won't help any separation anxiety.

I'd love to hear what's been helpful in other families.




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[mamacat]

It sounds like you have the best possible scenario.That 6 hr day does sound like a long one tho.would you get a long enough break to meet up with them on that day? Maybe have a couple of practice runs where you nurse him just before (if he wants)and then have him stay with parents and go for a longer stretch than usual and then nurse him as soon as you return(if he wants) so he has a sense of that. Does he still nap? Is he used to nursing at naptime? If that is the case would work out a nap time plan for your parents.Maybe a walk in the stroller if that puts him to sleep or a rock and cuddle.They often will be content and ok with a different form of comfort from someone else