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Parenting

Nervous to leave 11 month old at night with nanny!

6 replies

Ash80 · 02/08/2007 20:04

Hi, i just wanted your opinions regarding this: My husband and I have not had alone time since our darling 11 month ds was born.We are currently living in Dubai, and would like to go out once in a while at nights. I am very nervous about leaving our ds with a stranger at night.What if he wakes and is not comforted by her and goes hysterical!! or am just being over anxious. He normally wakes once or twice,and we usually go in quitely and pat or turn him onto his side and he goes back to sleep.

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moondog · 02/08/2007 20:05

He'll be fine.
Go out and enjoy yourselves.

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yogimum · 02/08/2007 20:32

I only leave my ds 12months with my mother in law. However I would leave him with a babysitter if I knew her well and ds was comfortable with her too. I couldn't have someone that he didn't know as he is a bit funny with strangers.

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lilolilmanchester · 02/08/2007 22:58

My DS was about 11 months the first time we left him. First time we went out just for an hour, to a pub round the corner and one of my neighbours sat (didn't enjoy myself very much, was so anxious). Second time we went for a bit longer, and another neighbour sat (enjoyed myself a lot more that time!). Made me feel better about leaving him knowing we weren't very far away, weren't out very long, he never woke up once asleep, and the neighbours were both experienced Mums. Totally natural to feel nervous. As he's used to you just going in and patting/turning him on his side if he does wake, do you think he would realise it wasn't you if he did happen to wake up and the sitter did the same thing? Try a short trip out, take a phone with you so you know you can be reached if needed and over time you will get more relaxed about leaving him. Would it be possible to find a sitter who could spend some time with him while he's awake and you're there, so they can get to know each other a bit?

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Ash80 · 03/08/2007 08:46

I will try that thank you lilolimanchester.

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mm22bys · 03/08/2007 09:41

We waited a similar time before going out at night after DS1 was born. With DS2 we only waited about 10 days!

He should be fine, but what's the worst that can happen? He could cry inconsolably for a while, and if the babysitter can't handle it, she will ring you and you will have to come back early.

I would go, just relax and enjoy yourself (since having DS2 we have tried to go out, but we now seem to get a different babysitter everytime - it must be a lot harder looking after two!)

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mm22bys · 03/08/2007 09:43

Oh I should have said - DS1 has always been great with "strangers" (he's now 3.3) and we get sitters from a specialist agency, and even if the sitter doesn't seem to be great with DH or me, they are always fantastic with DS1 (DS2 is too young to really miss us, unless he is hungry, but that's what bottles are for!)

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