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How do you prepare your little ones for being away from you? Tell us for a chance to win one of TWO Owl Babies bundles, including copies of the book plus Ollie the Owl Sound and Light Gro Friend

117 replies

SorchaMumsnet · 08/09/2017 12:52

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the beloved Owl Babies with the board book and paperback editions of this bestselling bedtime classic, which continues to comfort young readers the world over!

“I want my mummy!” said Bill.

On a tree in the woods, three baby owls, Sarah and Percy and Bill, sit and think and wait for their Owl Mother to come HOME.

We have two Owl Babies 25th anniversary bundles to give away - including copies of the book in paperback and board book, plus a gorgeous Ollie the Owl from the Gro Company - the brand new sound and light sleep aid with built in CrySensor to help your little one sleep soundly under Ollie’s wing.

For your chance to win an Owl Babies bundle, just share your top tips for preparing your little ones for being away from you.

Buy the board book and paperback from Amazon

This discussion is sponsored by Walker Books and will end on 6 October

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How do you prepare your little ones for being away from you? Tell us for a chance to win one of TWO Owl Babies bundles, including copies of the book plus Ollie the Owl Sound and Light Gro Friend
OP posts:
Smellophant87 · 21/09/2017 21:21

Towards the end of my mat leave I used to leave him for gradually longer periods with the people who were going to look after him when I went back to work.

dannydog1 · 24/09/2017 14:20

Just getting her gradually used to longer periods away, from a couple of hours to a day.She loves books so stories on that theme really helped

ivytable · 25/09/2017 13:50

Tell them I am going when I’ll be back and also leave some new toys, books, magazines with whoever is looking after them to distract them. Seems to work

asuwere · 25/09/2017 14:09

I guess I'm lucky that none of my DC have been too bothered about being away from me; it's me that struggles more with saying by bye!

revelsandrose · 25/09/2017 14:15

My older dcs are allowed to take their mobile phone or iPad with them when they stay at their nans and they are allowed to message and video chat whenever they want to. I also explain where I am going and what time they will be collected.

My youngest dc is 6 months old and has stayed out once. I packed a comforter that I'd stuffed down my t shirt for a bit so smelled of me, his night light and favourite lullabies and teddy.

Namethecat · 25/09/2017 17:47

Make the occasion about them and not you. " Because your spending the night looking after Nanny & Grandad as your a big boy you can choose which clothes,book,toy to show them ". And when you come back we can do such and such. Works everytime !

hiimnew · 25/09/2017 18:23

I think it's easier if short periods of separation are introduced from a very young age, working up to overnight and when they are toddlers keep it regular and varied enough so that it's not such a shock to the system (for both of us!) each time. Since DS was a few weeks old I started to leave him with grandparents for the evening once a fortnight or so. Now he is 17 months and DH and I have even managed a couple of short weekends away (from when he was 10 months) which have been a nice break. I think the strong bond he has developed with grandparents means he still feels very secure with them. We both work FT and he has settled well at nursery and with grandparents. He doesn't mind being dropped of in familiar surroundings (we do sometimes get minor separation anxiety - not a cry as such but a half-hearted whimper when we leave him on a Monday morning after the weekend but by Tuesday he is fine) and is overjoyed when we pick him up each evening! His nursery have lots of 'family photos' on the walls, as we do at home, and DS loves looking at them!

Serafinaaa · 25/09/2017 19:21

I make the environment as similar as possible at night. Black out blinds, same toys, same routine. I keep goodbyes short and sweet!

Summerdays2014 · 25/09/2017 20:25

I Always say 'bye' - don't just sneak out, and explain when I will be back and what he will be doing/who how will be with when I'm gone.

Threenme · 25/09/2017 23:45

They don't care! I am unvalued and unloved!Sad

NerrSnerr · 26/09/2017 07:30

My daughter had never been away from me until I was pregnant with number 2 and had hospital admissions. We Skyped before she went to bed and she went shopping with my husband to buy me a couple of presents. My husband works away a lot and she misses him. We Skype him a lot and look out for airplanes he might be on!

insancerre · 26/09/2017 07:34

Be very matter of fact about it and don't talk about it endlessly
Be very positive and don't linger over goodbyes
Expect tears, its perfectly normal

ErinSophia · 26/09/2017 12:42

I invite my daughters friends and family round to spend time with them and say yes to as many party and sleepover invites as I can, that way my children know sometimes they won't be with me and will feel more comfortable away from me. I always tell my daughters in advance if I'm not going to be there so they know what to expect and have a routine.

Sillysausage123 · 26/09/2017 20:43

I always emphasise that I will only be doing boring jobs all day and they will have a much better time doing whatever they are doing rather than stuck with me all day

xcxcsophiexcxc · 26/09/2017 21:09

I honestly act like nothing's difference , I usually say my goodbye a little before I actually leave the room , my sons not really old enough to care yet ! He doesn't realise im gone at all!

Potsie · 26/09/2017 22:58

I explain to her when I will be back, how much fun she is going to have and say how I can't wait to hear all about her adventure. I also give her my scarf to wear, as she loves the colours abs it reminds her off me

GruffaloPants · 26/09/2017 23:31

My older one understands about occasional overnights for work, but doesn't like it! When she was a preschooler the main thing was making sure she was keeping to her routine and getting lots of hugs with Daddy. I used to read her Owl Babies and it definitely helped!

The toddler has been fine so far, I always tell her where I'm going and when I'll be back, but she's always with Daddy or grandparents so is quite happy.

Davenotdave · 27/09/2017 11:25

Telling them how much fun they'll have at nanas. They have different toys and games there to play with so it's fun.

Blizy · 27/09/2017 12:29

I explain to him that I will be away to work whilst he has lots of fun in nursery and that I will see him at dinner time for lots of hugs. I always say goody bye with a hug, kiss "see you soon and I love you"

PastryOnMyMind · 27/09/2017 16:49

my DD is 15 months old and has just started Nursery, only for one day which will gradually be upped to three days a week. but the same applies for when she's visiting her grandparents
I make sure that before she goes she has my full attention, lots of cuddles and breastfeed when she likes, when we're cuddling we cuddle her soft toy as well so she associates it with the cuddles (I'm soft, pfb Grin)
get her really excited to be seeing whoever and pretend I'm excited too, then when leaving her I just tell her mummy will be back later and give her a kiss on her head

hayls83 · 27/09/2017 20:43

I talk to my youngest son who has only slept out a handful of times at grandmas house that he will be staying at grandmas but he will see me again very soon. I always call whilst he is there and he takes a blanket from home as a comforter.

robyn297 · 27/09/2017 22:32

I usually give her something of mine and ask her to look after it for me until I get back to fetch her. At the moment she likes looking after my scarf, she can cuddle up with it when she misses me.

Ttbb · 27/09/2017 23:36

I talk about all the positives of where he is going and who he is going to see so that he gets too excited to be upset when I leave.

ohlittlepea · 28/09/2017 06:58

I work shifts so have to prepare my daughter for this a lot. We actually use Owl Babies and other stories like ' Oh my baby little one'. We talk about missing one another and what sort of things to do when you're sad. We also talk about what we will do when we next have time together. Lots of hugs too!

naomi83mother · 28/09/2017 17:19

Big cuddles and explaining where I am going and when I will be picking up. Also mentioning something fun we are going to do later. Oh and always being really enthusiastic about where I am leaving the child: 'wow your going to have sooooo much fun!'etc.