Childcare guilt

[Toklastennis]

Not sure if this is the right place to post, but ds will be 5.5 months when I go back to work part time in feb. We need the money and I need the brain food. We have a wonderful childminder sorted and are doing settling in days. Ds currently lasts 40 mins without me before he starts to scream inconsolably. Cheers up as soon as I pick him up.

So I have a few weeks to get him ready for this - into a routine, able to be left. I am consumed with guilt and feel so selfish for doing this. He is also a terrible sleeper and I feel he's worse on the childminder days. I feel so dreadful - is there any way I can make this easier?

5.5mths is young, but that's not all bad - he won't be going through the separation anxiety thing until he's been settled with the childminder for ages, so you might duck under that one nicely.

Remember, too, that a lot will change between now and Feb - that's a long time for a small person! He must be 4mths now, then? At 4mths I couldn't leave mine, even with family members he knew v v well, for more than an hour or so without him getting upset, but by 5.5mths he was regularly ok for much longer periods. He will take a while to get to know the cm, too, how lovely you're doing such a lengthy introduction process.

Please don't feel selfish. You're not.

Thanks likely. I guess he will change a lot over the next few weeks. I will wait to see what happens ...!

I'm amazed at how quickly they adjust to things. My DD was 11 weeks when she first went to nursery. I had to go back to work 1 day per week for various reasons. Consequently she loves nursery now (9mo).

But there are plenty of things she has disliked at first but a few weeks later, positively loves them. Going in the buggy, being left with her auntie / grandma, etc etc. Things change so quickly that as soon as I think something is 'normal', it changes once again.

He will be fine and you will feel saner!