How do I make leaving ds at MIL's easier for him?

[ShinyMoonInAPurpleSky]

I'm due to go back to work in July and ds will be looked after by MIL for a couple of days a week, now I have no worries as to her ability to look after him but I'm starting to worry about how he will cope without me!

MIL's house can be very noisy when her dcs are at home and ds tends to get very upset at the level of noise. I've also noticed that he has started to cry and panic if I leave the room/he can't see me and he does this even when we are at home.

Now I know he will get used to both the noise and getting through the day without me, but my question is how to I settle him in best?

Do I just wait until I'm going back to work, enjoy having him to myself all day until then and let him go "cold turkey" as it were or should I make plans to ease him into being at MIL's house alone for maybe a half day at first, then a full day etc? Will that be easier for him or won't it make any difference?

You can help him by going to your MIL's house with him before you start work.
Go a few times, as many as you can manage really.
Spend time with him there. He will get used to your MIL, the atmosphere, the noise level etc while still with the security of being with you.
Then when it comes to leaving him there alone, it will be far less scary as he will already be accustomed to the people and the place.

It would certainly help him as well to be left for an hour or so, or half a day, before you start work again full time. Then he will learn that you are going back to get him. His biggest concern will be that you have abandoned him. Being left for an hour or so before being collected will reassure him that you will go back for him.

There will inevitably be tears (probably yours as well as his!!) but the transition doesn't need to be too stressful.

HTH

what RuthChan said -building up gently has to be the way to go
how old is your DS - if he is 8-9 months that is typical seperation anxiety time whatever you do

He will be very nearly 1 when I go to work so yes it seems separation anxiety is the order of the day - I just never expected it to include me walking into the next room being a problem

Thank you for the advice, I'll start getting to MIL's a couple of times a week then and hopefully by the time I'm back at work he'll be much more used to the noise and the surroundings without me being there too (well he better be with the summer holidays around the corner eeek!)

Walking two feet away being a problem is normal, never mind going into the next room!
Don't worry, he'll be fine. Just take it slowly and give him time to get used to everything. The more time he has to get to know your MIL and to learn to trust her as a carer the easier it will be.
Good luck!