Babies forgetting after time away from a parent

[mrstrouble]

Hi Moms! I'm planning a trip with my LO when she'll be about 7 months. My DH can't come, and the trip will be either two months or one month (I'm considering cutting it short to one month). Has anybody done something similar? I'm worried that she realistically might forget her daddy, as she's probably too little to get much out of Skype. Thoughts?

 

[Larkspur]

My brother's kids have both had up to eight weeks away from him each year with his wife's family in another country and they have never forgotten him! Don't worry, it will be fine.

 

[AmyB1978]

I am stalking this.

Lo and I are going to visit my family at the end of June, she will have just turned 5 months. We are going for,3 weeks but DH can't come until the last week of it due to,his work. I am feeling,so,much guilt over taking her away from him for so long but I am currently a SAHM and I don't know how long we can afford for,me to,do so. My family lives across the country from us and being so far,away for them is hard, especially now that lo is,here, so I want to take the time to take a long trip now,while I am not working and can but I do,worry about lo and DH being separated for 2 weeks.

 

[bookworm0901]

LO did 1 week at 6 months old away and 2 weeks at 8 months old away from daddy. Neither time was a problem at all. I know it's shorter than you're asking but I think it will be fine!

The second trip at 8 mos for 2 weeks, I took LO to visit the in laws and he was extremely timid with them and all strangers. When we got home, he had a huge grin for daddy.

 

[MetalMaiden]

i went to my parents 1500 kms away for 6 weeks when LO was 6 weeks and we Face Time'd him a few times a week. I don't think they forget, i think its biologically ingrained in them that thats their daddy!

 

[mrstrouble]

Thanks, ladies!

 

[dgirllamius]

I took my lo away to my home country for 4 weeks without oh and she seemed to remember when I returned. she did seem a little frightened when he took her out the car though

 

[Hangin_On_AGS]

OH has been gone since LO was 3 weeks old and she still giggles when she sees the books daddy recorded for her on youtube.

 

[HopingFor2v1]

We are 2 months in to a 7 month separation (my husband is in the military and is currently deployed) and it makes me so sad to think she won't remember her daddy! Riley was just about 11 months old when he had to leave But, when we get to FaceTime, she usually smiles when she sees him and acts shy, so maybe she remembers him after all?

 

[Emmab87]

My oh works 4 weeks on and 1 week off at the moment, my lo is nearly 8 months and he doesn't forget, the look on his face when oh returns is priceless!! I don't think they forget xx

 

[AmyB1978]

We are 2 months in to a 7 month separation (my husband is in the military and is currently deployed) and it makes me so sad to think she won't remember her daddy! Riley was just about 11 months old when he had to leave But, when we get to FaceTime, she usually smiles when she sees him and acts shy, so maybe she remembers him after all?

to you and your family and a huge thank you and for what your entire family is sacrificing for our country.

 

[hubblybubbly]

Oh does a 4 week away, 4 week home rota...ish, sometimes 6 week and has done since willow was born, in the first few months apart from me you couldn't really distinguish who she knew...if it wasn't me she cried...at the 6-12 month age she was shy when he returned and a bit clingy for the first day or so but quickly warmed up to him and definitely knew who he was, and from a year she won't leave him alone the second he walks through the door...I'm forgotten about when he's home!

Things we do to make it easier, lots of daddy photos, we say good morning and goodnight each day, arrange FaceTime during bath time so he "gives" her a bath, record a few stories of him reading to play back, and mention him lots..."we're having toast for breakfast, I wonder what daddies having?"
X

 

[snowfia]

7 months is still only little. She might seem a bit unsure when she first sees him again but after not even a day probably she'll be fine again with him

Skype is a good idea. She can see his face and hear his voice etc