Seperation anxiety (staying with the grandparents)

[Kingpin]

Hi all. Just wanted to air a slight problem me and the wife are facing at the moment and wondered if anyone had some thoughts or advice.

Milo is coming up to 11 months old now. He’s awesome – crawling, smiling, laughing, almost standing, walking aided and generally a bundle of fun and joy. Basically because my wife has been off work since our little guy was born, and because the mother-in-law is retired, my son has spent a lot more time with her than he has with my parents (the wife and mother in law go out and do a lot of things together with Milo). We are now on the brink of my wife going back to work part time and are luckily enough to have two sets of grandparents to help out. The issue we have at the mo is that my son has no problem seeing and staying with the mother in law for a few hours, but as soon as he is left with my parents he gets hysterical, doesn’t want to be left and cries the whole time (which is breaking my heart!) Obviously this is because he has spent more of the last 10 months with my wife’s mum, so there is more of a bond. I’m thinking of ways to make this easier as my wife is very anxious about it all. We both take him over to my folks a lot more now to get him used to them. They play with him and he generally smiles and laughs, but as soon as either my wife or I are out of sight he cries.

I just wondered if any of the good people at B&B had similar experiences and any advice? I hope you’re all well.

 

[keeks1987]

I don't, sorry, but i didn't want to r&r

 

[BabyJayne]

He will be fine. Lots of LOs at that age go to nurseries, where they are looked after by people they have never even met before - so while it might take him a bit longer to settle there, he will do.

Maybe leave him for an hour or so a few times before you do it for real. Babies are funny little things, and can dislike someone or something one day, and love them the next. Try not to show that you are anxious about leaving him too - as he will pick up on this. x

 

[clarebear2010]

We are going through exactly the same thing right now. I'm just sending him there regularly and it is getting better. The way I see it is I don't really have a lot of choice so have started leaving him 6 weeks before actually going back to work so I won't be as worried. I'm sure it won't be long until he doesn't want to come home as he's having too much fun lol