How to cope with leaving children for long weekend...?

Question

My husband and I are taking a well earned break in August but are leaving our children in the care of grandparents. The two older ones will be fine but our 19 month old is very clingy to me especially at night. Any tips on how to help her cope? We have left her before but not for as long ( 4 nights) and she is older now and very clingy at the moment.

Answer 1

Children sometimes change their behavior when they are in a different environment and the parents are not around. They will learn to cope somehow by either sleeping with your parents or one of the other kids. I would warn them ahead of time that she feels secure with an adult (especially you) around so they may have to make concessions during your stay. After all, it is only for 4 nights.

My daughter has always co-slept with us and made quite an easy transition to co-sleeping with grandma and grandpa a few nights while we were away (she is 3 now).

Answer 2

Start now with getting your husband to put her to bed and deal with her demands.

Start off slow like get him to give her her dinner or bath and then slowly move into him doing her whole night routine.

Also if you have a family member over get them to help out to. I felt guilty asking my family to do it but once I exeplained it they were fine with it. Maybe have whoever is looking after her when your gone to help out a little more just say to them you want to make it easier on them, your daughter and you while your gone.

Answer 3

tell her you are going awya, so its not such a shock when you just go.

over the next month make her more independent and get her closer to her grandparents, this will ease the pressures on both her and you!

Answer 4

Just prepare her as best you can. Let her help you pack her bag before you go. Let her pack her favourite pyjamas, her favourite bedtime toy, dummie or blankie. Send her off with a little family picture in her bag so that when she misses you, nanna or pop can pull it out to show her and explain that you are comig back. You may want to call a couple of times while you are away to talk to her. Thats about all you can do. The most important thing is that she'll be in good hands so you shouldn't feel guilty for taking a well earned break. Hope this helps.