How To Know when a Baby Can Stay with a Sitter

Knowing when your baby can stay with a sitter depends upon many different factors and can be a difficult decision for some parents.  Whether you are getting ready to go back to work, have a special occasion coming up that you do not want to miss or you and your special someone want to start going out on regular dates you may be wondering if your baby is ready to stay with a sitter.  Here are a few tips to help you know when your baby is ready to stay with a sitter.

First you will want to consider if your baby has any special health problems that would prevent a normal sitter from being able to take care of him or her.  While most sitters are very responsible if your baby has special problems that require a lot of attention or special instruction then perhaps it is better to wait until you are able to educate a sitter on how to do it properly or until your baby is in better health.

Next you need to consider your baby's eating habits.  For babies who drink formula you may have an easier time being able to leave them with a sitter. For those moms who breastfeed you may have to alter your plans or wait until your baby goes longer periods of time without feeding.  You still have the option of investing in a breast pump and leaving some expressed milk with the sitter, but it is very important for both the new mom and baby during the first few weeks to get into a normal feeding pattern.  If your baby takes the bottle easily from other people then you should do okay leaving her with a sitter.

You will also want to consider how your baby reacts to the sitter.  Once babies reach a certain age they may go through different phases where they cling to one parent or the other.  They will go through anxiety and scream and cry if someone else who is new and different to them is around. To determine if your baby is ready to sit with the sitter of your choice first have the sitter come over and watch how your baby reacts to them.  Watch from another room. 

If your baby gets fussy when she notices you have left, comfort her for a few more minutes and then try again. This process may take a while, especially for fussier babies, but once it has been practiced enough it will help your baby get used to her new sitter and you will feel more comfortable about being able to leave her.

Finally, make sure that you are ready!  Your baby can sense if you are nervous or apprehensive.  Be sure to pick someone you really trust and start out small, such as for an hour or so. This makes the whole process easier for you and your baby.