When did you use your first babysitter?
By cjfoust
@cjfoust (614)
United States
September 17, 2009 7:37pm CST
My husband and I are expecting our first child in January. I know that is still months away, but I have been wondering about certain things. How old was your baby when you first left him or her alone with someone else, including a family member or close friend? I feel like I will have a hard time letting go when that time comes for my first trip without the baby. How did you adjust? Was it hard or was it easy? Who did you leave the child with? How long were you gone?
3 responses
@mneff2003 (14)
• United States
23 Sep 09
Start by going to dinner with your husband and going right back to your child, until you get used to it. Leave them with a family member at your house until you find someone you trust 100%. I would wait until the baby is a couple months old, some people do it right away but its when you feel comfortable. You can always start by leaving the baby with your husband while you go to the gym or the grocery store and that will help you get used to it. Its going to be hard the first time then it will get easier until they get to the age when they cry everytime you leave them. Thats when you will cry half way to wherever your going and they only cry until your out of sight.
@austensawyer (29)
• United States
18 Sep 09
there is no right time. it depends on what you're comfortable with. for my first son, i was a single mom and in school, so i had to leave him with a babysitter after four weeks. did i feel anxious? absolutely. but i couldn't take the kid to class with me, so i had to do it. really, you have to trust your judgement and your instincts. with my second son, there isn't a need to leave him with anyone. we've been hanging out in the house since he was born (two weeks ago today!) and i imagine it will probably be a few weeks until i'm ready to leave him alone with anyone.
@revellanotvanella (4033)
• United States
18 Sep 09
My mother in law is my babysitter and she has been since they were infants and we started by short visits and now my 5 year old stays over their one week out of the month and it helps me rest up. My 3 year old is mommys girl so we have bonding time since she is the baby and it works out. I am so thankful i have her because I have NEVER had them over a babysitter and I am just very scared of that and when I almost had to put them in daycare when my first was only 2 was absolutely nerve wrecking! I feel so priviledged though that my kids have been raised like I remember being growing up and I think they would be very different if they grew up in daycare, I understand everyone has different situations but I just think my kids love having that one on one time.
