help for a nanny!

[weathergirl]

i am currently a nanny/ sitter for a family that does the family bed. i am not a mother myself so forgive me if i dont have the terminology right. but basically, the 5 month old is so attached to his mother! i have never seen a baby that attached. and i am searching for some advice for me to soothe him. he is exclusively breastfed (which i think is awesome) so i cant feed him. he doesnt take a pacifier or anything like that. literally all he wants is his mother. and i feel so bad for him because he just cries and cries and cries and is inconsolable. and i feel bad for his mom because she feels guilty for taking 2 hours to herself because he cries so much. its not fair to expect her never to go anywhere or get a break so i try to tell her not to feel guilty. but i am of course honest with her when she asks me how the baby did and i tell her when he cries a lot because i dont want to hide anything from her. today he was a little better, as long as i held him the whole time he was ok. and the mom upped my hours from one day a week to two. she isnt necessarily gone that whole time, i am more like an extra set of hands for her. but hopefully he will get a little more used to me. anyways, any suggestions for ways to soothe him when his mom is away? that doesnt involve a boob or a pacifier??? lol

[rinap]

Talk to the parents to see if they have ideas.

If holding him works, that's a good step. You might also try bouncing him, or taking him for a walk in a carrier or stroller. Baths, if he likes those? Singing?

Gradually he will get more used to you, and that may help too.

[parsley]

I would recommend a wrap style baby carrier as a way to help the babe feel secure.  And perhaps talk with the mom abt a pacifier.