[mommy2julia]

Aug 11th I have to leave my dd over night for the 1st time. Then the following weekend another night. It is becuase my DH is the best man for a wedding and there is jsut alot going on that we have to be a part of -my mother will watch her and she will cosleep and have breastmilk in her sippy (if i can get any this week). I will drop her off around 2 or 3pm on Aug 11th and pick her up first thing in the AM on Aug 12th. It is just better for her to sleep over my mothers.. anyway..the following weekend is the wedding and she will be with her that night too.
My question is, how was the first night away from your breastfed, cosleeping toddler.. .I know my mom can get Julia to sleep by rocking and singing -and I know that my mom will do everything she can to take care of her in teh night when/if she awakens.. DD is 18months old and very independent, I dont think she'll really mind me being away..just at night..I'm so nervous..

 

[cheeseRjedi]

Well, I know I'm in the minority here, but my dd spends one or two nights a month away from us (with MIL). Her first night away, she was 5 months old and she did great. I sent 12 oz. of EBM and she went through 10 of it - she was away from me for 20 hours total. They said she was kind of upset at first but was fine within 20 minutes of me leaving. She went to bed at 8 and didn't stir until 7am

. Apparently, she sleeps through the night up there (which causes MIL to keep suggesting to me to move dd into her own bed

.

My suggestion is to sleep with a little blankie or something for a few nights so it smells like you and have your mom give it to your dd at bedtime.

 

[AEZMama]

We left ds for the first time for 4 days with his godmother. We missed him more than he missed us! She spoiled & played for 4 days and was chomping at the bit to do it, not to mention we know that she is one of a handful that we'd ever leave him with.

I was unable to bf, so that was a non-issue for us. Ds' godmother was more than happy to have him in the bed with her, but we have a crib next to the bed if she chose that, too, and she could sidecar with him. She did both!

I think your dd will be fine-it's going to be worse for you, definitely since you know everything that's going on. Just hang in there-you'll all be fine.

 

[Ellp]

Dd just turned 18 mo today and I had to leave her 3 weeks ago at my folks place for a week. That was basically her first time overnight away from home.

I was sick (my Dr. figures it was Mono) and had a temp of 104F for a few days. I was so sick there was no way I could've cared for a toddler, even one as easy going as Dd. My folks took her in. Dd was Bf about 2-3 times a day, but it was mostly for comfort not food. Well, she did fantastic at their place. My folks and her have a great relationship, and although Dd did ask a couple of times for Dh and me, she wasn't fazed at all when my mom distracted her. Dd didn't even ask to Bf during the whole time! I ended up weaning her when she got back, and although I do kinda miss the closeness, I think it was time anyways as Dd didn't ask even when she was home.

Dd is co-sleeping too, and my mom just slept with her, and basically does the same kind of parenting Dh and I do. We do have some issues with food, eg. she'll give Dd popsicles and a cookie or two, which I don't agree on, but I'm not going to make a fuss over it, if its only occasional.

So in the end it depends on your kid. Selfishly, even though I was sick, I enjoyed my freedom, and vegged out in front of the TV and ate when I felt like it.

 

[RubyV]

My 2 1/2 yo will do an overnight once every few months. She loves it, I think we missed her more than she missed us.

My MIL will sleep with her, and they have all sorts of "special activities" like special books, early morning playground trips, etc.

We usually leave her favorite books, her stuffed dog, and call her while we are out. I''l nurse her before leaving, and nurse her as soon as I pick her up.

She has been known to try to latch on to MIL in her sleep though.