When Can You Leave a Baby With a Sitter?

Leaving a new baby with a sitter for the first time is a big step for any mother. It's completely natural for both parent and infant to suffer from a little separation anxiety at first. Baby is ready for a sitter when her mother is, according to online resource Care.com. To make it easier for both of you, move at your own pace and only leave your baby with someone you know and trust.

  1. Feeding Issues

    • BabyCenter, the award-winning pregnancy and parenting website, advises breastfeeding mothers to wait until nursing is going well before leaving baby with somebody else. Generally, it takes around three to six weeks for both mother and baby to settle into a breastfeeding routine, although some can take longer. At this stage, the mother can express her milk with a breast pump and the sitter can feed the baby from a bottle. Pediatrician Susan E.C. Sorenson says a formula-fed baby can be left with a sitter whenever the mother feels comfortable doing so.

    Time for Mom

    • It's normal for a new mother to feel anxious about leaving her baby with a sitter, but some time for yourself is important during the first few months. According to MotherToBaby, the website of the non-profit Organization of Teratology Information Specialists, new mothers need to take some time for themselves to rest, recharge their batteries and reduce the risk of postpartum depression.

    Taking it Slowly

    • If leaving your baby with a sitter fills you with fear, make it a gradual process. Start by going to another room for a couple of hours and use this opportunity to have a long, relaxing bath, take a nap, read a book or watch a movie. As soon as you realize that your baby will be fine without you for a short time, you should feel more comfortable leaving the house. Work up to extended periods of time away from baby at your own pace.

    Safety Measures

    • Your baby should only be left with a responsible, trustworthy person. If you don't already know the sitter, ask for references and check them carefully. Ask her over to spend time with your baby while you are present, so you can watch how the sitter behaves with him. This also helps to prepare your baby for being left, says Care.com. Provide the sitter with a list of emergency contact numbers, including your cell phone number and phone numbers for your neighbors and pediatrician, and make sure she knows where all the baby equipment is stored.

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