The younger your baby is, the more impossible going away overnight may seem. You may desperately feel the need for a break, but at the same time, leaving your baby with someone else overnight can be anxiety-inducing. While you should know the babysitter well before entrusting your infant’s care to theirs (like if they’re a family member or close friend), that doesn’t mean your baby won’t have trouble adjusting to a new caretaker and a stranger environment without mom and dad.
You may be wondering if there’s a better age to leave your baby for overnight sleepovers. Below, we look at the factors to consider, so you can make a decision that’s right for your family.
The Best Age For Baby Sleepovers
There’s no specific age that babies are recommended to start having overnight sleepovers. But your baby’s needs tend to be higher when they’re younger, making sleepovers trickier.
It’s important to evaluate your baby’s needs when deciding if they’re ready. For example, if your baby is newborn or is still breastfeeding regularly, leaving them with a sitter for so long is going to be an additional challenge. It’s not impossible, but it means you need to think ahead about how all your baby’s needs will be met.
Parents explains that the “overnighter sweet spot” is between 4 and 9 months old. At this point, breast-fed babies are likely being nursed less or are starting to wean off the boob. The baby also doesn’t wake up as much at night and is more comfortable in their environment.
But Don’t Wait Too Long
Waiting too long to get your baby used to overnight sleepovers can actually do you a disservice. Separation anxiety tends to become stronger when a baby is between 9 and 15 months, Dr. Ari Brown told Parents. This can pose more of a challenge.
In general, the younger your baby is when they begin having sleepovers, the more used to it, they’ll become. If you know you’ll be letting your baby sleepover regularly, getting a head start may be in your best interest, even if your baby’s needs are higher at the time.
Find Ways To Stay Connected
To help your baby feel secure during a sleepover, it’s important to find ways to stay connected with them. Don’t hesitate to video chat or phone call your infant, so long as you don’t think it’ll upset them. Be sure to send them off with their favorite items, especially if they have a toy or book that reminds them of mom and dad. They may even like having a framed photo of you to look at and hold onto.
For babies that are very young (or those with trouble at bedtime), consider giving them an item that physically reminds them of their parents. Mini Ducklings recommends a soothie sleeve, which allows parents to use their own scent to comfort their child, thereby helping decrease separation anxiety. Parents sleep with the sleeve, so it picks up their scent, and then they put it back on the stuffed animal, which their baby can cuddle and sleep with for comfort.
Just remember that babies should be 12-months old before they’re allowed to sleep with a stuffed animal (or anything that could inhibit their breathing).
Sources: Parents, Baby Gooroo, Mini Ducklings, What to Expect,
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