Sitter Solutions

Overcoming the Babysitter Blues

By Katherine Bontrager

ice cream sandwich – leave a detailed note telling the sitter what to do. Also, include all emergency contact information and your cell phone number should any questions arise.

But don't start leaving the baby with a sitter for the first time just when the baby is developing stranger anxiety, Marcus adds. This anxiety typically crops up between the ages of 7 and 23 months, though this may differ for your own children. "You'll confuse a normal stage of development with your doubts and worries," he says.

Marcus says to remember babies need and like contact with people. "It gives them new experiences that promote brain development, and it provides a sense of security knowing that when their parents go away, they'll be taken care of, but parents always return," he says. "Some mothers fear that a baby will become more attached to the babysitter than to her, but a baby's attachment to another person is never as strong or unshakable as it is to Mother. However, attachments to other relatives, the nanny, older siblings, etc., are very healthy and normal."

And after every new experience with a sitter, Parents in a Pinch contacts its clients to make sure their experience was wonderful. You can try a similar tactic. After the sitter has left look around the house. Were things tidied up? How did your children react? You may be pleasantly surprised that your kids did quite well and enjoyed a brief "vacation" from Mom and Dad.

While it may be difficult getting there, becoming comfortable with leaving your children with a trusted sitter may do them – and yourself – a world of good.