Meltdowns with babysitter

[monsterz]

Jr just had an epic meltdown as I went to leave the house. He has babysitters all the time so this is nothing new. It is the first babysitter at the new house though. When the sitter first got there he told me to leave but I was still going over details with the sitter. A few minutes later he is hugging be and sobbing that I can't go. He has only done this one other time when we stayed at a hotel. Any strategies to extricate from the house when the kid is hanging onto your neck?

[scribellesam]

We shamelessly bribe our 3yo. If he stays calm when we leave, the sitter will give him ice cream. Also we put on a favorite movie or show when the sitter arrives to try to distract him.

Is he anxious you won't come back? Maybe you could try calling him a little way into the evening to check in. It just made it worse for our guy, though. I have the sitter text me once he's calmed down for my own peace of mind.

[monsterz]

Aug 26, 2015 18:42:53 GMT -5 scribellesam said:

We shamelessly bribe our 3yo.

Is he anxious you won't come back? Maybe you could try calling him a little way into the evening to check in. It just made it worse for our guy, though. I have the sitter text me once he's calmed down for my own peace of mind.

I am not above bribery! I let the sitter know there was a science kit he wanted to play with that could be taken out if needed.

The sitter did text us that he calmed down and was fine, it is just so hard to leave when he is like that.

[scribellesam]

I totally agree! I hate leaving him crying. Usually once we leave he realizes how fun sitters are, within 10 minutes or so. That's why I like getting a follow up text, otherwise I'm worrying about him all evening.