I came across Instructions I created for my mother and mother-in-law, when I went back to work after after my first child on how to look after him. Crazy, yes I know that now but not at the time. He was just under six months old, I had done everything by the book and was so scared and anxious about going back to work, this made me feel in control some how.
My mother only had me and well, let’s just say my upbringing wasn’t all fun and laughter. She is a nice person but has no common sense and is a bit crazy to say the least. She does love the boys though.
My mother-in-law had two kids and I knew she knew what she was doing but I couldn’t give to one and not the other, now could I?
I felt like when I went back to work Lucas would forget who his mum was, so I wanted to keep him in the same routine and hopefully he wouldn’t notice. Oh yes, he did notice all right. I spent many a morning bawling my eyes out on the way to work, having left my beautiful son crying his eyes out for his mummy.
He’s still the same, 3 year on. 🙂
Anyway here are the instructions I left, I thought I would share:-
Feeding:-
• I like to be fed between 11.45am and 12pm for lunch, just now I am having some pureed food mum puts out and then between 5-7oz of milk after that.
• I like to be fed between 3.45pm and 4pm for dinner, just now I am having some pureed food mum puts out and then between 5-7oz of milk after that.
• Mum said she would feed me breakfast and supper.
• All bottles will be made up in the morning and will be in the fridge or in my bag if I am going somewhere else. These should be heated up in the bottle warmer for 6 or 7 mins or using boiled water in a suitable container. The milk temperature should not be felt so it should not feel too warm or too cold when feeding it to me. Although mum makes the milk a little warmer than normal when feeding me so it cools to the right temp when I am finished the grub.
• The food will be left in the fridge in bowls or tubs or mum will let you know what to feed me. If I am going somewhere else it will be in the bag. All frozen food should be defrosted or heated in the microwave, make sure it is not too hot or too cold. If milk is required to be added like to banana you should use heated baby milk out of the bottle you will be feeding me. Baby rice should be made up also using the heated milk out of the bottle.
• To feed me I should be put in the swing with the break on or the bouncy chair, both should have a blanket put over them or in a highchair. You need to very quickly put on a normal bib then a plastic bib as I will start to scream if you take to long like I have never been fed for days!! Feed me my food, I will tell you when I have had enough I will keep my mouth closed or cry. I may cry if I don’t like something but keep trying with me for a bit longer I might like it in the end. You will probably need to give me a spoon to play with so best use two spoons; I also like to look in the bowl to see what I am eating.
• Once I have finished my food, take off the plastic bib and feed me my bottle normally and then wind me. Then you may clean me up with the burpie or wipe.
• You can either leave the empty bottles and bowls until mum comes in or they should be washed with warm soapy water, the plastic bib is the same. The bottles and bowls can then be put in the steriliser or back in the bag. Put the plastic bib over the taps or something to dry.
Teething:-
• If I am teething give me my rings or plastic chewy coloured toy.
• There are teething rings in the fridge or there will be one in my bag. They cannot be put in the steriliser, mum will sterilise these in Milton if I chuck them on the floor.
• If I seem really bad you can give me a teething powder, which are in the second bottom drawer of the plastic unit in my room or in the front pocket of my bag.
• You can also put calgel on my gums using your finger or the brush massager which is also in the second bottom drawer or in the front pocket of my bag.
Illness:-
• If I am ill contact my mummy.
• You can give me Calpol or Medised which are in the second bottom drawer or in the front pocket of my bag. But mummy wants to know first.
Sleeping:-
• I like to have a nap in the morning between 9am and 10am which is usually for ½ hour but can be up to 2 hours.
• I usually sleep for up to 3 hours after lunch but is usually ½ hour – 1 hour.
• If I have only slept for ½ hour at lunch I will usually have an afternoon nap for about ½ hour to 1 hour.
• If I am sleeping when it is feeding time don’t wake me unless it goes ½ hour late or it’s my 4 o’clock feed as this one can’t be late as it interferes with my bedtime feed.
• If I have slept for 3 hours or more in the afternoon don’t let me sleep after 4 but if I have only slept for ½ hour I can sleep up until 6pm but no later or I don’t go to bed and get over tired.
• I like to go down to sleep; I like to have a wee cuddly friend and a blanket over my hands to help me sleep. I may pull the blanket up over my face, that’s ok but if you can pull it down once I fall asleep. I will sleep on my triangular cushion, I love my bear chair, my teddy bear rug in my room, a travel cot, my buggy (sometimes) , my car seat or a bouncy chair.
Nappies:-
• I only need my bum changing if I smell pongee or I haven’t been changed for several hours and have a heavy nappy.
Clothes:-
• Mum will dress me in the morning and I will only need changed if I puke loads over myself or the temperature changes.
Playing:-
• I like to play with lots of toys and play in my activity things.
• I also have lots of toys in my room which I can play with except the ones on my wardrobe.
• If I am out my toys will be in my bag.
• I like toys which make a noise.
TV:-
• I like to watch the Playhouse Disney channel which is channel 727 in case you change it. But don’t let me watch it all day as I don’t want square eyes.
There were some others but I think I have given you the gist.
So was I justified….
This post is protected under copyright. SusankMann 2009 – 2014
Oh I love this! My youngest was just over 4mths old when I went back to work and I was just the same – nobody can look ater my baby boy quite like his mummy eh? Except I wasn't as organised as you to have a manual.. But I did leave him every morning in streams of tears xx
I left a list like this for my mother in law when I first left Presley with her for two hours to go to get my hair cut. I'm pretty sure she ignored the lot. x
I love it. Small Child doesn't get sat much, but when I do leave him it's not so bad for me since I wokred at a day care/school for 4 years. I knew they all calmed down about 3 minutes after mummy left. =)
Thanks Yummy & Sandy, good to know I wasn't the only mum who felt this way. xx
Krystey if only I knew you when I went back to work, you could have explained that to me. xx
So good 🙂 Think i'll call upon you to make me a list on how to look after a baby when I need it hehe xx
I didn't leave instructions for Moo when I first left her at nursery (I figured they probably knew what they were doing more than I did!), but I certainly did when I first left her with my mum and dad for an evening – things like how to use the travel steriliser in case they ran out of bottles, and what her little routines were for going to sleep.As Sandy says though, I have no idea whether they actually followed any of it though!
Loved reading this! So sweet that you're mum all the way through until you get to illness and then you're mummy xxx
Thank you Elaine, Bumbling & Genie. I will do instructions for you Elaine. I am just glad I am not the only one. xx
I normally don't leave a list for the childminders and they seem to cope ok but Mr B's Mum always insists! Yours is very thorough… I think I shall use it as a template next time Lara goes to her Nanny's!