A majority of parents in Singapore are working parents. Those working with multinational corporations particularly; taking long business trips are likely if not inevitable. Such trips can be strenuous for you and your baby, but there are several steps you can take to make things lighter.
If this is your first time away from your baby, you will want to prepare things ahead of time to make sure your child can cope in most scenarios. Let’s talk about the material, emotional, and mental preparation you need to do to keep your first trip away bearable for your baby and yourself.
What You Need To Prepare If You Will Be Away For A Long Period
Preparing everything for your child before you go away on business will make things easier for those taking care of them. It will also give you peace of mind while you are not at home.
Usually, parents prefer to have support from their relatives at this time. Asking them to help take care of the baby while out travelling and during every day working hours.
Should this not be possible, you can opt to hire a nanny. When doing so, take the time to interview each candidate. Find someone who suits your parenting style and can be trusted daily to be alone with your baby. Among the baby supplies, you should start preparing are:
- Diapers and baby wipes
- Breast milk storage
- Milk powder and food formulas
- Sufficient bottles
- Necessary clothing
- Soothing items (toys, pacifier, and blankets)
As much as possible, cover all your bases when preparing a checklist. Give the caregiver all the information necessary on where to find the required items and emergency numbers to call for support. Moreover, if your baby has any special needs (allergies, medicines, or vitamins), include them on the list.
Preparing You And Your Baby Emotionally And Mentally
Emotionally and mentally preparing your baby for long times away is just as important as preparing the material things. It is just as difficult for babies and kids to adjust to this new normal as it will be for you, if not more.
To make a business trip easier for your little one, brief the caretaker on the routines you have developed with them. This routines, even with without you, can give them a sense of normalcy and comfort.
Without their usual routine, babies may feel displaced with the new faces around them, leading to more severe separation anxiety. The goal is to go away, feel less strenuous for them while they stay at home.
Another way to make a business trip easier for your child is to have a recording of mom’s voice singing a lullaby to put them to sleep. Indeed, you will do your best to call when time permits, but this can also bring comfort to your child if you are unable to.
Breaking The News
It can be tempting to omit to tell your child you will be gone on a business trip for a week or so. But, prolonging the news until the last minute is not a good idea. Here are some ways to break the news slowly to prevent untoward reactions.
Share your plans: Deciding when to tell your child about travelling plans depends on their temperament. Young children don’t fully understand the concept of time, so it is best to say to them a couple of days in advance. The shorter timeframe will give them the chance to absorb the news but also keep them from dreading it for long periods.
Provide them with details: Tell your child exactly when you plan on travelling, where you will go, and what you will do. Also, give them information on how to contact you (if they are old enough) and when you expect to return.
Marking your return on a calendar and having them cross out the days until your return gives them a sense of comfort as they look forward to you coming home.
Reassure your little one: Showing guilt, anxiety, or stress about leaving them could make goodbye’s tougher. When you leave, stay positive and keep goodbyes short and loving. A simple hug and kiss goodbye and reassuring words are the best way to go about your leave.
Keeping Present Even At A Distance
The most important thing for a child is to know their parents are present even when they are out of sight. Calling to check in on them will help.
Taking it a step further, you can leave them with reminders of you to help comfort them more. Such reminders could be a valuable shared memory for both of you. For example, your son may treasure the ball you play catch with together, or your daughter may feel comforted by a doll she picked out with you.
You can use these items to further reassure them at you will be present by saying things like, “If you miss me, you can hold on to this.” Simple things like that can ease any anxiety your child has about you being away on a business trip.
Trust your baby’s guardian.
Concentrate on your work while you’re away and check in when you can, but make it a point to trust your baby’s guardian with day to day tasks. It can be tempting to micro-manage while you are away, but doing so will likely only add more stress to the situation.
Find the right balance between checking-in and trusting your baby’s guardian to handle day to day tasks and routines. Surely, you have enough on your plate with work without having to worry about the smaller details of your child’s care.
With this in mind, make sure that the guardian you choose is someone you can trust and dependant. This goes back to giving them all the necessary information about your baby’s routine and care. Before you leave, have them shadow you, so they have a better idea of how things work and what you expect in terms of proper care.
Returning Home
Coming back home should be a positive experience. You may feel tired, but keep in mind that your child will be excited to tell you everything they did while you were gone. The key here is to return with love; whether it’s in the form of a token or even simply giving them the time to catch up with you. As much as possible, keep the mood upbeat.
Parenting is by no means an easy road, especially when it comes to balancing work with family. The trick is to take it day by day and encourage independence to some degree in young children. Doing so will ease the anxiety on both your parts and keep travelling something to look forward to rather than dread.
The first work trip away from your family will set the stage for future travels and being away for an extended period. With that said, as much as possible, keep a positive experience for your child. This way, the next time you leave, you have a positive example to reassure both of you that things will be alright.
