James Donaldson on Mental Health - I am a mom with a 1-year-old son. Is a weeklong separation every 4 months OK?

Dickstein, MD Clinical Expert: Steven Dickstein, MD Question I am a working mom with a 1-year-old son.

My job requires that I will travel for approximately one week every four months or so.

While I am away, my son would be at home with his father and our wonderful nanny.

He is a healthy little guy — happy and well adjusted it seems.

Is a one week separation from me okay?

Answer The truth of the matter is that nobody really knows how much separation a child can tolerate, but a child who has been around his mother for a year and has been able to attach to her definitely knows who his mom is, for starters.

People often wonder, “If I leave my child in daycare,” or leave him alone with someone else, will that cause problems?

One thing to remember is that kids are amazingly resilient.

Generally speaking most kids will tolerate lots of things as long as there are stable figures in their life and basic consistency of care, a good routine that doesn’t change too much, and ways to maintain contact.

In this situation, having a dad and a nanny certainly provides stable figures.