I agree with face timing, I also have my MD or DB send a short video of themselves that I can play throughout the day. So it's just a little message of them saying hello and waving and blowing kisses and saying "I love you," that sort of thing.

We also have special traditions for when MB or DB are not in town that we can't do when they are. For example, my MB is really allergic to Keewee, so we pretty much never have it in the house, but when she is out of town, I always stop at the grocery store and buy some Keewee naked juice for NK. It's not a big deal, but just something that reminds her that sometimes it can be fun to have a different caregiver.

We also talk about the things that their parents have contributed to them, even if they are not around. This is less someone to do specifically when they are traveling, and more of just a general habit. So when they are putting on their pajamas at night, I will tell them how cute they look in their pajamas and point out that mommy bought those for them. Then I will add "she sure loves you a lot, to take such good care of you and make sure you have such nice jammies." Or, when I am making a snack, I will say "Look! Daddy remembered this is your favorite kind! He sure loves you a lot to make sure you have just what you want for snacks.". Again, this is something that we do just on an ongoing basis, but I think it helps them to remember that their parents are always aware of and providing care for them, even if they are not physically present right now.

My husband now travels a lot for work and I travel some. I made our toddler a photo board book from pinhole press with lots of pictures of him and each of us as well as other family members. When one of us is traveling, and he misses us, the other parent, and our nanny, can flip through it with him and talk about what we were doing in the photos. He also sometimes takes it to bed with him. When my husband is away he really likes seeing the photos of him with daddy. When he asks about daddy, nanny or I will ask him if he wants to look at the picture book.

Other things we do are send him selfies so whichever adult is with him can show him a photo of mom or dad. He also has gotten very into watching short videos of where we are traveling to,especially the airports and planes. We remind him a lot that the parent who is away loves him very much and always comes home. When we tell him that one of us is going to leave for a trip, we always remind him of who will be there to take care of him- so I will say daddy and nanny will be here while mommy is away. We usually tell him the morning of or at earliest the night before- so he now trusts we will tell him if one of us will be gone beyond a normal work day, but we don't give him extra time to worry about it.

Specific things our nanny has done with him include helping him make a welcome home sign or other special present for mom or dad. Usually the parent at hone will arrange face timing with the traveling parent but sometimes if time zones and schedules don't work our nanny will help our toddler FaceTime with the parent who is away.

I know these are tips from a parent rather than a nanny but we also have a great relationship with our nanny and we all work together in making our toddler feel secure.

the "mommy link" is a great idea. thank you for that! I'll brainstorm with mommy this week. he seems to go in phases, today was a hard day for him.

Does he have a special "mommy" item? Some kids I know have special pillowcases that their parents "fill with hugs and kisses" for whenever they're missing them. Other toddlers have really appreciated my putting together a small family photo album so we could look at pictures of the people they were thinking of. There are lots of ways to do it, but maybe creating some kind of "link" to mom would help him process his grief.

He does speak well. I focus very much on giving him words, especially for his emotions, and yes we do talk about it (as much as is possible).

That is a good thought, although I feel like it's something we already do.

How is his speech op? Can you navigate a short conversation about this with him? Sometimes they just need words for how they are feeling. In a class I was taught to use statements rather than questions; like " I can see you are missing mommy" then pause to let child respond.

I've been a nanny for a few years. I am now nannying for a child whom I've been with for over a year and he is now a toddler.

Lately mom has been working more and dad has been out of town off and on for work. Child is showing more and more emotion lately, not only when mom leaves for work, but even when I arrive at the house.

We (me/child, me/family, etc.) have a great relationship. I love the child to bits, and we have great days together.

Any tips from experienced nannies on how I can help him cope? Or is this just something that will need to pass?