Dr Karp suggests you "Practice your goodbyes" so perhaps it's time for a date night...

Travelling for the first time without your little one—whether it’s a quick overnight work trip or a much-needed weeklong holiday—is nerve-wracking, to say the least! But the just-right amount of planning can work wonders at tamping down the anxiety… and boosting your enjoyment.

Here are some of my best tips for preparing yourself, your baby, and your caregiver for your first time away.

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No matter if you’re a brand-new parent or a seasoned one, being away from your child for the first time requires both mental and practical preparations:

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If you and your little one have never spent time apart, then some stress on your kiddo’s part is to be expected. But if you keep things calm—and prepare—you’ll both fare just fine!

To help make the whole experience go as smoothly as possible, enlist a caregiver who’s already familiar with your child—and vice versa.

Dr Harvey Karp is the founder of Happiest Baby and one of America's most trusted paediatricians. Dr Karp’s breakthrough discoveries—the calming reflex, the 5 S’s and Toddler-ese — have benefited millions of parents and are taught by thousands of specially trained educators in over 20 nations. His highly innovative and celebrated books/videos, The Happiest Baby on the Block, The Happiest Toddler on the Block and The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep have been translated into dozens of languages and have made him one of the world’s most renowned baby and sleep experts.