9 Month Old Babysitting

If she is breastfed how are you leaving her? Does she take a bottle?
If you think she is going to scream and that you will be called to come
home, I would not go. However, on the other hand, a little time away
would be nice and she will survive. Has she ever spent the night away.
Will they be at home or at your parents home. You are the only one
that can make the decision. If it was me, I would go. Usually after you
are out of sight, you are out of mind.

Do they already spend a lot of time with her? If not, is there any way you can have them come over a few days during the week before you leave? Not to babysit, but to just be around her while you're still there. Maybe that will help her get used to the idea versus just dropping her off with them unexpectedly?

Yes wait until she is sleeping/napping and leave then. She won't have a choice and you don't have to feel guilty when you walk out the door. Otherwise don't go overnight and just have a nice dinner somewhere and again leave when she is sleeping. Both my daughters were and are the same way, but my mother is my daycare so neither cried for her at least at night. Me going to work is/was a different story. Good luck. I haven't left my 15 month old yet for an overnight trip, but my 4 year old we did when she was around 18 mos for the first time.

This is 50/50-she is either going to scream the whole time or she'll fuss for a day and be fine for the rest of the time. If you want to be able to get more that 5 ft apart, you'll have to stop cuddling her at night and give her more space during the day too. She could be going through a phase of separation anxiety but you'll only make it worse by feeding into it and running to pick her up at every cry from her. If she is in a safe place, feed and dry, let her fuss. She'll learn that you'll come back even if you were only out of sight to go use the bathroom!

Good luck and Happy anniversary!
S.

Unfortunately, your LO is at the age where separation anxiety is very bad. I agree with JR where you should try to have your parents spend a decent amount of time with the kids as much as possible in these next few days. DO NOT start her on a pacifier if she isn't taking one now. That's one of the worst things to break a baby of ones they've grown attached. Perhaps you could go get her a 'cuddly'--a soft fuzzy blanket or a new soft fuzzy toy. Get her used to sleeping with that and give her that for comfort when she wakes up in the middle of the night. Try not giving in to her tonight. She may have to CIO for a bit, but she'll be fine. Best of luck to you!

You say that your child will "agree" to be more than 5 feet from you. Hmm... if you have her really clingy from months of coddling her every minute, you will not be able to undo this between now and then. I wouldn't do it at all if I were you. I'm sorry but this is going to be miserable for her and then and you are not going to be able to stop thinking about her. There will be many anniversaries to come. You would be better off taking her out to the restaurant with you.