Parenting Tip #5 Reduce the Separation Anxiety

Toddler separation anxiety normal and an expected part of toddler development. If fact, between 4 to 7 months your baby will go through a normal developmental phase called stranger awareness. Your baby begins to recognize who his important people are and begins to show caution towards strangers. This is also when games such as peek a boo begin to be fun because your baby is recognizing object permeance. This is the beginning of Separation Anxiety which generally occurs between the ages of 8 months to 1 1/2 years of age. During this time, your child will likely cling to you and cry even if you are leaving them with someone familiar. There are some tips that can help reduce the stress and get you through it!

~ Ease your child into their new environment. If you are leaving them with a new caregiver, visit several times before leaving your child for an entire day. Let them have time to adjust with you there as well.

~Try to remain as relaxed as possible. If you are going to cry, do so after you leave. If your child sees you getting upset or teary eyed, they may wonder if they should be worried. Believe it or not even babies can sense when their mother or father is bothered, stressed, upset, or happy.

~Take a familiar object with you, such as a stuffed animal or blanket. These items may help your child feel more at home and provide them with a sense of peace.

~Try to distract them upon your leaving. Food and snacks are often a good way at this age. If your child is busy getting a snack or treat, they may not notice that you are leaving and are less likely to get upset.

~Try to make your exits as quick and smooth as possible. Lingering often will make it worse for a child and they may feel that you are hesitant to be leaving them. Instead, provide them with a reassuring hug and kiss, tell them you will be right back and head out the door.

Remember, this is a natural and important part of child development. Although these tips may help, it is likely that you will still have some difficulty during these ages. Hang in there, once your child recognizes that you will be back they will soon be moving to the next stage!