Separation Anxiety Solutions For Toddlers

Separation anxiety is normal, but that doesn’t always make it less painful for you or your child. In fact, experts tell us if a mother and father have been able to establish a healthy warm bond, having the child act out in some fashion when they are separated isn’t unusual, especially if a baby is between nine and 14 months old.

Still, it’s a good idea to know exactly what the symptoms are so you can more readily identify and treat separation anxiety. Here’s a few of the indicators you should be looking for that can start after events like a stay in the hospital or the death of a pet.

• Worrying that something bad will happen to the parent if the child leaves them alone.
• Refusing to sleep at another house or even go to sleep at home unless the parent is close by.
• A lasting and unusual fear of being left alone.

There are some steps you can take to lessen the effects of parting with your child. Following are a few solutions that work equally well with babies and toddlers.

If you need to leave your child for an extended period of time to go to work or for some other responsibility, you can begin working toward that bigger separation with a series of smaller ones. Start by leaving him alone for an hour at a time. You can extend those periods as she adapts and gets more comfortable with your absence.

Potential Babysitters

Babysitters can be daunting to younger children, especially when your son or daughter is dealing with a stranger. If you can’t find a relative to take on the job, you might want to take your child with you when interviewing candidates. It’s a great way to introduce them to any potential babysitters and you can even see how both parties interact with each other in the interview setting.

Establishing a routine between you and your toddler is another way to soothe and reassure them of your consistent return. Talking him through the process each morning is helpful and creating a secret handshake between you and your daughter becomes the deal between you cementing your return.

Normal Reaction

If you’re a parent going through separation anxiety with your son or daughter, there’s usually no need to worry about this normal reaction becoming anything more. This behavior is all part of your child’s development and will disappear over time. Separation anxiety can return under certain circumstances with older toddlers and preschoolers who are sick or otherwise stressed, but even those little regressions should lessen as they grow.

You should always remember to stay calm, even when your child is in the middle of a meltdown. Getting agitated yourself will only make your child more upset. Experts also suggest leaving something behind to remind him of you will lessen any separation anxiety. A picture of you with your daughter or a favored stuffed toy will serve to soothe their nerves through the day.

Read more info like this at All My Children.
Author: Rob Starr