Separation Anxiety: Tips to Make Saying Goodbye Easier

by Kimberley Blaine on April 3rd, 2011 | No Comments »

If you haven’t had that tinge of separation anxiety yet, you’ll have your turn! Whether it’s you or your baby who’s suffering – we’re all bound to feel it at some point. It’s the moment every parent of a small child dreads: the good-bye. For parents of young children, it can be a gut-wrenching, heart aching, guilt-ridden moment full of tears, protests, and quick getaways. Separation anxiety can ruin your workday, put a damper on your (rare!) dinner out, and keep you trapped to your house (and chained to your toddler). There are some simple solutions that can make saying good-bye a little easier for both the kids and the parents involved.

Babies can show signs of separation anxiety as early as six months, but young children can experience it at almost any age. One of the hardest scenarios for parents to deal with is dropping their clingy and crying toddler off at daycare. It can tug at your heartstrings and make you doubt yourself and your decisions. But the good news is that separation anxiety will pass and there are some simple solutions to help you get to that point.

Five Tips to Help Make Saying Bye-Bye Easier

Bring out the ‘blankie’.

Transitional objects, such as a favorite blanket or stuffed toy, can be reassuring to small children. In fact, to your child, these items are a symbol of you. They represent comfort, safety, and joy. Encouraging your child to attach to a transitional object early in infancy will allow them to be better at self-soothing later on. When you have to separate from your child, be sure that those special objects are close at hand to provide comfort while you are away.

Babies love satin and rubbing the satin takes them back to the safety and security of the womb. Offering a blanket, stuffed toy, or other soft object to your little one during your absence will give them something familiar that will help to comfort them. It will make the transition easier for the both of you.

Practice makes perfect.

It may seem silly for you to practice being apart from your child, but it can really make a big difference in the long run. If you know you’re going to be away for a longer than normal period, help your child work up to that separation by taking a series of short breaks, such as running next door for a minute or going out on a brief errand.

Easing your child into separation is a great way to prepare them for being away from you. Plus, you don’t even have to leave the house to get started. Tell your baby or toddler that you’ll be going to another room and you’ll be back soon. This will help them to begin to make the connection that although you are gone now, you will come back.

Ask your sitter to come early.

Whether you’re leaving your baby for a dinner date with your spouse or you have hired an in-home sitter to watch your little one while you are work, leaving your most precious cargo in the hands of someone else can be stressful for both you and your baby. And even though you may not realize it, your child picks up on the anxiety you are feeling and it will effect their reaction as well. To give you both peace of mind, be sure to spend some time with the sitter and your child together.

If someone is coming to watch your child, have him or her come early so that all of you can spend some time together before you leave. This will help your baby to see that this person is someone that they can trust and will help both the baby and your sitter familiarize themselves with one another. If you are relaxed and happy about the situation, your child is much more likely to be as well.

Leave on an upbeat and cheery note.

Every parent has done the sneaky slip out the door in hopes of making a tearless getaway. This actually does more harm than good for your baby. Just because they don’t see you leave doesn’t mean they won’t eventually notice your absence. In order to alleviate separation anxiety, you want to make sure you child is associating happy thoughts with your coming and going. Let him see you leave, even if it triggers the waterworks and make sure there is a fun activity in place for him to take part in immediately following your departure.

It’s hard to see your children cry when you leave. However, if you continue to sneak off, he’ll become even more worried that you might disappear at any random time. Say your bye-byes and then help him become involved in a fun activity that will occupy him as you leave. It may take a few tries, but eventually he’ll begin to associate you leaving with emotions other than anxiety and sadness.

Ditch the guilt.

There aren’t many things that pull at your heartstrings more than having to leave a crying child who is reaching out for you. Situations of separation anxiety can create a sense of overwhelming guilt for parents. You want to be there for your child but there are times when you just can’t. It’s not healthy for either of you if you constantly feel trapped to the situation. Remind yourself that this is a stage and you both will get through it. You aren’t a bad parent for leaving your child in tears. In fact, your efforts are working to raise a healthy, independent adult!

Don’t minimize your child’s experience by getting resentful or angry if she goes into a tirade when you leave. It’s quite normal to feel at peace with your child’s neediness at one moment and then to feel agitated and overwhelmed the next. Try to find ways to balance your need for her independence with her needs to expand her world and feel safe. You’ll both be the better for it.

Another important thing for parents to remember is that their anxiety can be contagious. The more anxious you are about leaving or about others caring for your little one, the more anxious they will be. Be calm, confident, and reassuring. And when you do return, take time to enjoy the warm welcome and extra hugs. Being apart makes reuniting that much sweeter.

Saying good-bye is hard to do, especially if you’re the parent of a small child who suffers from separation anxiety. What are your favorite tips and tricks to help make this process easier?

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About Kimberley:

Kimberley Clayton Blaine, MA, MFT, is the executive producer of the online parenting shows www.TheGoToMom.TV and www.MommyToMommy.TV and author of The Go-To Mom’s Parents’ Guide to Emotion Coaching Young Children and The Internet Mommy. For more great tips from the Go-To Mom, click here.

About the Book:

The Go-To Mom’s Parents’ Guide to Emotion Coaching Young Children (Jossey-Bass/A Wiley Imprint, 2010, ISBN: 978-0-470-58497-2, $16.95, www.TheGoToMom.com) is available at bookstores nationwide and from major online booksellers. For more information on The Go-To Mom’s Parents’ Guide to Emotion Coaching Young Children, click here to view Kimberley’s book trailer.