Child
care providers and parents alike may begin to notice
signs of separation anxiety with infants around 10
months of age. When
a parent or caregiver is out of sight, a child becomes
distressed. Developmentally,
a child is beginning to understand the concept of object
permanence - that is, that there's only one of you,
and when she can't see you, that means you've gone away.
As you work through this stage of emotional
development, keep in mind that if the child has a
strong, healthy attachment, he or she will pass through
it more quickly. Eventually
she'll be able to remember that you always return after
you leave, and these memories will be enough to comfort
her while you are gone.
It’s important to show the child as much warmth
and good humor as you can during this challenging
period. The
following suggestions may help ease separation anxiety:
- Make
sure the baby maintains appropriate napping and
eating schedules.
Try to plan departures after rest or eating
times. Remember,
the best place for a sick child is at home with
his/her family.
- Try
to make a departure quick and easy.
The parents say goodbye, reassure the infant
that they’ll be back later and leave.
Caregiver says goodbye, helps child to say
goodbye and then may want to distract the child with
a favorite toy, etc.
- Remember
that the crying usually stops within minutes after a
parent leaves.
- Parents
are encouraged to practice separations at home. If the child crawls into another room, wait a few
minutes. When
the parent goes into another room, tell the child
where you’re going and that you’ll be back.
- Try
to avoid changing child care arrangements for
children between the ages of 8 months and one year.
When going to a new environment, the parent
should stay a few extra minutes to play with the
child and not just drop him or her off.
For
more information on separation anxiety, look for
articles at the following websites:
www.aap.org
www.kidshealth.org
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