Toddlers: 24 Months+
Stuuuaaart
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Severe separation anxiety
Stuuuaaart
member
My daughter is 2.5 years old. She has always be clingy to me but it has gotten progressively worse since January. She started pre school 2 days a week. She has no problem when I drop her off and really enjoys being there. However, since she started school she is crying hysterically for me at bedtime. Sometimes for hours with us going in there several times to calm her down. She will do this until 10 pm sometimes. It's exhausting and we are at our wits end with it. We assume it's because she has separation anxiety from me as she doesn't even like when I am away from her to go shower. We're stumped, exhausted and frustrated by the situation. Plus we feel terrible that she is so emotional and worked up, like this. Is this just a phase, is it normal separation amiety stuff? Any insight is welcome.
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Re: Severe separation anxiety
On a positive note - that's awesome that she enjoys preschool. I would say to give it time, she'll get better as time goes by and she gets a little older. I'd just give the extra cuddles that she needs, soon enough she won't want you around. ;-)
My only other thought is that if she cries, do you go into the room to console her? Maybe she's just learned it's away to get attention. When my kid cries in the middle of the night, I'll sit next to his bed, but I try not to engage him (I'll pat his back, but I avoid eye contact and talking, etc.). I let him know that I'm there, but I don't do anything that extra that could turn into an expected routine. For instance, I won't pick him up in the middle of the night when he's crying because I don't want him to expect that as the new norm.