17 month old crying whenever we leave somewhere

MJMum524

Hi ladies, my 17 month old cries when we leave places. He gets upset when I pick him up from the dayhome. He cried today as we left an outing with friends. He fusses when I put him in the car seat. I always explain well in advance that it's time to put our coat on and we get ready to leave. He usually has a tantrum as we get ready to go. How can I get around this or how can we stop it before it starts? I savor the day we have can have peaceful and relaxed goodbyes. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Ladymouse

It's normal at this age for transitions to be rough (outside to inside, anywhere to the car, starting baths, ending baths, stopping play for supper, etc).  Aside from telling him well in advance that you are going to leave, I gather it's just a phase that will pass (eventually - according to my mom, it kind of continues until 5 years).  I find it helps to keep one of DS's favorite toys in the diaper bag to hand to him as soon as he's buckled into the car seat.

sammich078

The best thing that has helped us with transitions is to have a routine as exact as possible each time we leave. It has also helped sometimes if we make our son believe that it was actually HIS idea to get his coat and shoes and go somewhere. If it was our idea, he's not as willing, even if it is to do something he would like to do, like go to the park.

pinottoparenthood

That's normal. I personally feel like the best thing to do is to firmly tell the child that "it's time to go" and don't baby/give positive reinforcement for the behavior. My son often cries when I pick him up and take him to car to leave the nanny's house, but I am firm and just do it. He'll have to adjust!