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Indiana Babies
toddler separation anxiety
If your LO has/had separation anxiety, did it come on suddenly or has your kiddo always been more shy and prone to it?
Ella has never ever had an issue going to day care. This morning when I dropped her off, she screamed her face off and clung to me like she never has before. There was nothing new about the room - same teachers, same kids there.
WTF?
She was "off" all weekend - I think she's coming down with a cold, but she's also acting kind of weird. I don't know how to even describe it. She has her 18m well baby visit tomorrow so I'm going to make sure to get her ears checked, etc.
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Re: toddler separation anxiety
Ours was a totally different situation because DH & I would drop her off together (though it may actually be the same for you, since you and Brian work at the same college)... We'd both go inside with her to drop her off.
I absolutely could NOT get her out of the car and carry her in or it was melt-down central (when I physically put her down in the room). But she was perfectly fine with Larry getting her out of the car and carrying her in. She'd lean over and give me a kiss, and then be down and on her way, no problems. So weird. But, like, once she was in my arms, she'd cling to me like a baby monkey and have a big fit.
Maybe she has a case of the Mondays. Monday drop-offs were always a little harder for us.
Haley definitely went through a phase with major separation anxiety. It came on over the course of a week, getting a little worse each day. The following Monday, she let loose and it was awful. She was in a home daycare, so it was the same lady, kids, atmosphere EVERY day for almost 2 years. There was nothing different about it. It lasted a couple months for us (I think 2 months) and it slowly got better after that. Try to make good-byes short and sweet. That seemed to help the most. Her daycare provider was awesome about giving her lots of love on those mornings. I always felt horrible, but if I lingered, it was much worse.
I hope she's not coming down with anything. Seems like all of the kiddos on our board are sick a lot this winter. Good luck! This phase will most definitely pass soon!
I knew I wasn't the only one who has dealt with this, but your responses make me feel better!
She has definitely shown a preference for me over Brian the last week or two, so I guess it all makes sense and fits together.
I can't help but feel bad for her! It's like she doesn't know that she's totally fine, if that makes sense. Poor kiddo.
For us, it hit about 15 months and ended at about 21 months. It was totally sudden (he's the most outgoing toddler in the world), and it was unprovoked by anything other than the holidays (that's all I could figure). Lasted last Jan through end of summer, then suddenly got better. We tried everything, but it sort of went away on its own.
And yes, the shorter the goodbyes during that time, the better. I just dropped him at childwatch, dropped the diaper bag, and ran. I would wait about five minutes, then tiptoe to the window and he was totally fine. Little monster! It's just another toddler mommy head game, or at least it was for us, lol. Hang in there!