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Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
GatorMrs_Esq
member
Dealing with separation anxiety
GatorMrs_Esq
member
Morning, ladies.
DD has been in daycare since she was ~8 weeks old, and has always done fabulously there. A couple weeks ago (at the 1 year mark), she made the transition from the baby room to the toddler room. It's MUCH different from the baby room (no bottles, 1 nap / day, sitting at tables to eat, much more 'scheduled'), but she seems to be doing very well in that 'mode' as well (per the teachers' reports when I pick her up).
Unfortunately, she has become very 'clingy' in the last few days. I don't know if the timing with her transition is coincidence, or if she's just getting used to her new surroundings (she's the same way at home often; won't even let my husband console her at times), but dropping her off has started to become very difficult for both of us. I'm hoping this is just a short phase, but do y'all have any tips for the actual drop off, leading up to it, etc.?
I'm going to XP this on the working moms board...just hoped I'd get some input from moms of kids in the same age and stage. 
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Dealing with separation anxiety
i find it's best to actually give her extra attention when she gets like this (after all, there will come a time when she'll want nothing to do with me)... give her some extra hugs, let her know it'll be okay and that you'll be back shortly, etc. try to get her distracted with a toy or something (hopefully the teachers are like mine and will come and help you get her distracted), say good bye and leave. even if she's still crying. she'll get over it faster once your gone than if you hang around and drag it out.
i would NOT just drop and go quickly. i think it's really important that she knows you'll be back and you tell her so. i know some people just drop and go with their kid left screaming all alone... breaks my heart for that child.
click the pic (blog)
M will have days that it is harder for me to leave than others but I give him a quick kiss, the DCP has him in her arms and I walk out the door. At home M is more about who started to console him rather than being picky about the person. So if DH starts with the bedtime routine, he has to finish it and vis versa. I feel very lucky because most of the time at daycare, he is standing or sitting in a group of kids when I leave and smiles and waves "bye bye." I think he sees these women and children as part of his extended family and why would you be upset to be left with your daycare mommies? I also act like he is going to the best place in the world. He can read my mood and if I act worried or upset, he is too. So I am all smiles when he goes to daycare, like he is going to a place that is a mix of Santa's playland and an ice cream parlor.