Seperation anxiety?

[jessie_bannon]

Oh dear what am I to do? My dear Athena is having a serious case of "can't let mommy out of my sight, she'll never come back" syndrome. Ideas to help? I've actually never had to deal with this before. She is my first/only child, but I have helped raise other infants/toddlers/school age kids, but, wow, I can't even run to the bathroom without her.

Comments

[jedimomma]

My son went through this, too--around 2, 2.5 years old? I never found any specific way to make it stop, though. But what I did do was to never ever ever sneak out or leave without telling him. I always told him when I was leaving, where I was going, and that I would come back to get him. He would cry, and I'm sure there were many occasions when child-care workers would've preferred me sneaking out the back door. But I think that would've made the situation worse, as he would have never learned to trust me that I wouldn't sneak out. Instead, he learned that just because he can't see me doesn't mean I'm gone, because I will always tell him before I leave. After a couple of months, he loosened up a bit.

Hope this helps!

[3starsinmyeyes]

I nannied for 2 nine year olds that were the king and queen of this (their dad was dead and their mom was a giant ass-hat) one thing that helped was getting them watches and always telling them an exact time that I was going to be back, and if I wasn't back they had my cell number and could call me to find out where I was. I don't know how old your daughter (great name by the way) is, but if she is a bit older this might help. If not I definitely like jedimomma's idea.

and I second the "don't try to sneak out" thing. Then you definitely will never be able to leave her ever again.

[chimerawinds]

THis was addressed on Surviving Motherhood on TV not terribly long ago. The best thing to do is give youngster a kiss and then do what you have to do. But talk to them the whole time. Take a break if the youngling is having a really difficult time. Come over and give a kiss, Then tell the little you'll be right back. Once out of where kiddie can see you, talk to them again. Eventually, the little one will distract themselves with a toy or something.

[akutaq]

Sounds totally normal. My daughter who is 21 months now is getting into the separation anxiety. I just tell her that "mommy will be right back!" in a totally happy voice. That seems to help.

This should pass.