How to deal with separation anxiety in babies?
As your child’s primary caregiver, you may be joined at the hip with your baby, especially during the first couple of months. Your child grows up and you two are still inseparable. But what if your baby is too clingy, that it’s almost impossible for you to get other things done?
Separation anxiety is prevalent in babies and toddlers and is a typical stage of development. When parents or guardians depart, even if only for a few moments, children with separation anxiety may cry and become attached.
It might be difficult to separate from newborns who are anxious, but there are certain things that parents and caregivers can do to help them feel better. As newborns and toddlers get older, they will usually outgrow separation anxiety.
In this article, we will discuss the possible causes and how to deal with separation anxiety in babies.
Separation Anxiety in Babies
Separation anxiety and fear of strangers are prevalent in young children aged 6 months to 3 years, but it’s a normal phase of their development that they normally outgrow.
It is an indication that your child has realised how reliant they are on those who look after them. This can include their parents, as well as their grandparents or other guardians or caregivers that are involved in their care.
Your baby’s strong bond with this group implies they don’t feel as comfortable without you as they become more aware of their environment.
Even if you are present, their developing awareness of the world around them might make them feel frightened or angry in unfamiliar situations or with new individuals.
Separation anxiety in babies will naturally lessen as he or she grows older. Certain factors, however, can cause or exacerbate it, including:
- the birth of a new sibling
- a new or strange environment
- a new babysitter
- relocating
- the death of a parent or other caretaker
- a caregiver’s tension, which the newborn may pick up on
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Signs That Your Baby Has Separation Anxiety
Babies with separation anxiety worry that their parents will abandon them. In the presence of a stranger, the fear may become even more intense. The following are some typical responses of babies going through this stage of development:
- Baby cries when I leave the room at night
- In new situations, clinging or sobbing is common
- Waking up and weeping after previously sleeping through the night
- Baby cries when not with mom
How to Deal With Separation Anxiety in Babies
Separation anxiety can make leaving your baby at the day care or in someone else’s care tough. Every time you have to leave them, you may be disturbed by their weeping and concerned about the impact on your infant.
Remember that it’s natural for your baby to be anxious while you’re not around, so there’s no need to feel guilty if you need to carry on with your life. Separation anxiety, in fact, is often a reflection of how well you’ve bonded with them.
The best strategy to deal with separation anxiety in your baby is to address the infant’s anxiety and terror. Over time, this may help them feel more at ease with separation.
1. Regularly cuddle and comfort the child.
Spend time holding and caressing the baby every day, and soothe them when they are fearful or distressed to help them form a strong relationship.
2. Separation games should be played.
Peek-a-boo is an excellent exercise for teaching babies that people exist even when they are not visible and will return. Similarly, caregivers might use a blanket to cover and uncover toys. Playing hide-and-seek with caretakers may provide similar benefits to toddlers.
3. Brief separations should be practised.
Before walking into another room, practice leaving the infant in a safe spot. After a little interval, return. This tells the baby that even if its caregiver leaves, they will return. People can chat or sing to the infant while they are away so that they know their caretaker is still close, even if they are out of sight.
4. Create a routine.
A daily routine provides a predictable and steady pattern. Children benefit from routine because it gives consistency and minimises the stress of the unknown.
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5. Gradually introduce new caregivers.
Allow time for newborns and toddlers to become acquainted with new carers, such as other relatives or child care staff. Someone could schedule introductory sessions before the infant starts daycare, for example, to help the infant adjust to new people.
6. Encourage independence.
Allow newborns and toddlers to crawl away from the caregiver into another safe room while being under close monitoring. This will assist them in gaining independence on their own terms and understanding that it is safe to do so.
7. Explain the situation and return on time.
When leaving a newborn with another person, caregivers should emphasise that they will be gone for a short time but will return. These explanations will become clearer when the baby grows older.
It’s also a good idea to include a timeframe. It is critical to be on time, as arriving late can lead a youngster to lose trust in the caregiver’s words.
8. Keep your farewells brief and pleasant.
Long goodbyes can prolong sadness, so keep them short and positive. It’s fine to console a child who is having separation anxiety, but don’t stay too long. Give them your whole time and care, then depart.
9. Never sneak out.
While it may be tempting to flee without the infant noticing, this might lead to long-term troubles. The infant may develop a continual fear that their caregiver may abandon them at any moment, causing separation anxiety to intensify.
Saying goodbye gives the baby a sense of what to expect and establishes trust that the caregiver will not abandon them without informing them.
How to Handle Separation Anxiety at Night
Photo by Sunvani Hoàng from Pexels
Providing comfort and reassurance throughout the day may assist to reduce separations at night. However, during bedtime, a little more care is frequently required to help children feel secure before falling asleep.
It might be useful to:
- follow a bedtime routine
- make sure they have a security blanket or toy with them
- stay calm and relaxed when saying goodnight.
- avoid slipping out after they’ve fallen asleep since they’ll be upset if they wake up.
- comfort them by massaging or patting them until they calm down, then leave.
- avoid pulling them out of bed and rocking them to sleep whenever feasible.
When Will Separation Anxiety End?
Separation anxiety usually peaks around the age of three years and fades as the child gains a better knowledge of when their caregiver will return. Separation anxiety can, however, persist for longer lengths of time in some youngsters.
Life separation anxiety disorder is defined as separation anxiety that extends into later childhood (CSAD). This is a mental health issue that generates unusually high levels of separation anxiety for the child’s age.
CSAD may cause a child to refuse to attend school or skip school. It might also make it difficult for children to participate in group activities.
When to See the Doctor About Separation Anxiety
If your baby’s separation anxiety is giving them a lot of grief, they are upset for a long time after you leave them, or it has been going on for more than a few weeks, speak to your health visitor.
This article was written by Margaux Dolores and republished with permission from theAsianparent Philippines.
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.