Huggies® Australia

Toddler behaviour – Dealing with separation anxiety

One of the most rewarding things about having a toddler in your life is knowing that they love you unconditionally. When we feel our lowest, there at our side is our loving child, simply wanting a cuddle and our attention.

However there are times when we want our child to feel comfortable leaving our presence for various reasons – going to Grandma’s, staying with a babysitter, attending crèche – but for some toddlers, this can be a traumatic event.

Around the age of 6 – 7 months, babies typically start developing a sense of “object permanence”. They start to understand that objects and people still exist even when they cannot see them. By the time they are around 12 months old, many toddlers become anxious (to varying degrees) every time one or both of their parents are out of their sight – even for a moment. Young children realise that their parents are not with them, and may become worried that they will never return, or will not be there when they need them. This is often why toddlers scream during the night. They require reassurance that mum and dad are still around to comfort them. Fortunately this normal developmental phase is generally outgrown before their third birthday, but in the mean time, there are some strategies that can help reduce the anxiety levels of both parents and toddlers.

Tips to help your toddler manage their separation anxiety

It is important that you try not to get upset or angry by your child’s behaviour. It is flattering that your child loves you so much that he or she cares that you are leaving even for a short time. But no matter how complimentary it is, you still want to help your toddler to transition effectively through this stage.

Here are some basic pieces of advice to assist you and your toddler to travel through this normal phase with less stress and tears.

Keep your own emotions in check

If your toddler senses that you are upset about leaving them (whether it is at crèche or with their other parent) they will react to your response. Display confidence in yourself, your child, and the person that will be caring for your child, regardless of how guilty you may feel.

Prepare your child in advance

Talk about the event ahead of time. If your child is spending the day at Grandma’s, start talking about it at least the day before. Continuously remind your child of all the fun things he/she will do and see.

Do not draw out the “goodbye”

It is important that you leave your child without drawing out the scene unnecessarily. It is OK for your child to cry when you leave as it teaches him or her coping skills for the future. Cooing and cuddling your crying child is likely to exacerbate the problem and you may also end in tears yourself! And be careful of your language – if you make statements such as “I know Grandma can yell a bit but I don’t worry, we can have icecream afterwards” is not an exciting visit to look forward to! Be firm but kind – give your child a quick kiss and a positive statement about when you expect to return, then leave.

Play “Peek-a-boo”

Babies love this game – it is fun for people to move out of their vision then return. As they get older, you can increase this to you moving away and hiding behind a couch then “popping back”. Over time as they get older, you can leave the room briefly then return to reassure your child that you are still around. But ALWAYS let your child know what you are doing – do NOT just sneak out of the room!

NEVER sneak away to avoid the tantrum

Sometimes it seems easier as a parent to leave without the child knowing, however this reinforces the toddler’s belief that if they cannot see you, you are no longer there for them. They are not going to let you out of their sight if they know that you might disappear at any moment! This will prolong the child’s issues with separation anxiety and is therefore extremely problematic in the long run.

Take a teddy

Often having a transitional object (eg. a teddy or a favourite blanket) will help them feel safe and comfortable. Your child can bring it and cuddle it when the need arises. My children still have their “kiss boxes” in which I sprayed some of my favourite perfume and blew in hundreds of kisses so they could take one whenever they needed to.

Establish a “goodbye” routine

This works exceptionally well for toddlers. Some people have a fun little routine such as saying “See ya later, Alligator” and the child replies with “At the while, Crocodile” (or the closest approximation of that phrase that they are capable of!). You might also have a special handshake or kissing sequence which makes it fun for you to leave. It is important at the end of this to turn and walk out quickly and confidently so you do not prolong the agony for your child (or yourself).

Persistence is the key

For those parents who seem to face the same heartbreaking tears day after day at the door of the crèche or at Grandma’s, be persistent. If you give in even once to the tantrum, you are teaching your child that a tantrum SOMETIMES leads to getting their own way, but NOT having a tantrum NEVER leads to getting their own way. Make sure that they are not hungry or overly tired and that they have a clean nappy/underwear, then just follow the above strategies. With persistence your child will learn to accept the routine! And you will too!

Remember, your child feeling really sad when you leave is a normal emotion. You probably feel just as sad. But this experience gives your toddler the opportunity to learn to cope with difficult situations and will lead to a healthier and happier child and adult in the future!

For more information see Emotional Development.

By Sally-Anne McCormack M.A.P.S.

Dip T (Psych Maj); Postgrad Dip Psych (Ed); B Ed: M Psych (Ed & Dev)

Sally-Anne is a Melbourne psychologist, former teacher, and mother of 4. She has 2 websites: www.psychonline.com.au and www.parentsonline.com.au.