As most babies experience separation anxiety at some point in their development, symptoms generally fade with time. If any persistent anxiety symptoms exist it’s important to notify your pediatrician.
Keep goodbyes short and sweet to reduce anxiety for both parties involved. Also avoid either praising or criticizing them for the difficulty they are having in leaving behind loved ones.
Identify the triggers
Identification of your child’s separation anxiety triggers is key to helping him or her manage it and feel more at ease when you leave them behind. Things that might trigger it include any changes to their surroundings or routine, like moving houses or adding babysitters; as well as stressful events like divorce and loss.
If your child’s refusal or clinginess to you is causing them significant distress and interfering with daily life, consult your pediatrician about it. They may offer additional coping strategies or recommend a therapist or psychiatrist that specializes in children’s mental health. Typical treatment for separation anxiety disorder includes psychotherapy and medication; family counseling may also help. Therapy sessions aim to teach kids to cope with fears while developing independence while eventually eliminating anxiety as fuel for its cause.
Create a routine
Children suffering from separation anxiety frequently struggle to sleep due to nightmares about being apart or simply because they want to remain close to both of their parents.
Try to make their separation as pleasant as possible. If they’re experiencing separation anxiety at school, you could ask them to arrive a few minutes earlier than normal so they have time to settle in and feel secure before their teacher or another student comes along to pick them back up and take them back into class.
Keep your child from fearing you are suddenly leaving without notice, which could worsen separation anxiety. Always say goodbye and assure them you will return (even for short periods of time).
If your child is experiencing difficulty in one area of their lives – such as sleeping through the night or parting ways from loved ones – BetterHelp makes finding an experienced therapist easier – simply answer a few questions and we’ll connect you with suitable specialists.
Make the environment familiar
Effective ways of alleviating separation anxiety include familiarizing your child with their new environment. This could involve visiting relatives’ homes, child care centres or preschools together and then leaving them on their own later on. Bring along something comforting such as a teddy bear or pillow and make sure their primary caregiver remains constant every time.
Babies may experience separation anxiety when tired, hungry, or fearful of strangers; their distress could manifest by “freezing” in your arms, covering their face with their hands or clinging tightly to you. They may express this by “freezing”, covering their face or holding tightly on to you for support.
If your child’s separation anxiety reaches an unhealthy level, consulting a psychotherapist is often beneficial in helping them learn how to cope with their feelings. BetterHelp offers access to psychotherapists who specialize in separation anxiety disorder as well as many other mental health conditions – get started today!
Keep your child busy
Young infants typically adjust well to new environments and caregivers, although around age 8 months to 1 year, children often become increasingly attached to those around them and develop separation anxiety when left alone with others. While this is a normal development stage for kids, there are ways you can ease this transition and prevent more severe symptoms like refusing school attendance or clinging on tightly at home.
Identification and therapeutic techniques are important tools in managing separation anxiety disorder symptoms in children. Parents can aid their child by remaining calm and offering positive reinforcement, such as praise for sleeping without fuss or getting good reports at school. Sympathetic parents may be reinforcing fears in their child; to best support them they should gradually separate from them while consistently assuring them of their return – creating confidence within the child!https://www.youtube.com/embed/JOmFar9xa5o