The hardest part of stepping out of the house, even for just a moment, is dealing with your baby’s separation anxiety. Seeing your baby cry as you step out of the house is enough to break your heart. How can you possibly leave a crying baby with someone you hardly know?
Dealing with separation anxiety is not easy. As much as you need to get away, you’re torn. Should you stay or should you go? The more your baby cries, the more you’re tempted to stay home.
It has been said so many times; moms need to find time to get away. Hence, you shouldn’t feel bad if you need to do it. If your baby is crying and begging for you to stay, you just have to deal with the separation anxiety. Simply put, you shouldn’t give in.
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An article on babycenter.com explains why separation anxiety happens. While a six-month old baby is starting to feel independent, there’s still a strong yearning for support. Torn between feelings that are contradicting, the baby suffers from separation anxiety each time mommy leaves.
So instead of feeling bad each time you leave your baby with the babysitter, you’re better off dealing with it.
Hence, it’s part of babyhood. Since it’s all part of babyhood, it really is just a stage. So instead of feeling bad each time you leave your baby with the babysitter, you’re better off dealing with it. Here are a couple of ways for you to deal with separation anxiety.
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5. Don’t Leave Without Saying Goodbye
Most parents just leave home without saying goodbye. They want to spare themselves of the drama of saying goodbye. That really isn’t the most ideal way to deal with separation anxiety. It actually is the worse way to deal with it.
The best thing to do is to say goodbye. Even if your baby goes through all the drama of crying, confront it. Go through the whole drama because your baby will eventually get use to it. Don’t just leave your baby with the babysitter and leave immediately. Say good-bye properly, even if your baby ends up crying. Related read: How Sittercity can help with your babysitting needs
4. Prepare Your Baby
Never underestimate your baby. There’s more to your baby than just being cute and awesome. Your cute little baby can understand what’s happening. You should never underestimate your baby’s power to decipher what’s going on around them.
Your baby can pretty much sense that you have plans to step out of the house. Once your baby senses it, anxiety steps in.
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You can deal with that by preparing your baby for your quick absence. Have that conversation with your little one. Explain why you have to leave the house. Talk about your plans. Most importantly, make a promise that you’ll be back soon. By talking to your little baby, you can somehow lessen the separation anxiety when the moment comes.
Your baby can pretty much sense that you have plans to step out of the house. Once your baby senses it, anxiety steps in.
3. Plan Ahead
Hire a babysitter and make sure to meet with her before she actually takes on the task of babysitting your little one. Get to know her well and make sure your baby is familiar with her as well. This way, you won’t end up leaving your baby with a complete stranger.
You need to make plans. If you want to deal with separation anxiety in a less stressful manner, plan ahead. Related read: Which is better for you: Sittercity or Care.com?
2. Leave A Souvenir
This is a cute one but it can actually work. Leaving a souvenir like a photo is also a simple way to deal with separation anxiety. You can also leave a small toy that can divert your baby’s attention while you say good-bye.
Share this tactic with the babysitter. Leave a photo or a small toy and have the babysitter show it to your baby when the crying starts.
1. Let Your Baby Cope With It
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You don’t want your baby to cry. That’s the last thing you want to see and that’s the last thing you want your baby to do. However, you cannot stop your baby from having such feelings. That’s all part of life. Hence, you need to help your baby cope with it. Related read: Get a discount with a Sittercity promo code
Separation anxiety is a normal feeling. Instead of avoiding or masking it, deal with it.
Separation anxiety is a normal feeling. Instead of avoiding or masking it, deal with it. Be honest with your baby. Take some time to explain everything. Don’t give empty promises. Sure, your baby will cry and hold on to you but you just have to go. You owe yourself a break, remember?
Dealing with separation anxiety is never easy. It takes some time and effort to help the little one cope with it. The best thing you can do is to deal with it. That way you won’t have a hard time leaving your baby with the babysitter.
Have you ever experienced any separation anxieties before? Let us know what you did.
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A nerd at heart (haha), I have been following and analyzing the world of online sitters for a couple of years now and have seen a lot of innovations and changes in this market. In between taking care of my loving (and demanding 😜) family and writing, I also do a lot of “traveling” on the Travel Channel and Discovery Channel. Read More
I had always thought it was better to just disappear and not say good bye to my baby until I read your article. You definitely have some good tips here. Thank you for sharing.
It was really nice reading your article. Now, I don’t feel too bad leaving my baby. Of course, that shouldn’t stop me from hiring someone I can really trust. It’s really not just a matter of thinking that separation anxiety is just a stage but it’s really more of hiring the right person. I can deal with separation anxiety if I can leave my baby with someone I can really trust.
Precisely the reason why it’s crucial to hire a sitter who can deal with separation anxiety. I’m so blessed to have a really caring sitter who can calm my baby down when I step out of the house.