The first time you leave your baby for an extended period of time can make you cry almost as much as your baby. All babies have separation anxiety to one extent or another, but that fact doesn’t make it any easier. It’s hard to see your baby cry when you leave, and even harder to leave them in the arms of someone who is not Y O U.
Babies develop a sense of separation at an early age, usually between 4-7 months. That’s when they begin to understand that things and people exist even if they can’t see them.
The fancy word for this phenomena is “object permanence.” Just like they drop the spoon off the table (over and over again), peer over the side of the high chair to see where it went (never gets boring), and then demand the spoon back (to start the process all over again), they know you exist and want you back, too.
Before you and your baby have a major melt down, here are a few suggestions to ease the anxiety while you’re away.
1. Slow and Steady
Leave time for your baby to adjust to a new caregiver. Do a practice run: stay in the room with your baby and the caregiver the first time. That way your baby will be more familiar with his surroundings on the next go round.
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