Separation anxiety tends to come on during the 8-10 month sleep regression phase, and is characterised by clingy behaviour and crying when you’re not in the room.
Separation anxiety is caused by your toddler becoming more aware of the world and how dependent they are on you for their care. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it shows you clearly have a great bond with your child, however it can be a struggle for parents.
⭐ Playing the peekaboo game can be a nice gentle way to show your baby you are coming back
⭐ Try not to prolong goodbyes, make them quick and happy so your toddler doesn’t pick up on any sad emotion you may be feeling
⭐ Independent play helps encourage them to be more curious which can help
Most importantly, let your toddler become comfortable at their own pace, do not rush them. Otherwise it can get more severe and could cause long term anxiety.
Once you've done those checks and you still feel there is an issue, fill out my Free Sleep Assessment Form and lets see if we can get to the root issue together.
Find out more about Sleep by Alexandra Sleep by Alexandra helps your family sleep better so you can enjoy more time together. Alexandra Collingbourne is a sleep consultant specialising in safe, holistic methods of getting your baby, toddler or young child to sleep in a way that empowers parents to live better, happier and with more energy. Specialist postnatal depression & anxiety support is also available for those who need it.
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