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prepare. before it?s time to
leave
the
child
, discuss what will happen. let him know you will
leave
him with a babysitter, tell him what you will be doing while you are gone, and assure him you will be back. if possible, plan something fun the
child
and the
caregiver
can do together. if a
child
knows what to expect, he will have the opportunity to ask questions and ease some of the apprehension he may feel. practice. young
child
ren, especially infants, benefit from easing into a new routine. try leaving the
child
for short periods of time before going back to work full time. by slowly increasing the length of time, the
child
will be able to develop a relationship with his or her
caregiver
and adjust to being away from the parent. be consistent. do your best to use the same
caregiver
each time you
leave
so that the
child
feels more comfortable. your
child
will spend a lot of time with the babysitter, especially if the parents work full time outside the home, and it is important that the
child
feels safe and comfortable with the
caregiver
. choose the best time. a
child
who is sick, hungry, or tired is more likely to struggle with separation anxiety. make sure she is fed and rested before it is time for you to
leave
. keep it familiar. if possible, have the
caregiver
come to your home where your
child
feels most comfortable. if that is not possible, have the
child
bring something from home that makes him feel comfortable such as a special stuffed animal or blanket, a photo of the family, or a favorite toy. another idea is to have the
caregiver
bring a special toy along with her that the
child
will recognize and associate with her each time, helping to create consistency and comfort for the
child
. set a time limit. when it is time to
leave
, give your
child
a time you will return. toddlers do not understand the concept of time, but you can let them know they can expect you after a specific activity. explain that you will be home after lunch, when naptime is done, or when the movie is over (let the
caregiver
know when to start the movie). ?is will help the
child
understand what time you will be home and relax when you
leave
. i t is normal for your
child
to feel nervous when it?s time to stay with a
caregiver
. separation can be difficult for both the
child
and the parent, but
child
ren can begin to feel comfortable and separation anxiety will improve with these strategies. by sarah lyons soothing separation anxiety 58 brparents.com | february 2017
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