Sep Anxiety or Bad Daycare?

Hi S.,
As a daycare provider myself, what your child is going through is a perfectly normal stage and can last up to 3 years of age. Kids have their good days and bad days with saying goodbye, and on those bad days, rest assure that as soon as you get into your car, your child has already started playing with toys. As a parent, it's best to be happy when you leave, telling your son that you will miss him but see him at the end of the day, and promptly leave. The new situation, and his age, are causing the anxiety.

Hi S.,
I have a in-home daycare and I've been doing this for 12yrs.
I always tell my parents of infants that around 9or10 months
(they've been with me since infancy) they start to have some separation anxiety.
That is when they start to really realize wait your my parents but your leaving me with this person. I have 4 toddlers and all but one went thru this. But on the other hand many times they don't want to leave when mom or dad pick them up.
Try to focus on his reaction when you pick him up.
C.

Separation anxiety is perfectly normal for kids. However, having experience the worst possible scenario with a home daycare, I will tell you to please trust your instincts. If you feel that your child might be in a bad place, don't take chances. You've got to go with it and get him out of there. Trust your gut feelings.

My daughter started having separation anxiety around 1 year and then again around 18 months. We went through a few weeks of hysterical crying as I was leaving. Normally I get kisses and hugs. She goes off to play, I go to work.

She started crying again at 21 months when she started a new daycare. It took about 3 weeks for her to get used to things and go back to kisses and hugs when I leave.

If there's a window you could look into after you left without your child seeing you. Check to see how long it takes them to calm down. Call - you know what your child's cry sounds like, listen to the background when talking to the teacher. My daughter's best gauge is is she eating and sleeping well and what is her mood when I pick her up. Those things should help you determine if it's a good environment for your child to be in. Good Luck!

it's probably sep anxiety and the fact that he still needs to get ajusted to the daycare. it can take a couple of weeks even up to 6 or 7 weeks before he is used to the daycare. my son is in daycare now for 3 months and he has been good from the beginning but just for the last month i notice that he is doing even better as he doesn't want to be carried inside anymore and as soon as his jacket is off he starts playing and doesn't even give me a hug anymore! once your little one is used to the daycare and routine you'll be fine. sep anxiety is also normal at this age and you will see it again around his 2nd birthday. it will pass it just takes time and for some babies more than for others.

Is he at a daycare center or an in home daycare. Maybe you should consider a different type of daycare. Is he comfortable where he is? I babysit children in my home part time and live in Buffalo Grove. The kids I watch feel very much at home here. Maybe your son would feel more comfortable in a home setting.

How is he when you pick him up? Can you look through the window before he sees you to see what he is doing/how he is behaving while you are not there? If he is happily playing most of the time then it is probably sep. anxiety. If he seems withdrawn, alone in a corner of the room by himself then it might not be the right "fit" for him.

Also, is he having other seperation problems? Does he cry or get upset when you walk out of a room at home? Does he not want to go to other people that he has been comfortable with before? If he is having seperation issues you should be seeing it in other situations besides daycare.