Help! Need strategies for separation anxiety in thirteen month old
My 13 month old has recently developed a huge case of separation anxiety. I know she is at that age, but we have also recently (one month ago) moved into a new house, which I think is the trigger for her anxiety.
She is very clingy at home, which we are dealing with ok, but it is day care that is the real issue. I am due to return to work mid August and since the end of May have been (very) slowly getting her used to family day care for the three days per week that I will be working, mainly by putting her into care for a couple of hours and building up to half days.
Until last week, she had no problem going but we had a break of a couple of weeks when we moved and she was sick and when she went back to care, she was very unhappy. She screamed for three hours the first day and two hours the second day, and only stopped because I picked her up early.
She is happy enough at care if her carer carries her everywhere :o but if she gets put down and/or the carer leaves the room, she basically throws what appears to be a tantrum, which stops the second she is picked up.
I have tried to "build up" care by saying "we are off to #insert carer's name#, how exciting" etc etc, and I currently encouraging her relationship with her teddy so that she take him for comfort.
This is my first baby, so I am looking for some tried and true suggestions on the possible ways to deal with this.
Thanks in advance.