Hi everyone,
I am a mom to a 2-year-old toddler who seems to be going through a tough time coping with separation anxiety. Every time I need to leave the house for work or run errands, my little one becomes extremely upset and clings onto me with tears in his eyes. It breaks my heart to see him like this, and I am not sure how to help him cope with these emotions.
I have tried reassuring him that I will be back soon, leaving him with familiar and trusted caregivers, and giving him a special toy or blanket to comfort him, but nothing seems to be working. I am worried that his separation anxiety will continue to escalate, and it will become a hindrance to his growth and development.
Any advice or tips on how I can help my toddler cope with separation anxiety would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your help!

Hey there,
I also had to cope with handling separation anxiety in my 2-year-old toddler, and I found that communication was key. I began explaining to my child what was going to happen during the day and all the fun things that he would get to do with his babysitter. This did not just distract him but also kept him excited for his day with the sitter.
Another important thing that helped was making a goodbye and hello ritual. We would say goodbye with a hug and a kiss, and we had a special handshake for when I returned home. This helped him know that I had not forgotten about him while I was outside, and it also made him feel special.
Additionally, it might help if you practice leaving them with someone for short periods. This may be a significant change for your child, so it is good you get him used to the idea slowly. Start by leaving them with a babysitter for 20-30 minutes while you go outside.
Finally, I found that incentivizing obeying the babysitter helped. For instance, I promised my little one that I would take him out on the weekend if he let the babysitter take care of him without fuss.
In conclusion, like it has been said, patience is essential when helping your child cope with separation anxiety, so take it one step at a time. With time and consistency, they will adjust, and It will become more manageable.