6 months week 2

Your baby shows a strong attachment to you by raising her arms when she wants to be picked up and crying if you disappear from her sight! She may even shower you with kisses and warm embraces, this is when separation and stranger anxiety may begin to sink in making it even more difficult to leave your baby and go to work.

Separation anxiety begins to really sink in; baby begins to be shy with strangers or unfamiliar faces outside her family. Dramatic and teary goodbyes are hard on everyone.

Now that your baby has begun to master memory, she makes the connection when her sitter arrives or when you pick up your bag and car keys that you’ll be out of here and you might not take her with you.

We all take comfort in knowing that our children are firmly attached to us but reality is most of us have to get out there and work (that’s if you’re not so lucky to be able to work from home).

We all know how hard it is to leave a baby crying at home, you won’t be settled, wherever you go it feels like she’s still crying out for you and you just can’t wait to rush back home to make sure everything is alright. Here is how you can leave guilt free and your baby settled:

• Remember your baby is a baby so allow her to be a baby. It’s perfectly normal for baby to be attached to you and for her to desire your constant company. It’s proof that the bond you worked so hard to create is holding. So pay no attention to those who advise you otherwise.
• Spoil her with love, she will soon grow out of this phase and on to the next greater developmental milestone.
• Practice with quick, safe separations throughout the day, create situations of brief separation. When you go to another room, sing, whistle or talk to your baby so she knows you are still there, even though she can’t see you.
• Tell her what to expect, each time you leave her at home, tell her where you are going and explain that you will be back. Eventually she’ll come to understand your explanations.
• Don’t be a sneaker! Never sneak away when you have to leave her, it may seem easier than dealing with teary screaming goodbyes but it will cause her constant worry that you’ll just disappear without warning at any given time. The end result? You’ll be left with an even clingier and restless baby on your hands and her trust in you will be bruised.
• Invite distractions with a toy or let her sitter play with her as you say goodbye.
• Leave her with people she’s familiar with and express a positive attitude when leaving her, leave with a smile. She will absorb your emotions, your confidence will help alleviate her fears.