Separation Anxiety and planning the return to work

Separation Anxiety can become apparent when little people become upset or anxious with the prospect of being separated from a parent. I’ve been with the little man almost constantly since his birth 9 months ago. Obviously he spends time with his Daddy but he goes to work so I’m the one that’s with him 24 hours a day. 

I’m worried about how upset he gets when I leave the room which is making the inevitable return work even more traumatic. I’ve been off work for a year and the thought of returning makes me feel physically sick. I feel like I’m going to miss out on so much. The little man isn’t too far off walking and I’m already worried that I’ll miss his first steps or hear him start to say new words. 

He’s never been left with anyone other than my Mam, and that’s only been for a couple of hours at most. He enjoys her company because he has fun and he’s comfortable with her because he sees her a lot. That doesn’t stop me worrying about my return to work on the 1st of January and that I’ll be away from him for over 12 hours at a time. 

I enjoy my job although it’s very stressful. I work 12 hour shifts which are either 7am – 7pm day shifts or 7pm – 7am night shifts. They’re long shifts, and there’s no down time, I have to be awake and alert for the full 12 hours I’m at work, lives can depend on it. It is quite a rewarding job though and I do mostly enjoy it. I had asked to return to work part time but that was refused, thankfully though I’ve found another lady who has had a baby, to job share with. This means we will split one full time role between us, working half the hours each, sadly though, this won’t come into place until June when she returns from Maternity Leave. That means I have 6 months of working full time before I can drop any hours. 

• Games such as peekaboo can reassure a baby that you may have disappeared but you will return, this helps them understand the idea of disappearing and reappearing. 
• Increase the time and regularity that they are left with other people, particularly the person who will look after them, whether that be a family member, nursery or child minder.
• Spend time with your little person and the person who’ll be looking after them, encourage your little person to get to know this person and gradually leave the room more. 
• Don’t sneak out and leave your little person, that will create more fear. Make separation predictable, give your little person a kiss, say goodbye and leave. 
• Try not to leave your little person when they’re vulnerable (at least at the beginning) – i.e when they’re tired or poorly.
• Try and keep your little person in their own surroundings. If that’s not possible take things from home, toys or a blanket to reassure them. We’re agreed that my Mam will look after the little man at our house so he’s in familiar surroundings and hopefully less anxious.