09.11 Managing Separation Anxiety in Children Under 2 Years Old

Separation anxiety occurs when babies and toddlers do not feel securely attached to their key person. Taking steps to reduce anxiety and promote attachment is a priority task for the key person in partnership with the parent.

• Separation anxiety can be identified when signals are clearly understood by members of staff.
• Distress in children produces high levels of corticosteroids (neurochemicals) which hinder brain functioning. It is detrimental for babies to experience prolonged distress. Signals include:
• crying inconsolably for extended periods; causing coughing or difficulty to breath or vomiting
• holding breath
• head banging or rocking
• ambivalent feelings towards the key person, i.e. wanting to be picked up then struggling free
• frantic movement or lashing out with arms and legs
• biting, tantrums and snatching from others.
• jealousy shown towards other children in the key group
• refusing food or drink or showing signs of digestive problems
• temporary interest in toys or others, then crying again.
• prolonged periods of sleep
• switching off, staring blankly
• anxiousness about who is coming in and out of a room, standing by the door for long periods
• being held, but not responding or smiling
• crying when the parent collects or cheering up and eager when parent collects
• A picture of evidence builds up which may suggest that the baby/toddler is experiencing separation anxiety. This needs to be discussed with the parent and a plan made to help the child settle.
• The parent and key person discuss the reasons that the separation anxiety has developed or been made worse. It could be due to:
• hurried settling-in due to pressures on parents
• inadequate settling in due to the key person being absent or the baby not being brought in each day to complete the settling-in plan
• the key person’s absence during settling in period
• changes of staff
• part time attendance not allowing sufficient continuity for the baby to become familiar with the surroundings and to make an attachment to the key person
• change of key person in the setting
• changes at home – stress events in the family
• baby’s illness
• family having been away on holiday
• previous distressing experiences with another setting
• The goal of any plan is to ensure the child is secure through forming an attachment with the key person.
• The settling in process is reviewed; if any aspect has been missed, this needs to be re-planned. This may include the need for the parent to stay or find a close relative or friend whom the child feels safe with if the parent cannot be there.
• A baby who will be attending on a part-time basis will need to come in daily until he/she is familiar and beginning to settle.

This Policy was created by Suzannah Arnfield on 1^st June 2024

Reviewed by Niamh Herron Date 03/06/2024