Separation anxiety is normal in babies between the ages of 10 months and 18 months. It means that your baby’s development is on track and that they have formed a healthy bond with you! However, this stage can bring challenges with sleep, and we are here to help you navigate them, so keep reading!
What is typical separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety is distress when separated from a main caregiver or a place.
Can you sleep train through separation anxiety?
Yes, you can! You just need to make sure you are using the right sleep training approach. Sleep training at this stage could bring more protest from your baby than usual, but this does not mean that you will not succeed. Our suggestion as sleep consultants is to not use CIO methods during this stage, instead, pick a sleep training method that allows you to support and respond to your baby at all times.
So now that we got those questions out of the way, here’s what you can do to help your anxious little one survive this stage while keeping their sleep intact:
1. Practice separation during the day.
During the day, try walking away from your baby for short amounts of time. This will give them the chance to form the expectation that you always come back.
2. Keep your bedtime routine consistent and relaxing.
Take a look at your bedtime routine and make sure that none of the steps are too stimulating, and take the opportunity to give your baby a massage.
3. Stay calm.
When it comes time to say good night, give them extra hugs and kisses, and lay them down. As you walk out of the room, they need to see that you are confident and calm. This will give your baby the message that you have the situation under control, and that there is nothing wrong with you walking away. The main goal is to give your baby the message that this is a positive situation.
4. Be consistent.
Stick with the same approach you have been using to intervene when your baby wakes up in the middle of the night. Any new habits that you introduce right now will be very hard to break once your baby is over the separation anxiety bump.
We are experts at sleep training during separation anxiety. Our award-winning certified sleep consultants are ready to give you one-on-one guidance and help you reach your sleep goals, and most importantly, give you back your rest! Book a free evaluation call.
3. Stay calm.
When it comes time to say good night, give them extra hugs and kisses, and lay them down. As you walk out of the room, they need to see that you are confident and calm. This will give your baby the message that you have the situation under control, and that there is nothing wrong with you walking away. The main goal is to give your baby the message that this is a positive situation.
Our baby sleep coaches in Tulsa, San Fransico, or Philadelphia can help you every step of the way so that this transition becomes a seamless process.
4. Be consistent.
Stick with the same approach you have been using to intervene when your baby wakes up in the middle of the night. Any new habits that you introduce right now will be very hard to break once your baby is over the separation anxiety bump.
We are experts at sleep training during separation anxiety. Our award-winning certified sleep consultants in San Francisco, NJ, and NYC are ready to give you one-on-one guidance and help you reach your sleep goals, and most importantly, give you back your rest! Book a free evaluation call.
