Postpartum Separation Anxiety from Baby

Many parents will experience leaving their baby with another caregiver at some point, which can cause separation anxiety from their baby. Whether you’re returning to work or just going out for a brief period, you’re bound to have to leave your baby with family, friends, or other caregivers while they’re young. While this support is essential for parents, leaving a baby with others can often bring feelings of worry or anxiety.

For many mothers and parents, this experience of worry is common. While some anxiety may be normal, too much can be destructive to your mental health and well-being. In this blog, we’ll help review the signs of separation anxiety from your baby and how you can manage these symptoms if you’re experiencing postpartum anxiety.

How to Get Over Separation Anxiety from My Baby

What is maternal separation anxiety?

Mothers can experience maternal separation anxiety in various ways. It’s often described as an overwhelming feeling of sadness, guilt, or worry when they’re separated from their baby or toddler. Caring about your child’s well-being when you’re not with them is a completely natural feeling; however, when this worry becomes too much, it can become destructive to your own well-being. So how do you know when you’re now experiencing signs of postpartum separation anxiety from your baby?

What are the signs of maternal separation anxiety?

While everyone is different and can experience anxiety differently, here are some common signs of maternal separation anxiety:

Excessive worry
Having catastrophic thoughts
Irritability, rage, or anger
Feeling guilty leaving your baby with others
Desire to control how your baby is cared for
Some physical symptoms include nausea, panic or heart racing, and headaches

Is it normal to have separation anxiety from your baby?

Experiencing postpartum anxiety can feel isolating, especially if you’re unable to speak to others about how you’re feeling. Postpartum separation anxiety is a very common and normal lived maternal experience. It’s natural to worry about your child's well-being while they’re being cared for by someone else, but as we’ve mentioned, having too much anxiety can be troubling for your overall health and well-being. That is why it’s essential to understand the signs of postpartum anxiety, learn how to manage these feelings, and seek help if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your anxiety.

How to manage separation anxiety from my baby

know that postpartum separation anxiety is a stage

When you’re experiencing feelings of anxiety, your mind can start to wonder if you’ll always feel this way. Experiencing separation anxiety from your baby will get easier in time with the right tools to manage the symptoms you’re experiencing. Remember, your baby is growing and learning important social and developmental skills by being with others.

same the feelings

An important first step to coping with anxiety is to identify your feelings. Whether you acknowledge the feelings with yourself, speak to a loved one, or a healthcare professional, it’s important to identify what it is you’re experiencing. For example, you may tell your partner, “I need you to know that I am not angry with you; my anxiety from being away from our baby is causing me to feel irritable and angry.”

start small

Taking shorter times away from your baby at the start can be a great way to ease into things. If you’re preparing to go back to work in the future, you can start with quick shopping trips away, or even just some short walks alone to stay nearby.

slowly increase separation

As you start small, you will want to be sure to build on the time you’re away slowly. This will take some patience with yourself, and it will be important to acknowledge how you’re feeling along the way.

spend time with new babysitters

Taking time to get to know your babysitter will help you feel more confident as you prepare to leave your baby or toddler with them. The more you trust a babysitter, the easier it may be to calm your worries while away.

take time for yourself

Motherhood and experiencing feelings of anxiety can be exhausting. It’s important to recognize when you may actually need time for yourself and that you take it. This may become easier as you practice some of the methods we have outlined here!

practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is a practice of focusing on the present moment, calmly addressing how you’re feeling, and being consciously aware. The practice of mindfulness can be followed by incorporating ‘naming the feelings’ and recognizing what they might be stemming from.

therapy

Anxiety, depression, or feelings of worry don’t have to be handled alone. If you’re experiencing postpartum separation anxiety, a mental health professional can help. A therapist can help you identify if you’re experiencing more than anxiety or something stemming from other underlying mental health conditions that have yet to be addressed.

prepare other caregivers

When leaving your child with others, it can be comforting to prepare other caregivers for things to expect or ways that you typically soothe or care for your baby. This is where having your adjustable Tushbaby carrier will come in handy. You can show the caregiver how to adjust and wear the Tushbaby carrier for both carrying and feeding support. You can even keep some necessities in the storage pockets so they’ll have everything they need, thus keeping the focus on your baby. You can even store a foldable changing pad in your Tushbaby — that’s a trick that will go beyond dropping your baby off with a caregiver. Your baby is likely comforted by the Tushbaby if you use it at home, so knowing they will be treated the same when you’re away can be comforting. Tushbaby also designed the Totebaby, so you can pack everything you need to care for and keep your baby happy. The Totebaby can be packed with extra necessities and passed along to the caregiver so they’re ready for anything. Plus, your Paci Pod can be clipped on and will help keep the pacifier close, clean, and handy for the caregiver should they need it.