Helping my 14 month old charge with separation anxiety

[Anonymous]

My adorable fourteen-month-old charge has just recently begun to feel intense separation from her mother. When we are alone, my charge is her normal happy little self. But as soon as her mother walks in the door, my charge is whiny and crying for her mother to hold her 100% of the time. Her mother just leaving the room to get dressed in the morning causes a mini-breakdown. My charge is doing this with everyone, including her poor Dad. We are going on a trip next weekend and my charge will give her mother no peace if she continues with these episodes.

My charge is a very bright little girl. We have been narrating and talking to her since birth so her receptive communication is nearly perfect and she understands everything you tell her. She is also surprisingly verbal for a baby with about 100 words. We also never lie to her - if I tell her that Mommy will hold her as soon as I change her diaper, I always follow through and do exactly as I said.

How can I best handle this situation? I have never had a charge who has gone through this stage before. Things are most difficult when her mother is in the house but cannot hold her.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

The best thing to do is to have mom/dad out of sight if they aren't able to actively care for her. Sorry. I know this doesn't help with your concerns about the trip.

[Anonymous]

She will outgrow it. I know it's awful and unpleasant for everyone, but the less of a big deal everyone makes about it, the more short-lived it will be.

Just keep doing what you do while she's whining or crying, stay positive, redirect (even if it isn't working), don't go overboard trying to fix it ...