How to Help Your Toddler Cope with Separation Anxiety When You Go on a Business Trip

Many working parents must go on business trips and that can be hard on toddlers between the ages of two and three. The twos are susceptible to separation anxiety, and the threes, although better equipped to cope with being separated from you, still don’t have enough of a sense of time to know when you are coming back. Here are some tips to help your toddler cope so that you can do your job, guilt-free.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A cassette recorder, digital voice recorder or video camera
• A jar or container with a mouth large enough for a hand to reach inside
• Small pieces of paper, one for each day you will be away
• Special “treats” (cookie, favorite snack or stickers), one for each day you will be away
• Construction Paper, one piece for each day you will be away
• Crayons
• Two copies of a favorite photo of the two of you
• (optional) webcam

1. Tell your toddler that you will be going away and when you will be coming back. Be matter-of-fact and do not share whatever anxiety you may be feeling. You want your attitude to assure her that you feel confident that she can cope.
2. When it is time to leave, keep your goodbyes short and sweet, and as before, do not communicate your stress or fears about being away on a business trip. Never sneak out. Your toddler needs to know that he can rely on you.
3. Record yourself reading her favorite stories or singing his favorite songs.
4. Leave behind tangible items that will help your toddler count down the days until you return. Fill a big jar with personal notes jotted on pieces of paper and a special treat (something to eat, or a sticker)--one for each day until you return.
5. Leave behind pieces of colorful construction paper and crayons in a special spot and be sure your child knows that there are just enough pieces of paper to make a drawing for every day that you are gone. When they are all done and hung on the wall, it will be time for Mommy or Daddy to come home.
6. If you are breastfeeding, consider continuing to do it part-time (I chose bedtime and wake up in the morning) through this period when your child is young and you must go on business trips. Your toddler will be eating regular food, of course, but the intimacy of breastfeeding helps keep you close, even if you cannot be there every night.
7. Print two copies of the same family photo, one to stay at home and one to travel with you. Tell you toddler that you are going to kiss him goodnight every night (demonstrate how you will kiss the photo and say “Good night, I love you and I will be home soon”), and show him that he can do the same with his photo to say goodnight to you.
8. Send (to your toddler care of the caregiver at home) emails with funny jokes (knock-knock jokes are perfect for this age) or attach pictures of animals, trucks or favorite characters-—you know what will delight your little one.
9. onsider getting a second webcam to take with you on your business trip so you can stay in touch in person, via computer if you have a webcam at home.