childminders club: separation anxiety how to deal with it

[dorset]

Hi i look after a 2 year old for what is going to be one day a week when he is dropped off he is fine until he then realises mum is not there and he will cry until she turns up. I have had to ring her because he has been so distressed This is a settling in period and he has only been for a couple of hours. She has not been able to leave him anywhere before she has tried a nursery and would not settle. She desperately wants a day off to herself (she does not work) any one else has dealt with this. I have other children as well to look after and i don't want them to be unsettled. I have tried distraction but he seems to switch off from what you are saying or trying to do with him. he just wants mum soon as mum is here he is happy to play. any ideas?

It is very difficult to sometimes leave a child who is used to being just with mummy & I find that the older they are the harder it gets!
Also just one day a week isn't enough, would you be able to offer two half days, I find that if it is just on 1 day there is too long between visits & even 2 year olds will forget good things. A lot of the playgroups around here will only offer a minimum of 2 sessions for that very reason. Although I have had children to mind for 1 day a week in the past it has always taken them longer to settle if they are not used to being left by mum. Also suggest that mum leaves him an old t shirt or something siomilar that smells of her for him to cuddle as he observes then plays.

hth

Maybe a longer settling period

With the mum leaving for 10 mins, then 20 mins and building up. The mum will have to make an effort to settle her child in and that gradual method often works. But it must be slowly

KMc great minds think alike

I was just about to say start with short times and then build up to longer

I've often asked a mum to stay for a coffee on a few occasions so that the child can get used to exploring the "new" house and toys, and get to know me a bit better. I wouldn't charge for this.

I've had children take a while to settle in - we tend to go for walks as that seems to help.

Thanks everyone. We have met up in toddler groups so he can get to know me as i don't have any other vacancies to offer at moment so haven't been able to offer half days. Settling in does take time and i will have to ask mum to do shorter periods.