3 yo DD becoming hysterical when DH goes to work

[DitaVonCheese]

DD has generally preferred me (being the one with the boobs ) but suddenly over the past week she's become completely hysterical when it's time for DH to go to work.

Generally DH has a shower then he plays with her/gets her dressed while I have a shower, then he leaves for work. She is completely happy up to this point. Atm it's taking him ten minutes to get out of the house because DD keeps begging for more kisses and cuddles while sobbing and clinging on to him. This morning he only managed to leave because I sat on the stairs with her so we could wave out of the window at him, and even then she was shaking and crying so hard she was nearly sick.

Any ideas? Nothing has changed recently. Today was DH's first day back at work after the long BH w/e but she was doing it last week as well. She also did it on Sunday when my mum left after dropping her off after taking it out for the morning. She is (so far) fine with me leaving her at preschool, thank god.

Trick is for DH to keep it bright and breezy, not go back for kisses and cuddles and then you find something very distracting for her to do as soon as he's gone. It'll pass.

Thanks - I did say to him this morning it was probably better that he just left rather than repeatedly coming back. Will try that tomorrow ...

I agree.

Make it matter of fact and show her that you are completely relaxed about him going. I don't mean disregard her distress, just show her that you are not distressed by him leaving because you are confident that he will return later.

By prolonging the goodbyes he may be reinforcing her feeling that him going out is a big deal to be upset about.

Get him to use a lighthearted tone, give her a kiss, tell her to have a lovely day and that he wants to hear all about it later and go with a smile.

You could try getting him to give her a little job to do as soon as he's gone. Perhaps there is something special of his or personal to him that she can put away for him. That will give her something constructive to do and maybe help change the focus for her.