2-year-old won't stop crying at handoffs

F

Jan 181 min read

Every Tuesday evening when mom picks up our 2yo he absolutely loses it. Crying, clinging, the whole thing. I feel terrible but I also don't know if I'm making it worse by comforting him extra before she takes him. Is this normal separation anxiety? Will it get better? My ex acts like it's no big deal but it breaks my heart.

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Comments(4)

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JJamesNew DadJan 18

Our 2yo does the exact same thing and it's brutal to watch. Learned from the pediatrician that it's pretty normal separation anxiety at that age, doesn't mean anything is wrong with the setup.

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SStevenRegularJan 19

Have you and mom tried keeping the handoff super brief and consistent? Like the same time same place same routine? Sometimes that helps kids know what to expect.

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DDanielNew DadJan 20

The clinging part is the hardest because you feel like you're doing something wrong, but you're not. Kids this age just process transitions rough sometimes.

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DDerekRegularJan 20

We switched to doing handoffs at preschool pickup instead of at home and it actually helped. Neutral location maybe made it easier for him to transition.

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