Begin teaching your infant goodbyes so that you set a positive pattern for the future. It does not matter if your child is too young to understand what you say. Your body language is more important. If you hesitate or if you do not clearly indicate that you are leaving, you are showing the child that you are not sure about leaving. Tell your child that you are leaving and will be back, hug and wave goodbye, and put him or her in the arms of the care provider.

Begin teaching your infant goodbyes so that you set a positive pattern for the future. It does not matter if your child is too young to understand what you say. Your body language is more important. If you hesitate or if you do not clearly indicate that you are leaving, you are showing the child that you are not sure about leaving. Tell your child that you are leaving and will be back, hug and wave goodbye, and put him or her in the arms of the care provider.

Use events in the life of your child to explain when you will return. You might say, "After you have lunch and your nap, I'll be back again."

Use events in the life of your child to explain when you will return. You might say, "After you have lunch and your nap, I'll be back again."

Special toys and blankets can be comforting during times of separation. Having a special toy or object close can help a child feel safer and more secure. Your child might also like having a picture of the two of you to keep while you are gone.

Special toys and blankets can be comforting during times of separation. Having a special toy or object close can help a child feel safer and more secure. Your child might also like having a picture of the two of you to keep while you are gone.

Allow your child to make choices about things within her control to help ease the power struggle. She can't decide whether she is going to child care, but she can decide what to take along. Give her choices over smaller events: "Would you like to ride with your bear or doll as we go to school today?" "Would you rather wear your overalls or your jumper today?"

Allow your child to make choices about things within her control to help ease the power struggle. She can't decide whether she is going to child care, but she can decide what to take along. Give her choices over smaller events: "Would you like to ride with your bear or doll as we go to school today?" "Would you rather wear your overalls or your jumper today?"

It is best to say goodbye instead of slipping away. It may be easier for you to slip away while your child is happy and busy, but it is harder for your child once he realizes that you are gone. You might damage your child's trust in you, which may cause goodbyes that are more difficult in the future.

It is best to say goodbye instead of slipping away. It may be easier for you to slip away while your child is happy and busy, but it is harder for your child once he realizes that you are gone. You might damage your child's trust in you, which may cause goodbyes that are more difficult in the future.

The best way to say goodbye is in a positive, upbeat way (even if you feel sad). Give your child a big hug and tell him or her that you'll be back. Don't linger over goodbyes; this makes separating more difficult for both of you.

The best way to say goodbye is in a positive, upbeat way (even if you feel sad). Give your child a big hug and tell him or her that you'll be back. Don't linger over goodbyes; this makes separating more difficult for both of you.

Try to be patient with your child. When your child sees you again, she feels safe enough to unload all of the day's emotions that she has built up. Tell your child that you understand and that you missed her. Spend some quiet time together reading a book or listening to music. This will give your child time to calm down and make future separations easier.

Try to be patient with your child. When your child sees you again, she feels safe enough to unload all of the day's emotions that she has built up. Tell your child that you understand and that you missed her. Spend some quiet time together reading a book or listening to music. This will give your child time to calm down and make future separations easier.

You can help your son if you take him to visit the child care center before he starts. That way he will get used to the new place and the people there and feel more comfortable when you leave him. On his first day of day care, tell him ahead of time when you plan to leave him and that you will miss him until you return. Let your child see that while you will miss him, you feel confident about separating.

You can help your son if you take him to visit the child care center before he starts. That way he will get used to the new place and the people there and feel more comfortable when you leave him. On his first day of day care, tell him ahead of time when you plan to leave him and that you will miss him until you return. Let your child see that while you will miss him, you feel confident about separating.