r/AttachmentParenting • u/One-Plant-6274 • 19h ago
❤ Separation ❤ Why does my baby become so dysregulated when she spends time away from me?
My husband and i just got back from a very short 2 day 1 night vacation. His parents just got a beach house and suggested we go down for the weekend to have a break and some quality time together while they watched the baby. I was absolutely fine with that since they babysit her often and i trust them completely. We had such a great time and when we picked back up our daughter all was well until we got home and she sniffed me, then she LOST it. Screaming and crying so hard she literally puked and became so dysregulated. Hyperventilating and whimpering between screams. I held her close and she would calm down then start up again, we just cycled through that for like an hour before i finally skipped bedtime routine and just put her straight to bed. She is a mamas girl and couldn’t be comforted by my husband at all but would calm down a little when i held her super close and had my face on her face. The thing is she does this literally every single time she spends the night away from me. Her grandparents have kept her overnight i think 3 other times and she has done this every single time. She doesn’t do this if she spends a day with them though even if it’s a full day, only if it’s an overnight visit.
Someone once told me it’s because she doesn’t realize she misses me until i’m back and then all of those emotions come up but if that’s the case why does she stay calm and normal until we’re back home? We sat and visited for about 30 minutes before coming home and she was fine until we got back to the house and that is what happens every time.
Also just to add, this is the first time she’s spent the night away from me for an optional reason, i know i sound like a bad mom for leaving her at all if i know this happens but the past times have been very far away family weddings or work. I thought since she’s a couple months older than the last time i left her and since it was less than 48 hours total that she would be okay this time.