Although babies and toddlers cannot tell us how they feel in words, they are deeply affected by their experiences, especially changes in relationships with those closest to them.
Deployment means that a very important person in your child’s life is gone, perhaps for a long time. Although children will respond in their own way, depending on age and temperament, they experience the loss and do mourn. Their feelings are expressed through their common behavior.
Behaviors You Might See in Your Baby or Toddler During Pre-Deployment and Deployment
- Increased clinginess, crying, whining
- Greater fear of separation from you
- Withdrawal and difficulty engaging in activities they usually find pleasurable
- Changes in sleeping and eating patterns
- More irritable and difficulty in being comforted
- A return to earlier behaviors, such as middle-of-the-night awakening
Download the handout below to learn more.
