在7到12個月之間，嬰兒會經歷一個分離的過程：他們意識到自己是與母親不同的獨立個體，這對於嬰兒來說是一個巨大的認知里程碑。這可能導致分離焦慮、哭泣、情緒不穩定以及對愛心玩具的更緊密的依賴。
愛心玩具是孩子最喜愛的毛絨動物或毯子，在孩子的成長過程中扮演著非常重要的角色。根據兒童發展的術語，這些類型的玩具、毛絨動物和毯子被稱為“過渡對象”。這種依賴通常在4到12個月的年齡段形成，並且在生命的第二年達到高峰，然後逐漸減少，儘管這種依賴可能持續多年。
“過渡”這個詞的使用是因為愛心玩具在變化和過渡的時候提供了安慰：新環境、恐怖時刻、日常生活中的破壞以及尤其是每天的睡前例行程序開始時。
在7到12個月之間，嬰兒經歷了分離過程：他們意識到自己是與母親不同的獨立個體，這對於嬰兒來說是一個巨大的認知里程碑。這可能導致分離焦慮、哭泣、情緒不穩定以及對愛心玩具的更緊密的依賴。
如果孩子的愛心玩具遺失了，該怎麼辦？
這種依賴也帶來了一些挑戰。也許你們離家外出，日常生活被打亂，到了睡覺的時間…而你的孩子的愛心玩具卻找不到了。有時它可能在洗衣房裡，或者只是遺失了。許多孩子與毛絨動物和毯子形成深厚、有意義、情感上的聯繫（有時甚至是與看似隨機的玩具或其他物品），失去或遺失其中之一的經歷可能會感到不安和苦惱。
儘管準備一個替代品作為備用是有價值的，但你不必一定需要。首先，即使是年幼的嬰兒有時也能分辨出原物和替換品之間的區別。其次，在面對失去時，與孩子保持誠實是很重要的，特別是在失去時。告訴他們“我們不知道你的毯子在哪裡，但我們會繼續尋找”，並提供一個替代品可能無法立即安撫一個哭泣的孩子，但它表明你在乎，他們的損失對你來說也很重要。
失去愛心玩具雖然很難過，但這是一個早期處理失去和悲傷的教訓；解釋你理解他們為什麼如此難過，並確認他們的感受。嘗試提供其他可以暫時取代的東西：一首歌、另一個毛絨動物，或者一個長長的擁抱。最後，可能沒有任何東西能真正取代失去的物品，而陪伴他們度過悲傷的時刻是唯一且最好的解決方案。
折疊內容
Between 7 and 12 months, babies go through a separation process: the realization that they are a distinct and separate person from their mother is an enormous cognitive milestone for a baby. It can lead to separation anxiety, crying, unpredictable moods, and a closer bond with a lovey.
25 – 27 Months
Why children are so attached to their loveys (and what to do if your child loses theirs)
Your child’s favorite stuffed animal or blanket is lost or forgotten at home, and the panic starts to seep in. What do you do?
Replace it with something else? Stay with your child until they fall asleep? Run out to the store to find an exact duplicate? Handling this kind of situation, especially when the stuffy is so loved, can leave you feeling a little lost yourself ❤️
Loveys—those precious comfort objects your child carries around everywhere and sleeps with every night—can be an extremely important part of childhood. In child development language, these kinds of toys, stuffies, and blankets are called “transitional objects.” The attachment is often formed between the ages of 4 and 12 months, and dependence on them usually peaks in the second year of life and then wanes, though the attachment can last for years.
The word “transitional” is used because loveys provide comfort during times of change and transition: new environments, scary moments, disruptions to routines, and especially minor daily transitions like starting the daily bedtime routine.
Between 7 and 12 months, babies go through a separation process: the realization that they are a distinct and separate person from their mother is an enormous cognitive milestone for a baby. It can lead to separation anxiety, crying, unpredictable moods, and a closer bond with a lovey.
What to do if your child’s lovey is lost
In photo: Organic Cotton Baby Doll from The Thinker Play Kit
This attachment comes with its challenges, of course. Perhaps you’re away from home, routines are off, it’s bedtime… and your child’s lovey is nowhere to be found. Sometimes it’s in the laundry, or simply lost. Many children form deep, meaningful, emotional bonds with stuffed animals and blankets (sometimes even with seemingly random toys or other items), and the experience of losing or misplacing one can feel unsettling and upsetting.
Having a duplicate as a backup can be worthwhile, but don’t feel like you absolutely need one. For one thing, even young babies are sometimes savvy enough to tell the difference between the original and a replacement. For another, it’s important to be honest with children, especially during times of loss. Telling them “we don’t know where your blanket is, but we will keep looking” and offering an alternative may not soothe a crying child in the moment, but it shows that you care and that their loss is important to you, too.
As hard as losing a lovey can be, it’s an early lesson in dealing with loss and sadness; explain that you understand why they’re so sad, and validate their feelings. Try to provide something else that may take its place—at least temporarily: a song, another stuffed animal, or a long hug. In the end, it’s possible that nothing will truly replace the lost item, and sitting with them through their sadness is the only—and best—solution ❤️
The Thinker Play Kit
The Thinker Play Kit encourages your 11 – 12 month old baby’s curiosity as they start solving problems, working on hand strength and investigating everything in their path.
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Posted in: 25 – 27 Months, 28 – 30 Months, Bonding, Social Emotional, Child Development
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