{"id":"db0817b64f4a16d79a75ae31fc31887b","slug":"send-25-year-old-daycare-with-comfort-object-if-she-has","question":"Should I send my 2.5 year old to daycare with a comfort object if she has separation anxiety?","answer":"Yes—a comfort object can be genuinely helpful when separation anxiety is part of the picture. Since your toddler has separation anxiety, having something familiar and soothing with her during the day may ease the transition and give her a concrete way to self-soothe when you're not there.\n\nThe research suggests that toddlers with high separation anxiety respond better to gentler, slower approaches that keep them feeling connected and supported—and a comfort object (a stuffed animal, blanket, or similar) works along those lines. It's a bridge between home and daycare, something that carries your presence in a tangible way.\n\nA few practical points: coordinate with her daycare teachers so they know the object is part of her coping strategy and can help her use it during tough moments (like drop-off or naptime). Choose something small and safe enough for daycare rules, and consider having a backup at home so the same item is always available. Your calm, reassuring presence at drop-off and pick-up matters too—managing your own anxiety about separation actually helps her regulation more than you might expect.\n\nStarting daycare with this kind of support in place gives her a real tool for the adjustment.","sources":"[]","thread_json":null,"topic":"starting-daycare","view_count":0,"created_at":"2026-10-23T00:00:52.429Z"}