{"id":"69a6955982d342b773d6e4e69e234e4b","slug":"why-does-my-18-month-old-follow-me-to-the-bathroom-and-panic-if-i-close-the-door","question":"Why does my 18-month-old follow me to the bathroom and panic if I close the door?","answer":"Your toddler is almost certainly going through separation anxiety, which is common during the second year of life and can last well into the third year. At this age, they're old enough to understand that you exist when they can't see you — but not quite confident that you'll come back. The bathroom feels like a threat to that security because you've disappeared behind a closed door.\n\nThis is developmentally normal and actually a sign that their understanding of the world is becoming more sophisticated. It will pass, even though it's exhausting to live through right now.\n\nFor now, the simplest approach is often just to leave the door open or only partly closed if you're comfortable doing so. Some parents narrate what they're doing (\"I'm just using the toilet, I'll be right out\"), which helps your toddler learn that the separation is brief and predictable. You could also try bringing a toy or letting them sit nearby so they're not separated by a barrier. These strategies work because they reduce the uncertainty that drives the panic.\n\nSeparation anxiety doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong — it's just where your toddler is developmentally right now, and it will shift as they grow.","sources":"[]","thread_json":null,"topic":"attachment-and-bonding","view_count":0,"created_at":"2026-09-09T12:24:09.109Z"}