Feature Article
Divorce and Infants
Kim Leon, Ph.D., Former Human Development and Family Studies, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia
Infants and Divorce (Ages 0-8 months)
Infants do not understand divorce. However, infants are
affected by changes in their parents' feelings and
behavior. Infants do pick up on adults' emotions and
respond to them. Following a divorce, parents may become
temporarily depressed and less responsive to their
infant. Young infants do not have much control over
their own emotions. Their feelings are influenced by
their parents' feelings. When a parent acts worried or
sad around an infant, the infant is likely to feel
worried or sad. Infants cannot tell adults how they
feel, so adults must interpret infants' behavior.
Infants may act more fussy and difficult to comfort, or
seem uninterested in people or things when their parents
are upset.
Until about 4-6 months of age, infants don't understand that things or
people they can't see still exist. It is "out of sight,
out of mind" for very young infants. Even when infants
learn that things they can't see are still there, they
don't remember things for a long time. It is hard for
infants to remember and form close bonds with parents
they do not see often. Between 6 and 8 months, infants
develop stranger anxiety. They may act fearful or
anxious around unfamiliar people. After divorce, an
infant may see one parent less often than before, so
they may show stranger anxiety around that parent.
Infants usually feel most comfortable around both
parents if they have frequent contact with both parents
following divorce.
Older Infants and Divorce (8 months-18 months)
Many infants begin to show separation distress
some time between 8 and 12 months of age. Infants may
cry, scream, or cling when a parent is leaving. It is
very hard for an infant to be separated from a parent,
especially for a long period of time (overnight).
Separation is hard for infants because they have such
strong feelings for the parent. They want to be with the
parent all the time and they don't understand why they
can't. It is also normal for a baby to prefer one parent
over the other, typically the parent who cares for him
or her the most. When parents divorce, infants may
experience more separations and feel less secure. You
may notice an increase in your infant's separation
distress during the divorce process.
Sometimes parents of an infant divorce and one parent drops out of the child's life. If this happens, your child won't remember the other parent, but will probably become curious about the other parent. Provide short, simple, honest answers to your child's questions, such as "Your dad/mom and I couldn't get along, so he/she went live somewhere else." Avoid saying negative things about the other parent, but reassure your child that the other parent's absence is not your child's fault. For example, you might say, "I don't know why your mom/dad is not around, but I know it has nothing to do with you. " Reassure your child that you will always love and take care of him or her. Help your child form close relationships with other adults who can be role models and sources of support.
Last Updated 05/06/2008
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