Initially, you’re the center of your child’s universe. Your newborn is totally dependent on you, and imagines that you are an extension of her. At around four months old, your child begins to realize that you are separate from her. This new awareness makes it difficult for her to understand that you still exist whenever she can’t see you. Fortunately, your child will gradually learn that people and objects exist even when they are out of sight.

Once your child realizes that you still exist even when you’re out of sight, she still can’t comprehend the concept of time, so she doesn’t know if or when you will come back. Just being in the other room can make your child believe you’ve disappeared, so it’s quite natural for her to have some fear when you leave. She may be feeling, “Who will take care of me and keep me safe?”