The intial discussion concerns attachment and separation in terms of feelings. It is asserted that the key to dealing with separation anxiety is the acceptance of infants' and toddlers' feelings by both child and adult as a means of building infant and toddler self-confidence and trust. Subsequent discussion provides specific ways child caregivers can help children feel confident about separating and lists several signs that indicate that a child may be having difficulty separating. Influences on children's feelings in the context of separation are discussed, with particular attention to the role of the caregiver in establishing an environment of trust. Substantial emphasis is given to six ways of building an environment of trust, namely: (1) allowing the child plenty of time to make the transition to the day care environment while the parent is present; (2) encouraging children to participate in saying good-bye; (3) providing to children many tangible reminders that their parents exist though they are out of sight; (4) regarding regression or shift in behavior with aplomb; (5) helping children bring a favorite toy or blanket to the day care setting; and (6) making sure that the setting is characterized by a low child/adult ratio, a sensitively responsive trained adult caregiver, and a group size of no more than 8 or 9. (RH)