Clingy six month old?

Question

I have a six month old daughter and she has an exersaucer and a walker, how long should I let her play so she doesn't get sick of them? It seems like she gets bored so easily anymore. I'm trying to get her out of the house more often but it's hot and we can't be outside all day - I'm a stay at home mom at the moment (her diad is away so I'm having to be two parents!) and I think she's having a little separation anxiety! I can't leave the room for even a second without her getting mad at me, even if I just go to throw something away! I tell her where I'm going and "I'll be right back!" and she still gets upset. But I have to clean and take care of things around the house! I spend plenty of time playing and interacting with her and I thought I gave her plenty of time to play by herself every day..? Have I let her be too clingy? What do I do to help this?

i knew i would have someone suggest i was neglectful or something, i didn't think it was necessary to explain everything i do all day with my daughter. i'm a SAHM, all i do is play with her and spend time with her! i read to her, play peek a boo, pat a cake, sing to her and we listen to music... i'm not trying to say i want her to leave me alone lol, i just need at least an hour every day so my house doesn't go to crap!!! i don't even have time to do anything for myself being the only parent now, i guess some people are always willing to take a shot at your integrity.

Answer 1

Get a sling so you can carry her with you.
Put her in a jumpy seat in the doorway where you need to work.
Talk to her as you leave the room so she hears your voice until you come back.
Play peek-a-boo with her to help her learn and remember that you'll come back!

Answer 2

She just loves her mommy!! I don't believe that you can make a child too clingy. If fact babies that have an abundance of love and attention end up being more independant because they're secure in your love. I also have a six month old, and she gets upset when I leave the room sometimes. You can't take her everywhere with you. Just give her as much attention as you can, and she'll be ok if she gets a little upset if you leave the room for a minute. She just loves being around you. Give her lots of attention when you come back into the room. God Bless

Answer 3

That's the way six-month-olds are. You can reassure her but for this to change, you'll just have to wait until she grow out of it. I still have a hard time cleaning upstairs when my son is downstairs and he's 2 and a half. He doesn't mind staying down there but I worry that he's getting into things he shouldn't and could get hurt. I used to bring him upstairs with me when he was younger. He'd play or watch something on Disney or help with little things like handing me animals to vacuum. You'll be surprised that you actually miss it some when you are able to leave the room and she doesn't even turn around to see you go.

Answer 4

i am a STAY AT HOME MOM and i too suffer from the same clingyness, but my daughter is 9 months old and is crawling everywhere; most of the time she is crawling after me whenever i leave the room. is your daughter teething? mine is (the bottom two are in) she is getting her top teeth, and when she was getting the bottom ones in it seemed as if the clingyness was at an all time peak. a little separation anxiety is a healthy thing because your daughter just realized that she is her own person, not an extension of you. you can put her in her walker and exersaucer, and place them in any room that you work in, that way she can see you and play at the same time. a sling or a bijorn is another way to get house work done with your daughter with you. playing peek-a-boo will teach her that it's OK for things like mommy to "disappear" once in a while because they will reappear again soon. finally if things get too bad, put her down in her crib, she may be so overly tired and stimulated that she may be reacting out of instinct and clinging to the only secure thing in the room...mommy. she may not like being put down for a "nap" and will cry, but eventually she will wear herself out and go to sleep. i found that the only time that i can do any work around the house (dishes, the never ending pile of laundry) is when she is sleeping because my life revoles around her. you are fine and i know that you are doing everything humanly possible for your little girl; keep up the good work and things will be OK. it's hard, but put a smile on your face and remember that in a few years you will miss this time. :)

Answer 5

I bring our daughter room to room as I clean. The walker we have is easily portable and we have no stairs that I need to worry about. I talk to her as I do the things I need to do and make sure she has toys to play with. I give her breaks often which also gives me an excuse to take breaks often! We also have a dog that seems to be a distraction for her.

Try to let baby tag along when you're getting your chores done. I know it may seem a bit bothersome, but in the end you may have an amused baby. Also, children learn by example. It's never too young to start giving them an example to learn by! Children watching mommie or Daddy clean, make supper, brush their teeth, and so on will have a good example to mimic.

Answer 6

i have a 7 month old son he cries everytime i walk out of the room to i know its hard my husband is also away for most of the day babies go through a seperation period he plays on the floor alot but still if iam not in eye sight he cries

Answer 7

It's normal for babies to cry when parents leave the room. They are alone and they know this but if you continue to give her attention when she cries it will get more demanding and you will get frustrated let her cry sometimes it is good for her to know that you will not come running every time she cries then she will entertain herself more with her toys.You also have to remember she is only six months and her attention span is short. If you have friends with babies try play groups.

Answer 8

Sounds so normal and you are doing fine!
This will pass and its actually psycologicaly correct for her age--you are her caregiver and she knows you are there and also wants to be assured you are staying!
I used a baby sling all the time at this age-it gave me my hands free and kept the baby happy. A baby sling is the type of carrier that is unique in that the baby is "held" almost like your arms are holding her. www.parentingconcepts.com is a good palce to find one! good luck!

Answer 9

A lot of babies have seperation anxiety...take the exersaucer in the room wher you are working, or put it where she can see you...they kinda grow out ouf it as they get older.

Answer 10

I can't believe the words "clingy" and "infant" are being used together! She's dependant on you, not clingy. She's totally helpless at this age. Can't walk, can't talk, can't feed herself, can't bathe or otherwise care for herself. Clean house while she naps (be niosy so she will learn to sleep in noise). When she's awake, talk to her, read her little books, teach her how to make the walker go and she can follow you eventually. Sing little songs with her. Play pattycake and peekaboo with her. When she's alone in a different room, continue singing or talking. Your voice is comforting to her. That's dependence, not clingyness.

Answer 11

This is all sooooooooo normal and will not last forever.
I know it is hard right now though.
Try to leave the room when she is distracted without saying anything to her.....but don't go far away or for very long of course.
If she notices you are gone and starts to fuss, don't rush right in........give her a couple of minutes to get the idea that she is perfectly ok even though you are not there every minute. In time, you should be able to be out of the room for longer and longer minutes without her falling apart.