Baby with seperation anxiety?

Question

I think my 8-month-old suffers from separation anxiety. He starts to cry like crazy is he is left alone for two seconds. I live in an apartment so you if he is in the living room he can still see us when we are in the kitchen, dining room, etc. He always has to be in our arms or we have to be playing with him. This makes simple things like cooking, doing dishes, laundry very difficult. We have tried giving him a toy to grab his attention but once he sees were not near him its over. We have tried letting him just cry but if we let him he’d cry for hours. If anyone else has gone through something similar please let me know how to get him over this.

Answer 1

he is a baby. Thats what babies do. it'll last till about they are 14, then they will want to get as far away from you as possible.... hehe

Answer 2

Just try to make a game out of it. I always play peek-a-boo with my 10-month old when i leave the room. Like sneak around the corner and say peek-a-boo and do it for a few seconds and he will get the idea that you are coming back. Most babies grow thru this stage. It usually happened again at about 18 months. Just keep reassuring him you will come back. Try singing to him from the other room. all babies love to be sung to. If this does not work simple bring him into the room you are in and give him some toys.

Answer 3

My 10 months old has seperation anxiety when he nearly 6 months old and 9 months old. Several ways I dealed with the situation that may help you:

1) The peek-a-boo trick works
2) hold him to work (painful, but sometimes i have no choice)
3) put him on the high chair and let him observes what are you doing now( even just go to the restroom)
4) tell him how much you love him whenever you hold him tight, they do listen

good luck, it is just a stage they will come through.

Answer 4

He is testing you dont give in! Put a blanket down (sets kind of a boundary) with toys om it put cartoons on a little louder than usual and go do what you have to do. Start of with about 5min leaving him alone and gradualy leave him alone longer a little out of time. Find a play date for him or send him to daycare every once in a while just so he can get useto other ppl and suroundings.Or let him stay over families for a little while only a couple hours. Give these a try.
good luck

Answer 5

My oldest was this way. Being a first-time mom it was very difficult. I started carrying him around in his back-pack carrier just so I could house work done (he was big so traditional carriers he outgrew early).

With my second one it wasn't an issue. I guess his brother kept him amused.

I've heard it's best to develop a set routine. For example, eat breakfast, have play time together (I'm talking get down on the floor and really play with him!) for a set amount of time, then put in play pen with his favorite toys to encourage independent play (I had stairs so I had to use one) while you do housework. Yeah, he may cry, but once he understands the routine you should see an improvement.

One thing I learned with my second is to develop a set schedule and stick to it. Don't go shopping at nap time. It can wait. Have a set play time. Babies (like my cats!) learn to expect certain things at certain times and they adapt very easily.

Good luck! At least consider a carrier/back pack.

Answer 6

I had this issue when my eldest son was little! It was awful. That was 20 years ago and we all did live through it. However, I have the solution!

I bought him a Teddy Ruxpin doll. It's mouth moved when it talked as did its eyes. The head also moved. I think my son thought it was a real person! He would sit and play with him for hours.
I don't know if Teddy Ruxpin is still on the market but I am sure that there must be something out there that moves and talks like him.

Hope this helps and Good Luck!

Answer 7

At that age they need to feel secure (some more than others). Just try looking at him while you are in the other room and smile and say "I see you" or something like that to let him know that you aren't going anywhere and that you are just in the other room. If that doesn't help then hold him. He needs to feel secure and if holding him is what does that then that's the best way to go. He's only 8 months so don't worry about holding him too much. He's just a baby :-) Good luck.

Answer 8

I have a 7th month old and i am going through the same thing right now i talk to him and tell him be right back i also play peek a boo with him he thinks thats very funny when he cant see me i tell him where is mama then pop out and say peek a boo i talk to him the whole time so he knows iam still here even though some times he cant see me good luck

Answer 9

good question the thing in saying he's a baby don't go with me for my daughter who wanted to be held just drove me nuts. I bought a baby bouncer that had music and the sound of ocean she loved it I would put her in a safe place to see me at all times and get my work done I also got a teddy bear that had a heart beat and you can get that target both cost about 15-20 bucks a piece. My hart is with both of you there are soo Manny what I call baby soothing items out there just check the store on the Internet before you go . Take care steffy

Answer 10

My best friends child does this also. He is a year though. I read in a parenting book that this is normal from 1 to 2 years and usually goes away by then but the only advice in the book is to find a security item for the baby like a blanket or bear or something with your scent on it. Sorry thats all I got...

Answer 11

Except when baby needs changing or his hungry,thirsty,windy = ignore the cries and carry on with what you are doing. Maybe ween him off you for a while gradually - start with waiting 5 minutes before going to him to pick him up. Next time, wait 7 minutes. The next 10 and so on. By day 2 things will have gotten better I promise you¬!