Baby Has Separation Anxiety--7 Months Old

He is still so little, I would keep on giving him hugs and cuddles to make him feel safe. I don't think you would do any harm in picking him up...he needs comfort and you are his favorite person in the world to get it from. Keep doing what you are doing, but I know it can be very waring on you at times! Good luck!

Your baby is 7 months old, he is just letting you know how much he trusts and loves you, take it as a compliment and unless you absolutely have to leave him, then there is no reason to worry about this now, he'll become perfectly well adjusted when he is older.

This is completely normal for a baby of this age - you definitely aren't doing more harm than good by picking him up. In fact, it would do more harm to ignore his needs right now - then he might get fixated on it and you might find yourself with a clingy, anxious toddler down the road. If you respond consistently and yet also mix in some fun distractions (the singing is great idea), eventually he'll pass through this stage and will be all the better for it.

Hi,
He is entering the first stage of self awareness. 7-9mos is typical. I would go with his needs. He will ease of of it, though he will go through it again at several stages. I think that how well this stage goes will help him with the next. I think you would be helped by reading a bit about child development. It sounds like he is an emotional child which is wonderful, but may be trying at times if you don't know what to expect from his developmental stage.

Hi B.,
Unfortunately I think its a normal phase that all kids go through. Now that your son is more aware of things around him he will be looking for you. I don't think there is any harm in picking him up, if he needs that sense of security. I would suggest keep trying to sit with him and assuring him you are there. Is he like this when other people are around?

This was the age I started working part-time and leaving my son with his grandparents. His separation anxiety still comes and goes (he's 18 months). Some days he is fine and says good bye to me and other days he cries and cries.

Hope this is somewhat helpful. Good luck.

K.

I feel for you. My daughter was incredibly clinging at several different stages of her life, but the advice I've read here is correct and worked for us. Your son is so young and just becoming aware that he is a seperate individual. That's scary. If you ignore him, you will only perpetuate the clinginess and show him that maybe his fears are valid, that the world (or you) can't be trusted to meet his needs. If you respond to him and make him feel safe consistently, this stage will pass and he will be a more independent and secure child. I know it's hard on you, but just remember that all stages pass. Change is the only constant!!

Dear B.-I understand how you are feeling. I read a lot of magazines and books that are relevant to developmental age. What I have found thus far is that 6-9 months children, babies, really have a hard time with strangers and separation. One thing I read about you can try is when you walk out of the room continue talking to your baby. Let your baby know what you are doing as if you were talking to a friend. I just read yesterday as a matter of fact that if you run back to your baby and instantly pick him/her up it reinforces to the baby something is wrong and really nothing is actually wrong. Obviously the crying is heartbreaking so if the baby won't stop crying of course pick baby up and love the fact you can be there to do that. good luck, my baby turns seven months this saturday, smile.

Rule out all the causes before assuming it is seperation anxiety. Your baby may have sore teeth, be hungry, diaper rash, ear infection and so forth...do not get upset that he is crying when you put him down...remember this is his only form of communication. With that said, next is to move to the Ferberizing technique, where you slowly ween him 3 minutes, 5 minutes, etc., showing him even though you leave you will come back. It takes a lot of patience, but if you stay focused and positive - it will work in the end! Good luck!

I agree with the previous post. my daughter was INCREDIBLY clingy to me when she was that age...I threw her in a sling, and now she's an INCREDIBLY independent toddler. at this age you have to respong to their cries, that way they know that they can trust you.

good luck!

Babies go through phases of this, and I found the easiest thing to do when my little guy went through a period like this recently was to wear him in a mei tai (asian baby carrier on your back) and just take him with me every room I was in. This gave me so much sanity when I needed to cook and clean. It probably won't last more than 2-3 weeks to such a degree, especially if you give him extra closeness while he really wants it. Its such an ebb and flow of needs they have right now...

I never had that problem but I knew other mothers who have had that problem. One mother I knew her son would cry when she left because he had an obbsesion with touching her hair, so she bought one of those fake hair things and sprayed it with her perfume and he stopped crying when she left, just because he thought it was her hair and he could smell her scent. My advise is sleep in a shirt or wear it for the day but put your perfume on it and when the baby is laying down put it next him but still talk to him and let him hear your voice and walk away and watch, then walk a little further away and watch some more but always talk and let him see that your still there and that your not going anywhere. try to walk a little further away each time and then he will get used to you not actually being there but he will still know that your in the room. Good luck I hope it works. K. M