Separation Anxiety - Keller,TX

My daughter is 12 months and 2 weeks old. She is defiantly going through the same thing. She always wants me to hold her and when I try to put her down she just screams. She always wants me right by her side at all time of the day. She doesn't do this to daddy, just me. This is what you call seperation anxiety. It peeks the highest between 12 to 15 months of age. Beleive me, I have read book after book on this topic and I beleive this is exactly what it is. Read about it. The information will be very helpful.

Your son sounds very much like mine. He did something similar around the same age and I know a few other moms who reported the same. Perhaps it's a teething thing? I don't know. It was usually worse in the early evening when I was trying to get dinner done. What worked for me was to wear him in a maya wrap sling on my hip. A friend showed me how to do it. It held him in place and kept my hands free to go about what I was doing. This usually calmed him down and also kept his interest. It also freed me up to do my things and didn't hurt my back or arms like holding him would. The period soon passes and soon your little indepndent man will be back on the ground doing his own thing.

My son went through that as well and now at 19 months and 3 wks still occurs from time to time when I put him to bed but mainly when we go to church and I take hime to preschool mainly because he never has been at a MDO or daycare at least after he turned 10 months because he was sick everytime I turned around so the only people that takes care of him is me, my parents, his dad and his dad's parents and God parents.

Just try to be as loving, patient and comforting as possible. he will grow out of it.

Good Luck and I hope this helps.
M.

Sounds like a normal 1 year old to me. Almost as soon as the birthday party was over, both of mine became different children when they turned one. We saw temper tantrums and whining and all sorts of behavior where they would assert their will. We also saw the arrival of one-year molars, which caused several days of sadness. He shouldn't be clingy for long. You might try some children's tylenol or motrin and see if it helps him feel better. If so, you might assume he's teething. Also watch for other signs of illness/ear infection just to be sure his clinginess isn't because he really feels bad. If the crying isn't because of pain or illness, it's because he's figured out how to get his way in a situation. It's hard for us as parents to make the transition from them being our little helpless babies to being a toddler, but this is it! He's taking control any way he can get it :-) Time to start lovingly setting some boundaries. Stick to your bed time routine. Maybe a new toy or book in his bed will help him entertain himself as he goes to sleep. It's fine for you to go back in there -- he is just one year old and he is more aware of his surroundings than when he was a baby, he might need a little extra assurance -- but it can get out of hand and before you know it you'll be sleepless again. Maybe try letting him go to bed with the door open or with a night light. Having an open door did wonders for my daughter. She no longer felt "cut-off" from us and went to sleep just fine after that.

M.,
As a Newborn Specialist, I can assure you that this is separation anxiety and that it is completely normal for a child of his age. Separation anxiety often peaks in many children between 10 and 12 months, so try to just work through it and know that it will go away. Soon, he will become so independent that you'll be longing for these days.

Now, as an infant sleep trainer, I would encourage you to try not to start any bad habits at this time. Although he will cry when you put him in his crib or when you walk away, leave him in the crib, but reassure him if he needs it. Many people will get their baby back up and rock them until they fall asleep, but unless you want to continue doing this for a very long time, don't start that habit now.

Good luck,
L.
NannyForNewborns.com