Seven Month Old Won't Let Me Leave Her Sight.

Hi T. :)

I have just gotten through a lot of the same stuff with my baby, now 11mos old. Of course, I only have one more, but still, I can sympathize with the challenges of attending to a demanding baby when their are other children around who have needs too!

Some of what helps is time. Soon, your little one will be crawling around, and exploring her universe, and will find less need for you. If you're like me, that will come as a MAJOR relief.

Also, know that you're doing everything right - a baby who wants her mommy is well-attached and may become more independent than your other children down the road. It's hard, but it's really the way we're designed as human beings.

Have you tried using a baby-wrap or a snugli, or something of that nature (sometimes called Babywearing)? I found that carrying my little one around in a backpack style snugli was sometimes the only way to accomplish anything. She *LOVES* it. And there are physiological and psychological benefits to carrying your child this way as well, especially when your baby is wanting you so much. Don't worry, she'll have plenty of chances to bond with her daddy too :)

Other things can help - like setting aside special mama & baby time every day, continuing to breastfeed (if you have been doing this all along) or bottlefeeding close to your body as though you were breastfeeding, co-sleeping - even just during naps. The more your baby knows she can rely on you, the happier she will be.

After about 9 months of not being able to leave the room without my baby girl screaming, she is now more confident and calm than my older daughter. I was even able to leave her in our church's nursery this past Sunday, which is something I was never able to do with her sister, until she was almost 2.

Hope that helps!

Hi T.,
I have a daughter who also had the same issue with me. What I did that helps from time to time is put her within my sight but not directly in the same room with her. Our kitchen and family room have an open entry so when I'm in the kitchen doing something I put her in her pack n' play but within eye sight of me so she can relax. I found that has helped her anxiety quite a bit. I also sing and talk to her from the other room as well so she knows I'm still paying attention to her without having to hold her or make eye contact every second. Good luck!
D.

Hi T.,
I went through that with my oldest son who is now 5. We struggled soooooo bad with him. I found out the hard way that you have to just keep putting him in his crib and let him cry it out. It was very hard, but within about a week, he was fine, and sleeping in his own bed. ( I waited until he was about 3 before I started doing that)
When I had my youngest, the pattern started, and I did exactly what I stated above, and for him it took 3-4 days, it was hard where he cried at first, but we got through it. You will get through it, I used to go sleep on the couch just so I could sleep! :)

i don't know if this would work, but maybe you could drop out of her sight in increasing lengths of time. you could do ten seconds several times one day, then 20 the next, 30, then a minute, three, so on. well, i guess you need a pretty immediate solution if you want to look after your other children and the house.

maybe you could do ten seconds one morning, thirty seconds in the afternoon, etc.

hi i have a 7 month old boy (well, almost 8 months actually)and he has just started the same thing! even with his daddy he has been crying when i leave the room. i know that seperation anxiety can start in around this time so i think that it will pass. i am a stay at home mom so he is with me almost all of the time which makes it harder for him when i am not there. i am trying to leave him away from me more with my mother and in-laws so he can start to get used to being away from me for longer periods of time. its harder on me than him i think!! good luck!

Wow,I feel your pain. I have been there with several of mine. I have seven of my own. What worked for me was by letting them know that I am still in ear shot. I would keep talking as I left the room and not be gone too long from the room. I would then start to stay out of the room alittle longer and with each time I left I made sure that they were occupied with something to keep thier attention off of me for a short while. Good luck. I hope that it helps.

You can try carrying baby in a sling (or at this age a back carrier) ...that way you can get work done and baby isnt screaming. I think this is a temporary thing and soon enough this baby will playing with her older siblings and leaving you ALONE.