Baby Cries When Left Alone?

Why does my baby cry when left alone, even for a second i.e when I go and get his nappies or food etc. He is six months and also does not go back to sleep when he wakes in the middle of the night unless i pat him and he knows I'm there.

I am exhausted. When will it stop??? Help!!

Baby Help Line

Separation Anxiety In 6 Month Old

Don't worry it will stop! But at present he is anxious that you are going to disappear from his
world and has no way of understanding you will come back. Your son is a good example of
a baby that really would benefit from being carried in a sling for as much of the day as
possible. You would find he would then start to settle better at other times as he will get
"filled up" with Mama.

Some babies are more anxious and less settled, and that may just be his temperament, it
may be the effect of his birth, or it may be he is very sensitive and needs heaps of contact and
reassurance.

Some people give terrible advice, like leave them to cry so they get used doing without you, but at this age that is just cruel. As he develops more he will start to learn that you are coming back. You can start playing peepo games where you disappear for a second then pop up with a big smile on your face. That starts to teach him that you come back. You'll find more tips on games and info about 6 month old babies here

Eventually you can go out of the room, but still with voice contact, then pop back in, again,
lots of smiles. Just give it time and make a game out of disappearing, rather than being annoyed - he will also be picking up on your annoyance and that will make him more anxious!

I can totally understand your frustration, my daughter was exactly the same. If I carried her
around she was happy as anything, but the minute I put her down she cried. By the time she got to about 8mths she was much more relaxed when I left the room, although still would not go to very many other people. You will be glad to know she is now one of the most independent people I know, so it doesn't last forever!

Just be patient and remember, you baby cries because he needs you not because he is manipulating you.

Just ENJOY him!
Annie Desantis

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Baby Cries When Left Alone?

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Nov 16, 2011

Please help
by: Crying

Hello,

My baby is 5 months next week and she has recently started to cry as soon as I put her down, in the daytime when it is just me and her she is fine but as soon as her daddy comes home from work or her nan or anyone is there she starts for me to pick her up I can not do a thing,
I am meant to be going back into work next week is that a bad thing I feel like I am being a horrible mum by leaving her with her nan but I also need to go back to work as being a parent cost a lot what can I do please help!!! She was also in hospital for a few weeks at birth so it was just me and her. I have been out once and daddy looked after her I was out for 2 hours and she got so upset she was violenty sick where she had been crying so much???????

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