Separation anxiety, am I doing the right thing?

[helips]

My 18 month old ds seems to be suffering from separation anxiety. He doesn't go to nursery and if I need to go out somewhere on my own my in-laws or parents usually look after him. Recently he has really started crying when I leave and will cling on to me which makes me feel awful so when I go out now I get inlaws/parents to distract him then sneak out the back door! He seems to be cottoning on to this now and follows me around the house, it's like he has a sixth sense that I am about to leave him! Anyway, just wanted to know if by sneaking out it will make him feel more anxious and if I should just say goodbye and leave and try and ignore the tears? How long does this phase normally last for? TIA!

[eyeeye]

I would recommend saying goodbye to him and going .. he will calm down in a few minutes I'm sure, and you can always call the inlaws / parents to check he has, or ask them to call you when he has.

But sneaking out the back door is unfair to him.