6 1/2 month old won't be left alone!

[TearingMyHairOut]

My ds1 started nursery at 6 months old. We have always tried hard to encourage him to 'entertain' himself sometimes as he's always had a short attention span and been 'needy' for attention. Prior to starting nursery it was normal for him to play contentedly in his cor for 20 mins in the morn while I got ready, play on his bouncy chair sometimes, and not be too worried at being left alone for short periods of time. Since nursery, he screams EVERY time we leave the room, even if it's popping next door to get a nappy. I'm not sure if it's the effect of having a lot of people around him at nursery or whether he's just at that age where he's noticing more. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to break this habit as I keep going to him but am aware that is re-inforcing the behaviour that he cries and we come?

Could he be experiencing Separation Anxiety ? How is he when left at nursery ? It may all be an unfortunate coincidence of timing as I'm sure he wouldn't get more attention at nursery than as a first born. It is wearing for you but a backhanded compliment as he wants to see more of you, and this is very common and normal. Keep talking to him when you are out of sight and cuddle as and when.

He's absolutely fine when we leave him at nursery, no crying at all. And when I pick him up he's very giggley and excitable and smiles lots at his key carer. He doesn't seem to be at all bothered about being there.

I'm not claiming to know the answer here but...My dd is 6 months & does this occassionaly & she doesn't go to nursery. I tend to find that if she is in this type of mood I start by playing peek a poo round the door a few times, & then gradually make the time I am away longer, but keep talking to her all the time. I tell her I am just going to be a minute & tell her where I am going & what I'm doing..I know I'm crazy & she doesn't understand but just humour me! Anyway, it seems to work, sometimes she will still cry but I just go & do what I have to do & then come back and speak to her. I guess, eventually they will understand. He probably thinks you are going away & not coming back, but if you just keep showing him that you do come back, he will EVENTUALLY learn. It isn't doing him any harm so don't worry about it. He just loves you soo much.

I think he wants every minute he can get with you now that he goes to nursery for periods and is without you.

Could you just carry him round with you and spend as much time being close to him as possible. I think he is expressing a real emotional 'need' - he is too young to tell the difference between separations of a minute or several hours.

Its bloody wearing - my dd is a virtual limpet still at 15 months. I sympathise. I take her with me most of the time, even up to the loo, but if literally only need to go upstairs to grab something, I hold up one finger and say 'mummy will just be one minute' and after a couple of months she realised what this meant.