6 month old - screams when left for 10 seconds.

[LeilaA]

Hi. Can anyone offer any suggestions please as to how to react to my 6 month old DD who screams and screams and screams if she is put down for just 10 seconds. It has got gradually worse over the last week or so. If I put her down and go into the kitchen for a few seconds, she cries immediately. As soon as someone picks her up she is all smiles again.

I don?t think it?s separation anxiety because she?s ok as long as SOMEONE is holding her, not necessarily just me.

I don?t know whether to leave her to cry or to go back and reassure her. Is there anything I should be doing to prevent this from getting worse?

She sleeps well at night (8-7), sleeps ok during day, has started well on solids and is just starting to teeth.

Thanks v much ? any offers gratefully received as am very very concerned that it will just get worse.

Hi LeilaA

My instinct is to tell you its 'just a phase' -which is the most infuriating thing to be told as a parent!

It might be that if she's teething she's a bit more clingy and interacting with adults will take her mind off the pain, so she associates being left on her own with her gums hurting.

I really think it'll calm down soon when those teeth get through. Fingers crossed for you

I agree in that I too think it's just a phase - my DD started the same thing at 5 months and is just starting to get SLIGHTLY better again 3 weeks later. I am told that it will last another month or so and then calm down again.... fingers crossed eh?!?!

I was told it was just a phase around 6 months as well, and yet here we are, DD at 21 months, still wants me with her all the time. Wants to go on the balcony, mummy has to come. I take a shower, she is crying in front of the shower door. Sigh

If I could turn back the time, I would try to extend the umbilical cord a little and leave her by herself for a few minutes at a time. With hindsight, I should also have left her in a creche for a couple of hours per week.

its never too late cotedazur, i watched a programme once about this problem and this mum just couldnt leave her daughter for a second even the women helping her was struggling but it took about two weeks for the seperation anxiety to go and then voila!!

I agree. That is why the little princess is soon starting 4 hrs per week creche...