separation anxiety?

[ratfly]

Ds has always been really happy and jolly. But this past week he has been grumpy and clingy. I thought he might be coming down with something,a s his eczema flared, but nothing has developed and I think his eczema on his face is bad because he rubs it..

Anyway, I used to be able to let him play alone / in his door bouncer / in his chair for about 15 minutes+ while I got on with things (e.g. mumsnet!). But now if I am not with him he whinges and wants to be picked up.

Is this separation anxiety? If it is, how do I handle it?

I am a bit worried as we did cc with him a few weeks ago to get him to drop his night feed - only needed to do it a couple of times and not for very long. COuld this have caused it?

Please help, as he is being REALLY hard work at the mo..

Forgot to say that he is 7 1/2 months old.

Sounds like it. Ds was like this. It settled down for a bit and has started up again at around 18 months. I had a look on google and the general view seems to be that they go through two stages of separation anxiety. If you think that it is to do with their realisation that you are actually a separate person who can come and go, I was always inclined to give ds loads of cuddles and cart him around with me.

There are websites which have suggestions on how to deal with it, eg. playing peekaboo is meant to show them that you come back, explaining to them that you are popping out, but will come back and then coming back teaches them that they can rely on you.

Thanks mump!
How long does it last for? i.e. the REAL clinginess?

I suspect it depends on the child, but a couple of months maybe? Then, ime, you get a brief respite before the next bout begins...