9-month old baby cries when left alone

[joanneg20]

Title says it all really! This has started in the last few weeks and it differs slightly from the typical separation anxiety in that he's not really bothered whether it's me or my husband with him. He's equally happy to be left with friends, family, and he goes to nursery 3 days a week and is happy there. But the minute he's left in the room on his own - or sometimes even if we stand up and walk to the other side of the room - he starts screaming. His keyworker at nursery says he does exactly the same thing with them.

Any advice on how to handle and how long it is likely to last? I don't know whether it's best to try to be with him as much as possible to increase his sense of security, or just leave him when I have to (obviously not just to be mean, but when I need to go somewhere else in the house anyway) in the hope that he'll get used to it.

Any experience anyone?

Hi there!
I reckon it's all completely normal - I think I read somewhere that babies have evolved to do this to ensure they don't get left to be eaten by lions
anyhoo I think by keeping him with you wherever possible he will feel secure until this stage passes (which it will as they all do....)(thankfully!)

All the best!

Normal I think or at least I hope as my DD has been doing this from about 8 months she's 9 months now and I just take her everywhere with me eg doing the laundry I just give her a pile to play with whilst I do the rest, cooking : I sit her on the floor and give her empty plastic boxes and pots to play with, bathroom : she comes along too! Don't know how long it lasts but I just don't stress about it now and let her 'walk' on my fingers from room to room it's her favourite thing to do. I found it more stressful leaving her in the other room tbh.

This is exactly what they do at around 9 months. Absolute classic age for it and utterly normal.

You have to do everything in 5 minute bursts or adapt jobs around the house so that they can come too.

When my DD could crawl she would cry and then follow me down the garden and eat mud while I hung out the washing.

I am hitting this stage now with DC4 and it is already driving me slightly bonkers.

Yes - completely normal! And they do grow out of it.

Thank you all very much for these responses. Reassuring at least to know that it's normal and should pass at some point!

Hi there,

Its absolutely normal - my ds is 21months and he still cries if he is left alone! Its not a bad thing to want to be with someone all the time. Being left in a room on your own when you are little must be terrifying as they don't know what to do to fend for themselves.

I'd have him with you as much as poss. I sometimes still take ds to the toilet with me otherwise he will bang on the door crying til I come out.

He's happy to be left with other people just not by himself, which I think is perfectly justifiable for a wee little one.