How do I deal with separation anxiety in 6mo DD?

[eversoslightlytired]

DD is a very placid smiley baby who loves seeing people and is quite happy to go to most people. However, over the last week or so she suddenly bursts into tears and screams when I leave the room or even just to go walk away. We are talking real tears and hysterical crying. As soon as she sees me again she is all smiles. I am assuming that this is separation anxiety. Does anyone have any tips on how I should deal with this as obviously there are times when I am going to have to leave her in her chair/bouncer, especially when it is just the two of us. Any advice would be gratefully received!

OK, this is how I have dealt with my DD, who has been like this for at least three months! Whenever I can I bring her with me- kitchen, toilet, upstairs, garden- and put her down where she can see me. Sometimes she still cries but I ignore that and just chat with her while I am busy. If she really can't come too, I just try to be as quick as I can and keep talking loudly while out of the room and reassure her when I return. On really bad days I do everything one handed or just play all day. It is better now she can crawl!

Repeat to yourself: It is a phase, it is normal, it is good that she is doing this as it shows she is developing, even if it drives me up the wall that I cannot even nip to the loo.

Would playing peek-a-boo and a quick version of hide-and-seek help, do you think? To get her used to the fact that mummy goes away but always comes back.

Hi thanks to you both. Today is awful. I literally cannot even go to walk off as she starts. She is also teething so not helping!! Will try the peek a boo and hide and seek as well. I'd forgotten what it was like to have a clingy baby!