8 month old screaming on wake ups - separation anxiety or something else?

[EmmaLL25]

LO is rubbish sleeper, we had progress before Christmas with NCSS, particularly Pantley pull off method.

For first night wakings Dad could cuddle back to sleep.

Christmas disrupted it all but last week Dad could settle LO again.

This week LO is screaming hysterically when Dad tries to settle. Only bf will calm him down.

Before if he wouldn't go back to sleep for Dad he'd just be awake, not screaming. He's so upset now.

Is this separation anxiety? LO not getting upset if I leave room during day. Fine/happy with his Dad too when I'm not around.

Dad is feeling useless : (

Anyone have any experience of this and any suggestions how to get through it?

DS went through a terrible desperation anxiety time at this age. Was completely fine in the day too.never cried at all.

We did things like play peek-a-boo in the cot to make positive associations a few times a day which helped. It was tough though and lasted a while.

Thanks for replying. He just cut a couple of teeth and now has another cold so can't tell if its still going on, or if it was teeth/illness.

I'm managing to get him back to sleep without feeding everytime now, so that's an improvement.