Separation anxiety at night? (Long, sorry)

[JimJammum]

My ds is almost one and has just finished 2 settling in days with childminder.He was fine the first day, but cried when I left him on the second day. He had been up very early (6am) though and had grizzled most of the hour before we got there, so it could well have been emotional insecurity through tiredness.
Since then (1 week), he has been waking at 5am every morning and whinging, until I go in. He will settle if I have my hand on his back but as soon as I leave the room, her gets very upset.
If I pick him up, he will not go back in his cot, even if he has fallen asleep in my arms (or my bed, I'm ashamed to admit....it's been very cold!!!)

Is this separation anxiety? He gets a bit upset sometimes if I leave the room, but most of the time, if he's busy, he's fine. And if it is, what do I do? I don't want to do CC....a) I don't have the backbone, and b) I don't want to "abandon" him anymore than I already have, if that's what's upsetting him?

5am is the worst time for him to wake up. IMO its could definitely be linked to the childminder. They don't necessarily react to the "stress" of being left at the time but later on with their main carer.

Brining him to your bed has taught him that he gets rewarded by waking early perhaps. Its a really difficult time, I don't think CC will work at that hour. Stay by his cot and shh him even for an hour the first morning and it could improve.

Separation anxiety is most common between the ages of 9-13 months so it could be. Also, this new childminder is new to him and may take him time to settle in. What has the CM said? Is he ok in the day??