separation anxiety

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I can't seem to get the search function to work...

anyway, DS3 seems to be going through the WORST separation anxiety. He will cry...even if I am in the same room with him...until I pick him up. I talk to him, try to distract, try to engage him with his toys...anything. But the second I set him down, he cries and cries until I pick him again. I know this is just a phase, and Im trying to give him extra cuddles and hold him when I can. But obviously, I can not carry him 24/7!!

Any suggestions for how to help him through this phase?? And me?!?!

TIA!

-maria
DS1 5
DS2 DS3 13 months

 

Hey there - if it makes you feel any better my little ones are the same age as yours and they are both going through the same thing. I asked hte Pedi how to deal with this and she told me to do what I needed to do around the house (like laundry, etc) and just say to them, Mommy is going downstairs to get the laundry, mommy will be back. She said I'll have to deal with the crying, the phase comes and goes...but if I keep on explaining to them what I am doing that eventually they will understand and get it.

 

Ditto. I had to do the same thing with mine. It was tough for a while there but eventually it did turn around.

 

i think we are on the final phase of ten months of this! my little guy would wail when i'd leave him w/anyone (and he's only been w/family members and our babysitter whom i've known longer than some of my family members!). i even worked w/the ot from ei on this. it just takes leaving for short period and coming back--as promised. and explaining what your'e doing. and being very patient. and letting him cry for a little bit (as opposed to just picking him up and taking him w/you everywhere--i speak from experience! my little joey's been in more bathrooms w/me than i can count!). it's a slow process but an important one, and very normal!

gl! hang in there,
jl

 

this is exactly what i do as well. sometimes they're fine, sometimes they cry, but if it has to get done, it has to get done. that's just life.

 

Ditto!

 

I was just about to post about this. . . my little guy follows me around the house crying and whining. He won't stop unless I pick him up. . . I really feel like I'm neglecting his brother. We've started ignoring his crying and go about our business but he gets really amped up. I was thinking about putting him in his crib if he does this but maybe that's too cruel, especially if it's just a normal phase.
He really ONLY DOES THIS WITH ME!! Not his father. . . Any ideas why??

 

Can I join this group

It seems to have started today with W just thought I would jump in and say we all seem to be going through the same thing at one point or another. :gah:

 

I'm right there with you as my one guy does exactly the same thing! One of our EI therapists said that we should use 1-2-3 magic on this behavior. When the whining starts, start counting and then time out. She said eventually he will stop. I do try to redirect him first and get him involved in somthing and if it doesn't work I start counting.