Separation Anxiety

My b/g twins just turned 9 months old, and a few weeks ago they both started screaming everytime I leave the room. They even do it in the morning now, and the morning was always the best time of day, I could always put them in their jumperoo and exersaucer and they would play and I would do any little chores I needed to do, now that does not happen. They will both cry terribly, it breaks my heart, but at the same time now I cannot get anything done while they are awake. How do you survive this stage?

 

My babies are a bit younger than yours but they do the same thing. I cannot leave the room without them screaming. I have two walkers and I put them in those so they can follow me around the house while I am getting stuff done.

 

My girls do the same thing!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!! I am the ONLY one that can hold them EVER!! and they scream if I even think about putting them down!! I bought a jumperoo today I am hoping that since it is new maybe it will keep one of them entertained for a few minutes!! I am having a mole removed from my leg tomorrow and I am supposed to leave them w/ my MIL which I thought would be a nice break - but the closer to the time gets the more it is breaking my heart to know they will cry! I do not know what if anything can be done about it! I have mixed feelings about it - on one hand it is flattering! I must be doing something right! but on the other I feel like a crazy lady I am only one person (and I feel guilty about feeling that way!!) I just keep telling myself that one day I will look back on these days and REALLY want them back!! My 5 month olds can't get enough of me and my 13 year old doesn't want much to do with me!

 

My twins went through the same thing. DS was much much worse. It lasted for several months and got better when they became more mobile. Everyone told me that it was just a phase . . . UGH! I hope it doesn't last too long for you and your little ones.

 

One of our girls started this a month ago and still has it to some degree. I just chalk it up to being "just a phase" that they will grow out of. Not fun while it lasts, but hopefully it won't last too long. I just read a short blurb about it on Baby Center and thought you may find it interesting: http://www.babycenter.ca/baby/development/...ysittercryingq/

Good luck! Hope it doesn't last too long for you.

 

QUOTE
I have two walkers and I put them in those so they can follow me around the house while I am getting stuff done.


DITTO DITTO DITTO!

This solved all my probs... they could follow me around and see me doing whatever.

 

I am soooo going through the same thing...it's been going on for about a month. I am not handling it well. It really bothers me to have them cry when I so much as walk to the kitchen to put their bottles away after they are finished!(our house has a pretty open floorplan.) I tried a walker, but they don't seem to like it. My Ds loved it when he was little, but the girls don't seem to. I'm not sure what to tell you except a little crying won't hurt them! I usually try to get things done while they are napping now and just stay with them when they are awake. I know, I'm probably spoiling them, but hey, I'm almost 34 and can't stand to hear them cry and they are my last ones! Sorry I didn't have any advice! Just know you are not alone! Hang in there...it will get better once they are mobile.

 

Well, I was just going to post the same question. My Jacob in particularly is driving me :crazy:. I can walk in to the kitchen which he can still see me in and he SCREAMS like a little girl. It pierces the ear to the point we think we are going to be deaf before we are 40 and let me tell you that is not to far away.

I do have saucers and walkers but, since Noah has had surgery and can not sit in them for three weeks I am of the philosophy that if one can not do it then the other can not. Fair is fair.

I am hoping this phase of just loving mama so much you can not stand her to be out of your sight ends soon or I will have to be getting hearing tests and dying my hair :wacko:

Like PP, I know I should not "baby" them so much but, they are my first and last. If I can get them past this, teething and back to sleeping through the night WOW life will be grand.

 

If you need to do things and you can't hold them, you just have to walk away. Pick them up and reassure them when you can but you can't stop your life for separation anxiety. Believe me. We have a big problem with that right now and I did with my eldest too. You just need to let them know you are still there when you can but don't go out of your way. It will pass, eventually. :hug99:

 

Hey, I know you. You should call sometime soon.

From my experience they tend to get a little better once they start to crawl and can follow you. Like someone else said...if possible use the walkers, they are great, but keep them away from any stairs (you don't have any right?). We gave up the jumperoo and exersaucer around 8 months.
Hope someone else might have some good advice.

 

Hi,

It's my understanding and experience that if you give into their need to be around you right now that the separation anxiety won't last nearly as long as if you just ignore it and continue on. It was real tough for 6-8 weeks for me, but now my kids let me go get stuff done and can hang. They will often look around for me and want what I call a "check in" or "recharge" and I give it to them -- I chalk it up to the fact that in the longer term they will be more able to venture away from me and feel safer doing it. I've also found that my kids are now much more able to go to other people too.

Dr Sears discusses this in the Baby book.

Teri D