Has your baby ever had seperation/stranger anxiety and how do you help it?
ByMy almost 5 month old daughter has really bad sep anxiety from her daddy and me… her grandparents who she sees once a week now can’t even hold her w/out her crying.. even if i am in the room.. when i take her she stops.. i left her w/ Grandpa for a half hour today thinking it’d help if i left and she cried the whole time.. sometimes just looking at other ppl she starts crying.. is there anything i can do? at what age did your child go thru this? Until when? and how did u deal w/ it?
she is really only around her family.. who she has spent time w/ since bor.. its like she forgot who they are.. i am not returning to work just feel bad when family comes and wants to hold her. she doesn’t do it tho when i leave her in her bouncer, play mat, etc to go do something.. just when she is w/ someone else.. me around and not around..
My guys are starting to show signs of it. They got really freaked out when the neighbor attempted to hold them, but they calmed down once I held them in my lap for a bit, while the neighbor calmly talked and smiled. Then after a few minutes she could even hold them and they were fine with it.
They also start to get mad for a few seconds when we first walk away from them to get a drink etc. during play time. But that isn’t really bad yet, more protesting it.
They are 5 months old. It is normal for separation anxiety to occur between 4-9 months. I think starting at 5 months is very normal.
I think they just have to learn that you will always come back, so try leaving them for short sessions and returning frequently, so they get used to it.
4 Comments
September 9th, 2010 at 8:05 am
my daughter had the same thing it went on from 5months old till 14months old she grew out of it . its just a phase they go through
References :
Mum to a 4 yr old boy , 23month old girl , 1 yr old boy
September 9th, 2010 at 8:49 am
My guys are starting to show signs of it. They got really freaked out when the neighbor attempted to hold them, but they calmed down once I held them in my lap for a bit, while the neighbor calmly talked and smiled. Then after a few minutes she could even hold them and they were fine with it.
They also start to get mad for a few seconds when we first walk away from them to get a drink etc. during play time. But that isn’t really bad yet, more protesting it.
They are 5 months old. It is normal for separation anxiety to occur between 4-9 months. I think starting at 5 months is very normal.
I think they just have to learn that you will always come back, so try leaving them for short sessions and returning frequently, so they get used to it.
References :
September 9th, 2010 at 9:32 am
Seperation Anxiety is i perfectly normal part of child development. Babies realize that there’s only mom or dad, and when they can’t see you, that means you’ve gone away. And most don’t yet yet understand the concept of time so do not know if or when you’ll come back.
Whether you’re in the kitchen, in the next bedroom, or at the office, it’s all the same to your baby. You’ve disappeared, and your child will do whatever he or she can to prevent this from happening.
Here are some options to help your baby through seperation anxiety…
Option 1- Minimize separations as much as possible and take your baby along if he seems to feel anxious. With this option, you’re basically waiting for your baby to outgrow this stage.
Option 2- If you have to leave your baby — for example, to return to work — try leaving him with people who are familiar, like his father, grandmother, or aunt. Your baby may still protest, but he might adjust more easily to your absence when surrounded by well-known faces.
Option 3- If you need to leave your child with someone he doesn’t know, give him a chance to get to know his caregiver while you’re still around.
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September 9th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Hi. I am a child developmentalist and I can reassure you that this is perfectly normal. Children go through a phase of both separation anxiety and ’stranger aversion’ and this can happen from approximately 5 months onwards and can last for several months, or in some cases longer.
Although it can be pretty trying, there is no need for concern.
Hope this helps.
References :
http://www.snowdropcerebralpalsyandautism.com