SEPARATION ANXIETY

Another ‘cut and paste’ from www.babeeze.co.za:

Separation or “stranger” anxiety does not always occur to all babies, however it is quite common around the 7-8 month mark that your little one may on the odd occasion experience some sort of anxiety when a friend, granny or baby-sitter offers to pick them up or try and feed them.

Do not be alarmed if a month ago they did not seem to mind at all who looked after them and now they seem to only want mommy or daddy, as this provides some sort of satisfaction, comfort or pleasure.

Even seeing a stranger for the first time may trigger an outburst of crying or wanting to cling to you. Leaving them at the nursery or with a baby-sitter may trigger the same reaction.

Keep in mind that this is only one of the many stages that they are experiencing. Their fear is simply that you are leaving them and that you are not going to come back. Fortunately this stage will be over soon. Try and get the granny or baby-sitter to distract them and take their mind off of what they are experiencing while you slip out of the room, un-noticed.

It is not an easy one – as you will always feel guilty for leaving them. But know that within a few minutes they will have forgotten all about it and you can then look forward to seeing their little face light up again as you enter the room on your return.

OUR TAKE….

Overall, an interesting approach but I suspect Separation Anxiety can go well beyond the 8-month mark….probably till the Grade R stage!