Dealing with separation anxiety with a 9 month old....

Ryan has always been very close with me. I think between being a SAHM and EBFing we have built an amazing bond, which I am so thankful for.

However, I think separation anxiety has set in. DH says Ryan is constantly whining and "looking for me".

If it is just me and Ryan home, he follows me (by crawling) EVERYWHERE. There was a small period of time where I could leave him on the floor playing with toys and he wouldn't care where I went.

Any tips, advice, anything to help reassure Ryan I am here for him but he needs his space too?

Re: Dealing with separation anxiety with a 9 month old....

DS did this around 10 months (and again now at 16 months). The anxiety at 10 months passed in a few weeks.

If I needed to leave him alone anywhere (in his crib or pack in play), I told him over and over that I would be right back. Over time, I think he understood the words and got less upset when I needed to leave him for a moment. Leaving him with other people was hard--he would scream initially, but I noticed he usually stopped in a few minutes when his caregiver got him interested in something else.

To some degree though, I just brought him everywhere with me since it made him happier. He even started coming in the bathroom, which you may or may not be comfortable with, but I figured he needs to learn what the toilet is for over time also.

Good luck--most likely it will pass. Then rear it's head again somewhere around 18 months.