Although some babies will not go through periods of separation anxiety, most will and usually sometime around the age of 10 months. At this point of the baby’s developmental phase, he or she has now identified mom, dad, siblings, and other family members. These people are the baby’s world, comfort, and security. For this reason, when these known individuals, especially mom and dad are out of the baby’s presence, he or she might feel a little overwhelmed.
Until your baby is old enough to reason, all he/she knows is that mom and dad just walked out the door, leaving him/her behind. Sometimes, if a baby suffers from an extreme case of separation anxiety, you might even hear crying when you leave the room or within sight of the baby. Often, babies going through separation anxiety will be afraid to go to sleep, fuss or scream, or simply present great fear.
Although you often see separation anxiety around 10 months, it can occur up to 18 months or a little older. However, by the child is two, the problem is all but gone. Keep in mind that separation anxiety is much more than just having a clingy baby. In this case, the child is overly attached, actually feeling fear when you are out of sight.
For the parent, having a child with separation anxiety can be frustrating, scary, and exhausting. Obviously, you love your child and going through this can be difficult. The key as the parent is to try hard not to feel angry or frustrated over this possessiveness. Instead, provide encouragement, love, and support that everything will be fine. Although you may not get an immediate response, keep reminding yourself that in time, the problems with separation will pass.
During this time, you will find that when hungry, tired, or even sick, your baby may be more prone to suffering from separation anxiety. To help with this situation, we recommend you not make a big fuss when leaving. Simply kiss the baby, telling him or her that you will return, and then leave. By lingering, you will only make matters worse. While you will hear and see crocodile tears as you leave, be assured they will stop quickly once you are out of sight.