Separation Anxiety

Hi there,

Just looking for some advice and keen to hear other people's experiences on separation anxiety.

I *think* Roo has just started this phase. He's always been a super laid back and chilled bubba, but just this week has started to wake up numerous times in the night, crying Last night I just left him, and he stopped each time after no more than 2mins. It's like he's waking up, realising I'm not there, having a moan, then falling back to sleep. I thought it was his teeth at first, but he's also started to cry a bit randomly during the day. If I'm not in the room and he suddenly realises, the bottom lip goes and he'll cry but stop as soon as he gets a hug.

Am I best just giving him heaps of huggles, to make him feel more secure? Or will that make it worse?

Peek-a-boo, hide under a blanket and call out 'where's mummy' and they get such a trill from finding you!!

Lots of cuddles

Hide round the corner then 'pop out' and keep talking so they know you're still around but not visible iygwim

We play peekaboo, hide under a sheet etc etc. But miss wee monster is being rather upset by not being with mama at the mo. She even got upset by a stranger (lovely lady in the kitchen at pre-school). And i'm the only one who she will take a bottle from 99% of the time. So do you just keep on reassuring ("your ok" etc etc) and cuddles bla bla bla?? Is the night time waking possibly linked to waking in the light sleep cycle and not knowing where mama is??

Riley is doing the same, hes fine when i am not home but if I'm home I have him around my feet grizzling at me and following me all over the house.

Like others have said i now play games with him to convince him that I am still around - calling out from other rooms and talking to him when I leave a room so he knows I am still close.

Hang in there, it does get better!