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Pregnancy & Baby 
  |  Baby  |  Behaviour  |  Baby who clings
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Baby who clings

by Coram Family

question
My five-and-a-half month old son will not stay with anyone unless I am in the room. If I leave him, he will not stop screaming and makes himself sick. How can I stop this habit before he gets worse?

answer
Young babies naturally form close attachments to both parents. Some babies are less tolerant of losing the familiar touch and smell that they know. Your son’s behaviour cannot really be called a habit and he is not being bad in any way. Unfortunately, you will not be able to get a break until he has grown out of this phase.

It can only distress your son if he screams to the extent you describe.
It doesn’t sound as if there is any time pressure. For instance, you do not mention a deadline of going back to work. So, try to be relaxed and lengthen the invisible elastic slowly. Give your partner and family members plenty of opportunities to hold and play with your son while you are in the room. Your son may be especially sensitive to different handling, but do check for any messages you are sending him inadvertently –
do you look uneasy if your partner or a grandparent does things a little differently?

Try to move out of sight regularly and then, perhaps take a trip down to the shops. If you do not rush this adjustment then over time your son will become happier and more relaxed.

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