Baby Blog

My baby boy has entered a second phase of separation anxiety. As we haven’t dealt with this in months, it’s come as a bit of a shock. My little boy wants me to hold him, his hand or sit beside him 24/7 and I’m having trouble dealing with it.

It came on so suddenly and with so much other stuff going in his baby life I kind of hoped it would take care of itself. Silly mommy.

So why now and what do I do about it?

It seems that despite getting over his early separation anxiety and understanding that when I leave I am coming back, Nik may still be having problems with the idea of object permanence. He loves playing peek a boo so maybe that’s a clue. I need to find ways to reassure him and ease his discomfort.

I think a lot of the anxiety’s intensity comes from the fact that Nik has recently weaned from nursing and is seeking comfort, worried that our closeness may disappear with the change in routine. He’s not the only one that worried about it. I too have separation anxiety lately what with the end of nursing and heading on a four day vacation at the end of the month without my baby boy. Maybe I am intensifying his feelings by projecting my own. Bad mommy.

It seems we have some work to do. A few extra games of peek a boo, perhaps games that involve hiding his toys and finding them again as well as short trips without him so he gets used to being with Dad more. I think Nik understands that I’m coming back he just might not be sure if he’s right. Poor baby.

As a mom it’s my responsibility to help him through this transition period. I am letting him sit beside me as I type (for as long as he lets me type in peace), explaining all the small tasks I am doing and letting him be involved and of course giving him hugs and kisses whenever I can. All I can do is reassure Nik and wait for him to move past this latest separation anxiety phase.

Its always something with this mommyhood lark.