8 1/2 Month Old FREAKS Out If I Walk Out of the Room!!

This is a normal phase for a baby that age. Both of my kids went through it but a lot more so with my son than with my daughter. He will grow out of it. I wouldn't recommend responding by leaving him with other people with the sole purpose of breaking him of wanting to be with you. (If you need a break, that's different.) Separation is just going to be hard for him during this phase. I think a better approach is teaching him you will come back. He is probably just beginning to learn "object permanence" meaning he knows you exist when you leave and so he misses you. Try leaving for thirty seconds, a minute, two minutes, etc. and come back happy to see him so he can learn to trust you will return shortly.

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It's just separation anxiety--something all kids go through in one form or another, some are just more extreme. You'll get better & faster results if you ignore this around him. I pray this all ends for you SOON!

Haha my son is 9 months and exactly the same. My daughter was never like this either. I have my living room gated off and its the only room totally baby proofed so sometimes I have to leave him in there to do housework elsewhere. He can see me in the kitchen doing dishes and still freaks out. Its almost better if I'm not in sight because eventually he forgets and starts playing, but as soon as he sees me he whines.

Maybe leaving him with someone else will help, or at least give you a needed break. I know the difference between my two kids is that when my daughter was a baby I worked part time, so she got used to not seeing me for a couple hours a day. I've stayed home since my son was born so he sees me all day every day, I'm starting to think this is the problem. I've also heard that boys are clingier, and also that the second baby is more clingy, both seem to be true from what I've seen of my own kids and my friends kids. I say get a sitter once a week and see if he gets used to it. I don't think it could hurt!

what do you do when he does this?
i would go on about my business calmly. if he screams while you're in the shower, well, screaming never killed anyone, and his dad needs to learn how to deal with it calmly and matter-of-factly too. i like to keep a melting-down baby close by while i'm busy with something else so i can give an occasional sympathetic pat but not attention, no persuading or pleading or attempts to fix. the noise is obnoxious, but that's not a baby's fault. and if you're leaving, go. his dad is a big boy. he can handle it for a few minutes while baby lets it out then adjusts to your absence. which he will.
when you pick him up, he's smiling and giggling because he's got his mommy whom he adores with him, not because he's 'getting what he wants'. babies are in the moment, not schemers. don't project that pejorative attitude onto him.
you don't have a strict no paci policy if you give it to him at night, but not really. you have a squishy senseless paci policy. either take it away, give it to him, or always let him have it at night. it's not a comfort to him if he's anxious about whether he's going to get it or not, and right now he doesn't ever know whether he will or not. you don't have a set time he can learn that he'll get it, you arbitrarily grant or withhold with no rules he can figure out. if he needs comfort, give him a paci. if you hate them, don't give it to him at all.
i mean, why ever let him have one if you're not going to give him one when he actually really does need a woobie?
khairete
S.

I have no answer for you, I just want to let you know I am in the same boat with my 10 month old son. He is extremely high maintenance and cries hysterically if I put him down. If he is not crying, he is crawling up the back of my legs while I'm trying to cook or even just check my damn email!!!! I have a 2 yr old daughter too and she even tries to distract him for me but he only wants me. I want to have other people watch him but we only have two people available and they are not very eager to help out with him because he is so difficult and only wants me. I adore him but I am totally overwhelmed with how he is with me. Sometimes I feel like I am suffocating. People have told me that boys are like that and maybe it is true, but I just hope that he will eventually become more independent. I just keep telling myself that he is still an infant and it will pass, but I do get scared to think of what he may be like when he is a toddler or preschooler. Hang in there with me!!!

Why did you decide on the no-paci policy? Is this when he started freaking out? My pediatrician said not to worry if my DD is on the paci until she is 2 because it's better than her sucking her thumb, etc...so i left her have it (she freaks without it too). But if it's not related to this, then it may just be a phase...babies have separation anxiety at times, and he is still a baby, so I wouldn't worry too much right now....just make sure when you do go out that he is with someone you trust and that can handle the crying, and he will eventually realize that you are coming back and he is ok. My DD is a mommy's girl too, but i don't mind...i just make sure my free time is at night when she is sleeping and my husband is here to watch her when she wakes up...then she goes back to sleep. Your little one is just a baby and won't be this age forever...just try to be understanding and give him comfort when he needs it - after all, you're the only mom he has! It is frustrating because my daughter is almost 8 mos also and she wants me to hold her all the time - I can't hardly push her in a stroller without her fussing for me to carry her and my arms are sore!!! She is over 20 lbs and I am a wimp! Haha....and she hates playing by herself...but I know every baby is different and some need more attention than others, so I just try to appreciate the time I have with her because before I know it she will be too old to want mommy around...I have two older kids that are already more independent and it's kinda sad! I didn't have a daughter to be selfish and want more me time - I had a daughter because I wanted her...she didn't ask em to be her mom - I chose that for her....so I want to make sure she is as happy and comfortable as possible with a great childhood - and she is too young right now to understand impermanence...she is in the moment and is just trying to communicate her wants and needs - she doesn't have the use of language, so crying is the only way to express herself. I just have to be patient and give her some time to learn. I am a SAHM and the more I give her some time apart from me (church nursery, time with daddy, etc) she will get used to me being gone and then coming back....I only stay away for an hour or less at a time, and she is getting a bit more mature and can understand a little more each time....so in the meantime, just embrace the time with him while you can and then you won't be so focused on needing more time away from him...