DS is a cry-baby... :(

[smkiya]

My DS is 10 months. We had one sitter say she could no longer watch him because he would cry everytime she walked away. She said she had to hold him constantly and he would follow her around trying to climb up her leg anytime she tried to do anything. She had other children with her and stated that she could not hold him all the time and when she put him down all he would do is cry.

At home if we leave the room he cries, and when we put him in the pack and play he cries. However, after a few minutes in the pack and play, he usually begins to play with his toys. I sneak out of the room and peek in on him and he plays quietly. If he sees me come back in, he cries.

I'm trying to give him more time in the pack and play so that he can become more independent. I let him play in there while I do other things in the same room.

He just started with a new sitter in her home and she stated that he cries a lot and likes to be held, and does not like her to be out of sight. She says that she will give him a few weeks to see if he adjusts, but he only goes once a week.

My mom never has any complaints when she watches him. She lets him crawl around and plays with him, but she has no real distractions. Unfortunately she works and can't watch him often.

Anyone else go through this? I can't keep going through sitters every few weeks, and I don't want DS to be so dependent on someone always holding and coddling him. I only work one day during the week, and all of the standard Daycare centers require a minimum of 3 days per week, and are expensive. I've been using people who offer childcare in their homes. The previous sitter had her own daycare in her house and was registered with the state. The new sitter is a SAHM. Any suggestions, words of wisdom or similar experiences?

 

[luvsJack]

Are the babysitters leaving the room or getting where he can't see them? Is it possible that the first sitter did something to make your child afraid of being left alone? Although this kind of fear is a stage they go through at this age (which is something your sitters should understand), you want to make sure he is getting through it at a normal rate.

My dgd is almost 10 months old and she just went through a stage of crying whenever anyone left the room. But, now that she is more mobile, she just crawls around to find us. It is a stage that all kids go through at some point but if they are made to feel safe and secure, they will get past it.

Your child may feel secure with your mom and that is why he doesn't cry as much with her or it may be that she doesn't keep him confined and he is able to find her and play near her at all times.

I would suggest a child care center instead of babysitters if this doesn't change. In a center, the caregiver would be staying right there with your child and not leaving the room at all. This may make him more secure in the knowledge that he will not be left. Or if not a center, someone that has the ability to keep him close to them at all times until he does feel secure with them.

 

[JimmyPicker]

I agree with luvsJack. It's a phase that most kids go through. It's a hard stage to get through as a parent, and very frustrating for us and the child.

When all you want to do is go pee by yourself for one second or heat up that bottle real quick, it's like nails on a chalkboard to hear them scream as if someone is killing them.

Best of luck. This too shall pass.

 

[TwinsinCA]

FWIW, 9-10 months of age is one of the peak periods of separation anxiety that kids may go through. As others have said, it is just a stage he likely has to grow out of.

 

[js]

I have a 16 year old dd that never cried unless she was hungry, really didn't even cry too much when she got hurt and is still the same.
On the other hand, I have an almost 12 year old son that was thisclose to being a cry baby up until he was 9. He's matured a lot over the last two years but it took that long.
Sorry LOL

 

[smkiya]

Thanks everyone! It is very frustrating as DD never had this issue, but I was working and in school when she was born and so she had a sitter since birth. DS on the other hand never had a sitter until 8 months old. I hope he goes through this 'phase' quickly!

 

[All American]

Just posting to make you feel better. My nephew was one of those always-had-to-held babies. Add to that he was a super chubby baby, so you could hold him for a few minutes but then he just go so heavy. At Thanksgiving, my sister was helping with dinner, and he just crawled around crying/screaming and headbutting her legs when she didn't pick him up. Eventually, he outgrew this phase and is a very independent, although very lovable, 6-year-old. It will get better, I promise.