Crying when I walk away

ProwdMommy

Tucker has been crying when I walk away for about 2 weeks now and Duncan just started doing it this week.  I am totally unprepared for this.  I don't remember DS1 doing this until he was about 6-7 mos.  It just breaks my heart

nikinikinine

I think I would fall apart if this happened. How are you holding up?

AlishaMay

My girls did this at this age too!

The teacher at my infant class explained that at that age they don't have 'object permanence', so basically when you walk away, they think you're gone forever.  And if I were 4 mo old, I'd cry too!

She suggested a lot of peek-a-boo in many different ways to help them learn that you may be gone, but you still exist, and are coming back.  LOL

I would set them down in the living room, then walk into the kitchen and peek around the corner, making a game out of it.  Somewhere around the 300th time of doing this they got the hint.

She told me that you can also test their object permanence by covering up a favorite toy or paci with a cloth and seeing if they just forget about it, or if they look for it.  If they forget about it, the object permanence isn't there yet.  But if it is then you know that they are crying when you walk away for other reasons.

ProwdMommy

AlishaMay:

My girls did this at this age too!

The teacher at my infant class explained that at that age they don't have 'object permanence', so basically when you walk away, they think you're gone forever.  And if I were 4 mo old, I'd cry too!

She suggested a lot of peek-a-boo in many different ways to help them learn that you may be gone, but you still exist, and are coming back.  LOL

I would set them down in the living room, then walk into the kitchen and peek around the corner, making a game out of it.  Somewhere around the 300th time of doing this they got the hint.

She told me that you can also test their object permanence by covering up a favorite toy or paci with a cloth and seeing if they just forget about it, or if they look for it.  If they forget about it, the object permanence isn't there yet.  But if it is then you know that they are crying when you walk away for other reasons.

 

This breaks my heart even more.  Good advice though.  I have a minor in psychology so you would think that I remember these things, but I guess when they are your babies all that goes out the window.

 

nikinikinine, I am holding up well.  Seems like the babies have gotten much easier to deal with in the last few weeks.  The 4mos. wakeful hasn't been too bad.  Tucker does like to nap much anymore.  Other than that we are hanging in there.  How are you these days?