4 Month Old with seperation anxiety!

[paprika60]

Everything I read says 4 month old can't have separation anxiety. Well I don't know what you'd call this.  If I leave the room she cries.  If I come back in she stops and smiles.  Sometimes she doesn't even want others holding her.  But if I hold her she will smile away at others.  If I leave the house altogether she will cry. I've left her up to 2 hours and she cries THE WHOLE time.  Now she won't even take the bottle from anyone else.  (This is new)

She was/is breastfeed, and I didn't have much success with pumping so I feel like because of that she isn't very used to others feeding her and thus she protests.  But she has always been a ferocious eater so this is so upsetting.

I've had people tell me, oh it'll pass.  But I work from home.  At least I'm supposed to be.  But, now I can only work when she naps, or after she goes to bed.  And she still wakes up at least once over night, so even if I get 6 hours sleeps it's not6 straight hours.

I'm just getting to my wits end.  I really have no clue what to do.  Do I just keep forcing her on others and letter her cry forever?!?  This is torture!

[paprika60]

Thanks for the comments. :(

[jdtm]

Whether it is separation anxiety or just anxiety, I believe you.  Our elder granddaughter suffered anxiety from the moment she was born.  The second granddaughter cried for five hours once when we babysat her (and she knew us well).  Our elder granddaughter required a lot of help from professionals; our younger granddaughter was able to cope with support and patience from her family.  

Advice - there's no easy answer.  Just do what you have to do - if you must leave her, then do so,  Where's her father - gradually someone else will need to help you but it will take time for this child to become comfortable with others.  Just know that you are not alone and it will get better.  If not, (after a couple of years or so), then you will need to contact your pediatrician for further advice.  But for now, I might suggest you google the phrase "anxiety and toddlers" or "anxiety and babies" to see if there might be some information on the internet.  So sorry - but this will take time and it is torture ...