8 mon. separation anxiety?

[Elisabethpate]

My 8 month old is beginning to show some signs of separation anxiety at naps and bedtime. She has been sick this week so I'm sure that is the root of the problem, but I don't want to to become a bigger issue. She has always been really good about putting herself to sleep and resettling during the night. Now she can pull up to standing and will do this and cry at the door until I come. I feel bad that she is upset (esp. cause she isn't feeling well) and I go rushing in to comfort her. All she wants is for me to hold her until she falls asleep. I trying to hold her until she is really sleepy and then put her in her bed and rub her back until she is asleep, but I've never had to do this before. Am I making this worse? Or should I wait and see how she does once she isn't sick anymore. DH thinks I should just let her cry, but I feel bad because she has had a fever. Help!

[jessmum46]

If she is standing and crying for you, you are doing the right thing by going to her . We don't support CIO here at all, and it will only make separation anxiety worse as it reinforces the fear that you aren't coming back.  If she is unwell too it is likely that she will need extra cuddles and reassurance.

Once she is better she may well go back to sleeping independently without you having to do anything - that's often the case.  However if holding her seems to have become a prop I would suggest you use PD (put down) to get her back to sleeping in her bed (we don't do PU once LO is pulling to stand).  But wait til she's fully better - hopefully you won't have to do anything at all