Screaming Nephew

I have worked in many early childhood centers, and even though it sounds mean you need to let him cry while you get things done then you can attend to him. It will take a few days for him to adjust. He will eventually figure out that he can not be held all the time. I am not saying to ignore his needs, but if he is not hungry, hurt, needs to be changed, or etc. then he just wants all of your attention and he needs to learn that is not possible.

Yes if he were sick he would not calm down right away when you are near him. He would at least be fussy when you are near.

I don't think he is trying to tell you he doesn't feel well. If that were the case he would still be screaming even if you were right there.

It sounds alot like seperation anxiety to me. Some kids develop that around 6 months.

Some questions you might want to ask your sister are: Does your sister have the same problem? Does he freak out when she leaves a room without him? Is she always at his side or in the same room with him? Does she just let him cry if she has to leave the room without him? How does she handle the situation?

I don't really know what to advise you to do though. My daughter never did this at 6 months. (she just started to do this a few weeks ago) What I do though is I try to get my daughter involved in something like playing with her toys or I will put her favorite cartoon on (I know 6 months is a little young for this, but the Baby Einstein videos are fabulous. They have classical music and images that kids like to watch. I would put one on if I couldn't get my daughter interested at anything else when she was young like this) and then tell her I will be right back. She still cries when I leave the room, but I always try to do whatever I need to do very quickly and by the time I'm done she is usually playing with her toys or watching the cartoon.

I hope you can find a solution to help you! It can be really draining to have to deal with a crying baby all day long.

Now I don't have any kids, but I have watched enough kids to where I think I can help you. This here sounds like the typical case of Seperation Anxiety! They normally like the site or even smell of someone they know. Do you wear a certain kind of perfume like religiously???? If so, then take a blanket, stuffed animal, or something to spray the perfume on and hand it to him when your in the room so when you leave the room he hopefully won't notice. but seriously if that doesn't work I would seriously take him to the doctor to figure out if there is something deeper than Seperation Anxiety. Good Luck!!!

Well i have a neice the same way shes 8 months i think and all she does is cry all the time,unless shes being held or someone is right up in her face. Its hard to deal with it or watch her im not use to all that my son was the best baby he nver cried or wasnt in to the being held all the time so it was nice. The only thing ican tell you on that situation is trying letting him cry once, turn the radio on and see if that calms him down.It does her she quiets right down. Have you tried putting him in a walker or anything that will keep him buisy? Ive noticed that helps a lil too. Well hopefully something will work. Good luck girl!

Is this a new behavior in the last few days? weeks? or has been this way months?

Could it have coinsided with a new food?

Hi, my son was exactly like that, except I couldn't even leave him with his father, he only wanted me. Fortunately he was my first so I didn't have others to worry about. The only way I could do anything was to distract him with a video. Baby Einstein Baby Bach was his favorite until Baby Neptune came out. Also I just learned to work around this. I would put him in his walker or high chair in the room I was working in so I was never out of sight. When he got older and he could understand me I started making sure I told him I was leaving and I would be right back and then I would stay out of sight for about a minute then go back. I kept doing this until he was fine with me leaving because he learned that I always came back.

I know this doesn't really help the screaming now, but hang in there it will get better. He is just realizing that he has a say in what you do and he's letting you know he prefers you to stay. I've been told it is completely normal for a child to be this way with the major care giver.

My son was also a "high needs" baby who didn't like to be left alone. What really helped me out was to put him in a baby carrier so he could be close, but I'd still be able to get things done.

Here's a link on how to make one:
http://www.mamatoto.org/Default.aspx?tabid=121