Separation anxiety

In the last few weeks our son seems to have been struck with separation anxiety. Unfortunately this started just a couple of weeks prior to him starting nursery two afternoons a week, which made the adjustment period a little more tearful than we had hoped for.

Apparently it isn't unusual that babies who have not had any stranger or separation anxiety previously, still do get it, even at a much later stage. For the monkey it is now. He doesn't like me leaving the room, or being out of sight. On his explores he comes back for little pitstops much more often, refilling on a hug, refuelling on a kiss.

Because he's been sick with a nasty cough for the last 2.5 weeks and then caught himself a nice virus on top of the cough, he has been more clingy than ever. The last four days I have had him attached to me more or less constantly. At night he rolls himself right next to me, wrapping his little arms tightly around my arm. During the day he seems to turn into a jojo: up, down, up down - he doesn't seem to be able to make up his mind what he wants. There have been lots of tears. I do feel for him, being little and ill, not being able to put how he feels into more than just big crocodile tears.

He needs reassurance and he needs lots of hugs and comfort. And of course he gets all of that, in abundance. Even if it means burning our food for lack of free hands.