Between 8 months old 1 year old, children grow into more independent toddlers, yet they are even more uncertain about being separated from you. This is when separation anxiety can often develop, and a child may become agitated and upset when you try to leave.
Whether you need to go into the next room for just a few seconds, leave your child with a babysitter or grandparent for the evening, or drop off your child at day care, your little one might now start reacting by crying, clinging to you, and resisting attention from others.
Because children develop at their own speed, the timing of separation anxiety can vary widely from child to child.
Some toddlers may go through it later, between 18 months and 2½ years of age. Some may never experience it. And for others, certain life stresses can trigger feelings of anxiety about being separated from you – common ones being a new childcare situation or carer, the arrival of a new sibling, moving to a new home, going into a big bed, divorce or tension at home.