I watch my neighbors daughter a couple of days a week, she's 6 months old and I have watched her for the last two months. She has always been needy, they CONSTANTLY hold her and entertain her at home, she has a 4 year old sister and a Grandma who stays with them half the week. She has never liked to be left alone in a room, she likes to be able to see me, I just make sure I'm in view as much as I can. (ds was different, I could walk away for 30 seconds and he was fine in his exersaucer or swing, so I'm not used to this)

Since she came back from the holidays, it's worse!! Now she wants me to be right in front of her, looking her in the eye, constantly talking to her. As soon as I walk away, she has a COMPLETE MELTDOWN, she screams like ds has never screamed. As soon as I'm right in front of her, she turns off the waterworks, she knows exactly what she's doing I've talked to her parents and they say "yeah, she doesn;t like to be by herself, she gets lonely."

What do I do???? I can't hold her and entertain her all day, ds is 20 months old and he needs to be fed, changed and played with too. I'm so tired of hearing her scream, I'm so frazzled. Like I said, ds wasn't this way so I'm not used to it. He only cried when hungry, really messy diaper, really tired or if something hurt. Becasue of this I have no idea what to do!

Any suggestions on how to chill her out??? And maybe get her to sit by herself???? When dh left for work this morning, he said he was so happy to be going....on a Friday after a long hard week, that's quite a statement!

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Doing my best to raise a GEEK- Genuine Enthusiastic Empowered Kid!

My DS (9 mo.) has also had times like this. I am no expert but, around that age he may be becoming more aware of things around him and actually get bored very easily. A couple things that work for me:
Give him a toy that is interactive, but spend a few minutes showing him how to use it. ex. is a wooden spoon and a bowl to make "music" with (or something quieter!) I notice that unless I show DS how to use a toy, he really doesn't know what to do with it!
I believe in babywearing. You don't have to do it all day long but sometimes it is the only thing that gets DS settled. If I just wear him for an hour or so he is content and I can put him down for a while. I think he just really needs that close contact sometimes. PM me if you want more info about babywearing
HTH
April

mabe set her in front of a mirror in her bouncer, so she can see herself....

or keep talking to her as you are leaving the room, and when you are out of sight, keep talking.

play peek a boo ( the parents should do this too ) to let her know just because you cannot see me, does not mean I am gone.

I do not think that she is "lonely"... at this age she should be able to entertain herself, even if only for a few moments...

HTH hopefully it will get better. Does she nap for you at least?

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married 8 years to a crazy Brit, mommy to a banana, she is 4 and a pineapple who is 11 months, mommy to 3 ~angel~ babies

The older I grow the more earnestly I feel that the few joys of childhood are the best that life has to give. ~Ellen Glasgow
~Childhood is that wonderful time of life when all you need to do to lose weight is take a bath