Baby cries as soon as I put them down

Baby cries as soon as I put them down. This is a challenge that every parent faces at one point or another. For the rare few who claim otherwise, do not count your chickens too soon — you never know…

So, why these tears the moment they leave our arms? Let us try to answer that for you.

Why does baby cry as soon as I put them down?

We suspect that there is no single answer to this question. Indeed, there can be many reasons why your child cries when you put them down.

Here are some of the most common:

• Separation anxiety, a phenomenon that typically occurs around 8 months of age.
• Being a high-needs baby — it is possible that your little one simply has greater needs than "average".
• Or simply a need for attention. We know that little ones go through phases that call for a particular amount of parental attention.

Can we call it a tantrum?

As we mentioned earlier, we cannot point to a single reason for these tears. However, what we can tell you is that this is not a tantrum. That word is far too quickly applied to our little ones' demands. The truth is that their immature brain is simply incapable of devising such a strategy.

What is more, it is not a form of pressure to make us give in either…

It is therefore important to understand that this is a genuine need on the part of our little ones.

Baby cries as soon as I put them down: getting through this phase gently

Unfortunately, there is no immediate, magical solution to this. So, as is so often the case, your best ally will be… patience.

Leaving them to cry to "get them used to it" is not the answer. Your child is likely simply to cry more, and ultimately this phase could end up lasting even longer. It is therefore better to reassure them as much as possible. Babywearing can be a good way to both comfort them and free up your hands a little — a kind of compromise while you wait for this phase to pass.

However, if you are feeling overwhelmed, it is best to hand over to the other parent, or to close family and friends where possible — for your own wellbeing and that of your whole little family.