My daughter is 7 1/2 months old and I know that she is going through separation anxiety because if someone else especially a stranger holds her, a lot of the times she gets upset.  When I walk out of the room she screams and cries until she sees me again.  She's getting better letting some people hold her but she has really been getting upset when my husband goes to hold her.  She starts crying and reaches back for me.  I feel awful because he just gets home from a 24hr shift and is excited to see and she smiles when she sees him but them gets upset when he holds her.  I think it's really starting to wear on him.  I don't know what to do to get her to stop this.  A few days a week she spends the entire day with him while I'm at work so it's not like she never spends any time with him.  Also, it seems like even if I just put her down sometimes to play she just starts crying because she wants to be held ALL the time.  I can't tell if it's more of a spoiled thing or if it's separation anxiety.  Any suggestions?

it is definetely separation anxiety, a baby is never spoiled at that age.  I am sorry your husband is going through this, but it will pass, it is a stage in the development.  Be patience and it will come back when she walks, so be prepare.  Good luck.

A piece of advice: be there next to here when your husband is trying to hold her, after a few minutes she will warm up to him and let her touch her, it could go from 15 to 20 minutes, and tey to do it everytime and everyday you can.

My daughter is going through this right now.  Depending on her mood sometimes she's OK if I hand her off and other times she gets downright mad!  She even cried the other day at the babysitters - and she's been staying there since she was 6 weeks!  Everyone has told me it's a phase and will pass soon.  Good luck!

Around 6 months old babies develop "stranger danger". It's actually a good and normal developmental stage. You wouldn't want just anyone able to take your baby and walk off with her without her reacting. I think it lasts until 9 or 10 months but I'm not sure. You might have to look it up. Your daughter's lack of desire to be held by your husband is nothing personal. Just a stranger danger thing..though he's not a stranger, she doesn't get to spend a lot of time with him as she does with you. You are her comfort. Keep trying to have him hold her and spend as much time as he can with her while he is home but don't force her beyond her comfort level. She'll grow out of it and eventually will be running to him all the time instead of you because she sees you all the time and not him. With regards to her wanting to be held all the time, I wouldn't worry about it so much now. Just work at it in little spurts of time throughout the day to play with her toys on the floor with you sitting right next to her but realize at this age, she's learning a sense of security. Every child has a different personality and this could just be her way of learning and coping. You might meet another child at the same age who doesn't have the same problem but that's their personality difference. So don't push her too hard at this age to be too independent of you. It could backfire on you and make her more clingy.

it peaks at the age your baby is right now and can last until she is over 1 year old.  just be patient.  i know its hard and it makes you feel like the worst mom in the world.  just have faith that she needs you at this time but it will past and she's be shooing you away before you know it.  {{{hugs}}}

cathy