Separation anxiety is different from stranger anxiety and usually strikes at around eight months. It starts when your baby first falls deeply in love with her primary caregiver, the person most often feeding and cuddling her. This person will be showered with adoring looks and joyous greetings. The baby seems miserable whenever this special person is out of sight.

Like most other species, human babies develop this passionate attachment just before they are about to move independently. (Want a duckling to follow you everywhere? Adopt it just as it's about to waddle.) Your baby realizes that she can be independent from you and is therefore afraid that you'll move away from her. And, frustrating as it can be, separation anxiety is a plus — it makes it less likely that your newly mobile baby will be moving herself out of your sight.

The best way of dealing with separation anxiety is to simply go along with it. If your baby is clingy, pick her up and cuddle her. If she wants to explore, smile and nod at her explorations from across the room. If she doesn't want to leave you, pick her up and move her from room to room as you go.

Once she's moving on her own, move slowly so she can catch up with you. In a couple of weeks her speed will have picked up, so she'll be more confident of her ability to follow you and less panicked when you move. You can also keep up a constant conversation if you step out of the room because she may not be so worried if she can hear your voice. You can play hide and seek (peek out from your hiding place and call her) to get her used to you appearing and disappearing.

A “lovey” — a special blanket or toy — might help you and your baby through this phase. The lovey will remind your baby of you when you're not around. Some kids never become attached to a lovey and have to struggle through most separations unaided.

In short, don't count on going to the bathroom alone any time soon.

Separation anxiety will come and go for years, so get used to it. It doesn't mean that you should never leave your baby or that she's miserable the whole time you are gone. Find a babysitter you trust, someone who is willing to actively work to calm your baby down when you leave, and know that the tears don't leave a permanent scar on her psyche. Usually, if it's a familiar babysitter, your child will calm down and enjoy herself after a few minutes.