When does separation anxiety start in babies?
Applies to age: 4–12 months
In short
Separation anxiety and fear of strangers are common in young children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. They can last longer and can also appear at other times of stress or anxiety. This is a normal part of development, and children usually grow out of it.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- Separation anxiety and fear of strangers are common in young children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years; they can last longer and can also appear at other times of stress or anxiety.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Separation anxiety and fear of strangers is common in young children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, although it can last longer and may also happen at other times of stress or anxiety.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Separation anxiety is a normal part of a child's development, and the child usually grows out of it.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
But it's a normal part of your child's development and they usually grow out of it.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Separation anxiety shows up as babies and young children becoming clingy and crying when a parent or another caregiver leaves, even for a short time.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Babies and toddlers often get clingy and cry if you or their other carers leave them, even for a short time.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
- It is a cause for concern when separation anxiety causes the child a lot of distress, when the child stays upset for a long time after the caregiver has left, or when the anxiety lasts longer than a few weeks (each of these conditions on its own).
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
If your child's separation anxiety is causing them a lot of distress, they are upset for a long time after you have left them, or it has been going on for more than a few weeks
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
See a doctor
- The Patient Portal (the National Health Fund, NFZ): when a child's development differs from that of peers, there is no reason to panic, but it is worth discussing with a specialist what worries the parent, using the advice of a midwife, nurse or pediatrician. The page does not mention separation anxiety and does not give a time threshold for this anxiety.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Warto jednak skonsultować ze specjalistą to, co Cię zaniepokoiło i korzystać z rad położnej, pielęgniarki czy pediatry.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
- Who assesses a child's development, and when, within the record's age window (this is the timing of the well-child checkup, not a developmental norm): the Ministry of Health regulation on guaranteed services in primary care (POZ), Dz.U. 2023 item 1427, annex 1 part III items 3 and 4 – the checkup in the 9th and in the 12th month of life includes a medical examination that takes into account the pace of psychomotor development. The regulation does not mention an assessment of emotional development or separation anxiety.
Source: Akty prawne w Dzienniku Ustaw – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Badanie lekarskie podmiotowe i przedmiotowe, z uwzględnieniem tempa rozwoju fizycznego (pomiary: masy i długości ciała, obwodu głowy i klatki piersiowej) i psychomotorycznego.
Akty prawne w Dzienniku Ustaw · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [3]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Why does a baby cry with dad, at the sight of strangers, or when left alone?
Applies to age: 3–12 months
In short
Fear of strangers and separation anxiety are common in young children between 6 months and 3 years of age (they can last longer) and are a normal part of development that children usually grow out of. Young children often become clingy and cry when a parent or other caregivers leave them, even for a short time, and separation anxiety means that the child is starting to realize that they are a separate person and how dependent they are on the people who care for them.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- Fear of strangers and separation anxiety are common in young children between 6 months and 3 years of age; they can last longer and also appear at other times of stress or anxiety.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Separation anxiety and fear of strangers is common in young children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, although it can last longer and may also happen at other times of stress or anxiety.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-08 · license [1]
- Separation anxiety and fear of strangers are a normal part of a child's development, and children usually grow out of them.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
But it's a normal part of your child's development and they usually grow out of it.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-08 · license [1]
- Separation anxiety means that the child is starting to realize that they are a separate person and how dependent they are on the people who care for them.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
But separation anxiety is a sign your baby now realises they're a separate person from you and how dependent they are on the people who care for them.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-08 · license [1]
- Growing awareness of the world around them can make a child feel unsure or cry in new situations or with new people, even when the parent is nearby.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Their growing awareness of the world around them can also make them feel unsafe or upset in new situations or with new people, even if you are there.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-08 · license [1]
- Young children often become clingy and cry when a parent or other caregivers leave them, even for a short time.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Babies and toddlers often get clingy and cry if you or their other carers leave them, even for a short time.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-08 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
- If separation anxiety causes a child a lot of distress, the child stays upset for a long time after the parent has left, or it lasts longer than a few weeks (any one of these conditions), it is worth seeking advice.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
If your child's separation anxiety is causing them a lot of distress, they are upset for a long time after you have left them, or it has been going on for more than a few weeks, talk to your health visitor.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-08 · license [1]
See a doctor
- This is a general tip about child development (the page does not speak directly about separation anxiety or fear of strangers): it is worth discussing with a specialist whatever worried the parent, and using the advice of a midwife, nurse or pediatrician.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Warto jednak skonsultować ze specjalistą to, co Cię zaniepokoiło i korzystać z rad położnej, pielęgniarki czy pediatry.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
Sources
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS.
- Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.
- Akty prawne w Dzienniku Ustaw (ELI: eli.gov.pl, api.sejm.gov.pl)License: Akt normatywny, art. 4 pkt 1 ustawy o prawie autorskim (nie podlega ochronie). Source: Akty prawne w Dzienniku Ustaw (ELI: eli.gov.pl, api.sejm.gov.pl).