Your little one started out in life dependent on you for everything. Food. Love. Security. Not to mention a zillion clean, dry diapers to keep him comfortable. And you know what? He wasn't even aware that you and he were two separate beings.

During his first year, your baby will begin to develop a sense of "self." He'll start to realize what he wants and begin doing things on his own. But even as he's becoming his own person, he will still need you by his side.

Independence Is Awesome

Learning how to do things for himself is bound to be thrilling. Between just six and nine months, your baby will make amazing progress. At the start, he'll barely be able to sit up without your help. Within those few months, he'll be scooting or crawling wherever his little heart desires. Then, as if that weren't exciting enough, guess what he'll master next? The art of standing up and walking. Suddenly, he'll be going from here to there on his own two feet, just like Mom and Dad. He'll be bursting with pride.

But Independence Is Scary, Too

As delighted as your baby will be with his successes, he may find that being separated from Mom is difficult. As he develops his sense of "self," he will come to understand that you, too, are a separate person. With that realization, he may become upset when you leave the house or even just the room he's in. Of course, you'll explain that you'll be back very soon. But with no concept of time, he may fear that he'll never see you again. This kind of fear is called a "separation wariness." And while separation wariness can be painful, it's a perfectly normal part of a child's development.

Finding a Healthy Balance

Your baby's conflicting feelings about independence may be difficult to deal with. For both of you. The best way to help your little one weather this stage of development is by being patient. With your love and support, it will be just a matter of time before your little one finds a comfortable and healthy balance for himself.