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Dr. Bill and Martha Answer:
We recently moved to a new city. My 8-month-old daughter's personality has seemed to change. During the past few weeks, she has been very fussy, especially at naptime. She refuses to sleep, her appetite has changed, she wakes up crying during the night, and she refuses to let me out of her sight. All of these things are way out of character for her. What do I do? Answer: It's usual for a child to regress following a family upset, and few things are more upsetting than a move. Eight-month-olds, in particular, get used to a predictable way of living, and then things drastically change: a new house, a new bedroom, and certainly the parental stress of moving affects her. The two most noticeable reflections of stress are a change in sleep and appetite habits, both of which she is experiencing. Sounds like you need to take a few days off to reconnect with your daughter. Try to get back some of the predictable routine she was used to. It's also normal for a baby to go through a clingy period after a move. So many new things have come into her confusing little world, so mom and dad are the stabilizing persons that she clings to. This clingy stage will soon pass once all of you settle comfortably into your new environment.
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