My 19 month old screams bloody murder when I leave the room or leave him with someone other than his father or nanny (e.g., a grandparent, another babysitter he has met several times). I am torn between wanting to console him and fearing that if I don't respond he will feel abandoned in some way. On the other hand, I want to get him used to others. If I leave him with his grandmother, say, giving him and his sister a bath, he will scream for the duration (20 minutes or longer) until reunited with me. Do I just refuse to let him have me back (e.g., have my mother or babysitter put him to sleep after bath instead of doing it myself) or will I be hurting him in some terrible way? It is alarming how hard and long he can scream for. I am actually not sure if he will stop and even go to sleep if I do this...

• New York City
• Newborn
• Toddler