https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:41:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1967277 Tue, 02 Dec 2014 11:15:19 +0000 AmandaB8 1967277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally normal. </p> <p>I do all my chores in a room, and set DD up with activities. I move to the next room after everything is done in one</p> <p>. So, in the kitchen, she has a tupperware drawer. </p> <p>In the basement (where our laundry is - and it's finished), she has her old exersaucer. She walks around the outside of it now, but it keeps her occupied! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1967148 Tue, 02 Dec 2014 10:30:53 +0000 ShootingStar 1967148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DS is like this too at 1 year. In the morning he's kind of gotten used to it - when he wakes up I put him in his PnP in our room with a bottle of milk and he has to stay there while I shower and get dressed. It's a nightmare to let him out, so in he stays. Sometimes he gets upset but I have to ignore it to get us out the door. (I solo parent in the mornings).</p> <p>He also does this other times of the day when I try to leave the playroom. If DH is around he'll try and distract him and he'll forget in a minute or two. Otherwise I bring him with me either put him in his walker so he can zoom around safely, or I put him in his high chair and give him something to munch on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1967060 Tue, 02 Dec 2014 09:44:51 +0000 Orchid 1967060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bubbles: me too! I do also think it coincided with LO crawling! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1966955 Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:46:06 +0000 catomd00 1966955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Very normal for 9 months. I constantly play peek a boo from the other room when I have to step over the gate. Since you can't baby wear, what about bringing an exersaucer or door jumper to the room you're in? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1966952 Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:42:51 +0000 Bubbles 1966952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Leah: my LO has been like this since he started crawling at 9 months (he's now 11 months) I am hoping it is just a phase! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1966897 Tue, 02 Dec 2014 07:18:25 +0000 Orchid 1966897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been wondering about this too. LO is 9 months and in the past he would play independently for a good 20 minutes. Now he needs something really interesting (usually a non-toy) to keep him interested for 5 minutes or so before he's pulling up on my legs. I was so proud of his independence but for the past 2 months he's been really clingy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1966885 Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:50:03 +0000 erwoo 1966885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I was the same way to b/c it would be ALL over the place; but your mom was right. It's not that big a deal and I taught him to put it back himself after a while. Plus, ours was all of those black take out containers that we stopped using after we switched to using glass storage containers. And then later when we moved I looked at some of the covers and they were cracked from being stepped on by both boys. haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1965482 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 11:42:36 +0000 ElbieKay 1965482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunshineandsushi: "In one ear, I have DH saying it's because I pick them up too often and in the other, my parents are convinced that they have separation anxiety from me because I work and they're in daycare ... Fun times."</p> <p>YES. I have this issue with my husband. He gets annoyed that I am effectively held hostage by the baby and can't get anything done. I don't think he understands what it's like to be mommy. The baby just doesn't react the same way towards him.</p> <p>@Ginabean3: "It's weird that my LO is clingy like that ONLY when we are the only two people at home. When it's just me and her, she needs to be attached at my hip."</p> <p>Yes, this too! So annoying.</p> <p>@erwoo: "You can also leave a bottom cabinet with just plastic containers or pots and pans you don't care about and let him play with it while you're in the kitchen. That worked well for me. I don't know how to help you with working on your taxes. Maybe when he's napping or sleeping?"</p> <p>Sometimes we hand him a spoon or bowl to play with, but maybe I will try to drawer trick. That is a great idea, thanks.</p> <p>Taxes were just an example.</p> <p>ETA: Thanks to everyone for your replies! I am just trying to figure out what is a reasonable expectation for his age so that I can balance his needs versus mine. It's tough! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1965410 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 11:13:57 +0000 Anagram 1965410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erwoo: I do the bottom cabinet thing, too. I keep alllll my tupperware and the lids there, and then LO will be entertained by pulling it all out and throwing it everywhere for at least 8-10 minutes.</p> <p>I used to get kind of pissy because I thought I had to clean all the tupperware every time (because it was on the floor), but then my mom was visiting and told me to get over it. That if I was super concerned I could do a quick rinse before I use anything, but to just throw it back in the cabinet after LO is done playing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1965312 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 10:39:52 +0000 erwoo 1965312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both of my boys did that to me and my youngest used to cry when I stood up and walk one step away from him. He still does that from time-to-time (he's just over 2.5 years now!) b/c he wants me to stay with him. The way I dealt with it is to just let them cling onto my legs and tried to get things done, especially in the kitchen. It's really hard when you're cooking. I actually left a bottom drawer in the kitchen with all take out containers for my boys to play with (I literally left it like that for over 3 years until my youngest stopped being interested in it). You can also leave a bottom cabinet with just plastic containers or pots and pans you don't care about and let him play with it while you're in the kitchen. That worked well for me. I don't know how to help you with working on your taxes. Maybe when he's napping or sleeping? This can be just a phase. With my oldest it was. With my youngest it wasn't b/c, as I mentioned above, he's still this way. The way I see it is if it won't hurt to just let him cling or let him come with me to the bathroom, then it's okay with me. It's definitely harder with it's your first b/c they have no one to play with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1965290 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 10:28:42 +0000 sunshineandsushi 1965290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 23 months old twins are like this. In one ear, I have DH saying it's because I pick them up too often and in the other, my parents are convinced that they have separation anxiety from me because I work and they're in daycare ... Fun times. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1965250 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 10:07:44 +0000 Ginabean3 1965250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally common! And you know what? It's weird that my LO is clingy like that ONLY when we are the only two people at home. When it's just me and her, she needs to be attached at my hip. But when we have people over, she's roaming the house independently, checking things out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1965237 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 10:01:06 +0000 autumnlove 1965237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Very common. My kids were very clingy at home forever but they are ok now when I tell them that I will be back in a minute, or I'm cooking, etc. </p> <p>I got most of my chores done during nap time during the clingy phases. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1965141 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 09:11:23 +0000 lamariniere 1965141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 1 year old is like this, although, it has gotten slightly better over the last month. She's generally mama mama mama all of the time. I babywear sometimes when I cook dinner, but it does hurt my back. Sometimes I put her in her high chair when I'm cooking so that she can see me. As for doing any sort of work (I WAH), it is only possible when she's either with the babysitter, with my DH, or sleeping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1965138 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 09:10:05 +0000 Ash 1965138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: ds pulls my sweats down... It's a lot of fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1965136 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 09:09:31 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1965136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had the same issues at that age. I would just explain to LO "Mommy would love to play with you but first I need to..." &amp; then I would pry her off me if need be &amp; do whatever it is really quickly. She usually screamed &amp; it usually made me cry too but now at 14 months if I tell her I'm trying to get something done, 90% of the time she accepts that &amp; goes to play &amp; will ask for attention later. It sucked but I don't regret telling her no, I can't play right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1965133 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 09:07:07 +0000 blackbird 1965133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 20 month old does this still. Except now she's strong enough to pull my maternity pants off me while i'm in the kitchen. It's fun :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1965129 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 09:06:22 +0000 Ash 1965129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Very very common! I just went through this and thought I was going to lose my mind. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1965125 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 09:04:55 +0000 looch 1965125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was and is the same, he just wants to be around at least one of us. Even now, it's rare that he'll be in one room and us in another. </p> <p>One thing that helped us in the early days was for me to narrate, so he could hear my voice. I'd just be talking about whatever, sometimes, telling a story, sometimes, talking about the weather, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1965117 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 08:59:53 +0000 Anagram 1965117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this is super common....my LO is pretty independent and she still has weeks where she is like this. I try to distract her by getting her set up with several toys she hasn't seen recently, but that doesn't always work and sometimes I just let her whine/fuss while I finish what I need to do (like cooking dinner...I can't hold her while I cook and wouldn't baby wear while I'm lifting hot things in and out of the oven, or stirring hot things, etc).</p> <p>My main issue is cooking, so I'm planning to buy a kitchen helper soon so she can be up on my level and see what I'm doing without being too close. Things like taxes...honestly, I wouldn't even attempt until LO is in bed for the night or it's a weekend and one parent can be on LO duty while the other gets stuff done.</p> <p>Also, try cheesy kid's music. We have a CD someone gifted us with the worst, cheesy kid songs and I hate it...but LO loves it and just having that music on will reduce her crying/clinginess. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/clingyness-1#post-1965104 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 08:51:24 +0000 ElbieKay 1965104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son will be nine months old in a week. We have an L-shaped living room, and the L is gated off as a play area. It's probably around 9'x9', so it's a decent size.</p> <p>When I am sitting in his play area, he plays pretty independently. But if I step over the gate to do something else in the apartment, he melts down. And if I let him roam on the other side of the gate -- which I prefer not to do because it's not baby-proofed -- then he follows me around, pulls up on my leg (which renders me useless because I can't walk) and cries to be picked up.</p> <p>I have no issue spending time with him and focusing on him. I understand that he's a baby and he wants his mommy. But is there any way I can stem this behavior? Sometimes I need to get other stuff done. This weekend I was trying to make a sandwich with him clinging to my leg. I have no idea how I will get my taxes done this year.</p> <p>What is age-appropriate behavior, and how do I figure out when and how to set limits?</p> <p>Please don't suggest baby wearing because my back is mess. So, that is not an option for me. </p>