https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 22:06:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49709 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:45:05 +0000 Andrea 49709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Red: Thanks for the words of encouragement! Keep up your good work, too!! :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49678 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:04:06 +0000 Red 49678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: Yeah, I would have a hard time locking her in her room too :(. Looks like you're finding a good way to keep her busy with you though. Keep it up. Remember, this too, shall pass. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49656 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:24:35 +0000 Andrea 49656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Red: so admirable of you. I would find it very difficult to be a SAHM I think. </p> <p>Our house doesn't have gates so I would have to lock her in a room. That just seems too mean and inappropriate! Since I have her by my side all the time at home, I am having her do a lot more things to "help" me. Hand me this or that. Put this piece of paper in the recycling bin. Put clothes into the dryer. Just little things that she gets a kick out of accomplishing. If she has some kind of insecurity issue, I hope this at least helps by showing her what she can do on her own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49653 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:13:32 +0000 Red 49653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: Yes, very tired. I used to get a break when my husband comes home but lately, I've been on duty from the time she wake-ups to bedtime. </p> <p>And actually, you can refuse to let her follow you. On her better days, my LO can play by herself for short periods of time but that's only because in the beginning, I didn't give her an option. I locked the baby gates in the living room, ignored the initial whining, and did chores elsewhere in the house for short periods (5-10 minutes). When I come back, she's usually engrossed in her books or toys. However, this only works because our living room is baby-proofed pretty good so that there's very little danger of her getting hurt. Although, you sound like a much nicer mommy than I am so this may not work for you.</p> <p>Hang in there! She's not even two so you're not doomed. They start understanding reasoning soon (I think). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49626 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:25:20 +0000 Andrea 49626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aunt pol: I know what Maysprout is saying but once they are walking they just follow you around if they choose. It makes it hard to get away. I can't really refuse to let her follow me? </p> <p>Your stories are scaring me! Do the parents encourage the clinginess or are the kids just like that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49581 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:36:43 +0000 aunt pol 49581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I personally have no idea how you should deal with this and it's something I'd fear for my babas as I'll be a SAHM too.<br /> I know one of my friends had a very clingy boy and even when he was five he screamed the house down because she wanted to go for a walk without him! He's 19 now and left for college just fine, but still when he's at home if she leaves the house he rings her constantly to see when she's coming home. I understand you're not having that exact problem, but it's a little bit scary when it's that bad!<br /> My SIL's girl is 3 and a half now and is exactly as you describe - fine without mom, but a leg-clinger when mom is there, constant 'lift me! lift me!'.<br /> I've no idea what the best solution is... Maysprout's way sounds good, could it suit you, do you think? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49568 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:10:17 +0000 Andrea 49568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Red: the trip was almost a month ago. i think she is a bit more clingy since i got back but the problem was definitely already there before we left. so i was really worried that she would be miserable while we were gone but it was still out of sight/out of mind. </p> <p>wow, you must be tired being a SAHM with the clinginess? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49518 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:52:56 +0000 Red 49518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: How long ago was your trip away? Did the super-clingyness start afterwards? If not, maybe she does just truly miss you since she's in daycare. My LO sees me all day long so she has no excuse, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49452 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:52:54 +0000 Maysprout 49452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter is only 7 months but she just entered a bit of a clingy phase, at least clingier than she was. If she gets upset if I leave the room I come back and play peek a boo or something to help her be more OK with me walking out for a minute. I'll slowly move farther away while she's distracted so that she knows I'm farther away but isn't as concerned because it's not sudden. If I'm playing I have someone else come and start playing too so I can walk away. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but we keep trying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49449 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:48:07 +0000 Andrea 49449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Red: i can't think of any milestones in particular. i just don't know. i'm a really independent person and want to try and slowly instill that into my LO but it's not possible if she never wants to leave my side. i guess i'm just doing the best i can by having her go to daycare and spend other time without me. i guess you have to do the same by having DH watch your LO when you are out of sight and hope that these are phases! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49348 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:15:20 +0000 Red 49348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OMG, my LO is driving me nuts too!! Ever since she started walking, she's been super clingy. She used to love playing with her dad but now she cries and refuses to be held by him if I'm within her sights. I have to hide in the room just to get a few minutes to myself. And of course, since she just learned to walk, she wants to walk everywhere but insists on dragging me with her - It's so exhausting. Fortunately, I hear it's a phase kids go through @ 1 yr old. I hope this phase is over soon, at least before the one @ 2 yrs old begins. </p> <p>It seems like these phases seem to coincide with milestones. Anything new going on? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49325 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:55:33 +0000 heffalump 49325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lol, could be worse.... like you said at least you know she loves you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49321 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:48:47 +0000 Andrea 49321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: I have heard that, too, even though it seems counterintuitive when there is a toddler hanging onto my leg! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49318 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:46:02 +0000 heffalump 49318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: Well, everybody says that if they have a secure attachment to you they're more likely to feel secure when your not there too because they trust you and trust that you'll come back. Sounds like your LO is doing good with that at least! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49313 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:41:58 +0000 Andrea 49313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: Wow ok. That is good to know. My LO also gets upset if I move to a different area within the same room. I try to just be glad she loves me to bits? But at least I know she does fine when I am not there so that makes me feel ok about this. At least most of the time, not when I am super tired though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49310 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:37:14 +0000 heffalump 49310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All the two year olds I know are also pretty clingy to their moms. Some more then others. One friend's daughter won't let her take a step away from her without freaking out. Not even leaving the room, just walking to get something in the room. My LO is only 5 1/2 months old and clingy to me.... so I'm looking forward to hearing advice because I'm 100% sure she's going to be a clingly toddler too. Especially b/c she rarely leaves my side because I'm a SAHM. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/super-clingy-toddler#post-49265 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:56:56 +0000 Andrea 49265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter is sooooooo clingy when I am around her. She is always asking to be carried at 20 months when she can walk just fine. It is pretty difficult to do anything because she wants to be with me all the time. She will not entertain herself no matter how hard I try to encourage it. </p> <p>She does fine when I am not there though. She goes to daycare full time. DH and I went away for a few days and my parents watched her. DH can take her out of the house to do stuff. But once she sees me again, that is it and no one else will do. </p> <p>I have done some googling and it seems like toddlers go through a clingy phase around 2. My LO has always been clingy but lately it has gotten a lot worse so I am hoping it is a phase. Has anyone heard of such a phase? </p>