Super clingy boy - tell me this is a phase

[supergolden88]

My son is just over 20 months. He goes to nursery full time, is very independent, super stubborn, gets along really well with other toddlers and generally very happy. In the past few weeks however he started becoming incredibly clingy towards me (and me alone). He is ok going to nursery, out with his dad etc. but if I am in the room he will not let me out of his sight. Burst into tears, follows me round, literally clings to my legs. If his dad tries to distract him he will push him away. Started when he was a bit under the weather but it's now nearly a month and he's still very much a mama's boy.

While I love the extra hugs it's becoming impossible for me to make dinner or do anything unless I am holding him. Please tell me this a phase? I don't recall anything similar with my daughter certainly not when she was a toddler but it may a case of selective memory

[etta166]

Yes, it's a phase. It's always a phase. A good friend once asked me to imagine if I could picture my child still doing x, y, z at 18... made me laugh because at the time I was stressing about co-sleeping!

My son is much more clingy than my daughter. He's 3.5 now, and has been through several clingly and not so clingy phases. He still can't cope if I appear and then disappear quickly (like if I forgot my purse or something and have to come back for it), but will let me cook without wanting a piggy back :)

It will pass, and you'll miss the hugs. I do...

[supergolden88]

I wonder why it's just mummy clinging though. He adores his dad but he saves the hysterics for me. Yesterday was planning to go for a run and he literally wrapped himself around my legs and would not let go. I worry he is sick because he never used to act this way (except when ill)

He started having tantrums at 18 months so there's also a lot more of that to look forward to.

[slh2009]

This could be my 19 month son! Also loves Daddy but when I'm around he just wants me. I think/know he is wrapping himself round my little finger but it's hard to ignore the crying if I continue to do what I was trying to. He goes to nursery 4 days a week and has been happy to run off when I drop him until the last 3 weeks when he clings to me for dear life and they have to peel him off me. Hate leaving him there screaming for me but I know he's fine 5 mins later.

I'm telling myself it's a phase, just hope it doesn't last too long!!

[jennyh]

Yep I am also experiencing this at 17 months. My daughter is a delight for everyone else and when I am not around, the first sight of me and she turns into a demonic child, constant whinging, throwing herself on the floor, wants to be picked up and carried around all the time. I am trying not to respond to it as much as possible but like you say it is hard. She rejects her dad if I am there, there has to be some serious distraction going on for me to sneak away. She is in a real stage of testing the boundaries with everything, holds things over the floor and looks at me to see if I will stop her dropping it, throws herself around in her high chair, wont eat anything except yoghurt, wants every single toy under the sun but then gets bored after 10 seconds. Its quite testing.

Im also hoping its a phase thats connected to her development. I get the feeling at the moment she is really learning huge amounts, her speech has come on loads but she gets frustrated if I don't understand her new words straight away, she's practically walking but won't do it on her own despite being capable etc. Think there is a lot going on in the brain! Also had disturbed sleep etc.

Hope that it passes for everyone!!! keep reporting back!

[supergolden88]

I especially love the 'fling yourself to the floor, hide face in hands' tantrum. It makes me laugh. My daughter never had a tantrum in her life - counting myself lucky retroactively.

[Trish]

My boy's the same. I'm loving the extra cuddliness of a boy - if his cheek isn't pressed against mine then he's not close enough as far as he's concerned. He's quite podgy too so it's utterly gorgeous. Difficult to cook, yes, but I know it won't last for long so I'm enjoying it!

[KateW]

DD is also 20 months and is SUPER-clingy at the moment. I think she's in the middle of a huge developmental leap at the moment, with an explosion of words in the last 2 weeks. It has also co-incided with her settling-in days at nursery, so totally understandable. She's never been a huggy child so, like Trish, I'm enjoying the extra cuddles (whilst also hoping it won't last forever!). She's been unsettled at bedtime too for the past few nights. This too shall pass...