Clingy 2Yr Old??

Because when he whines you pick him up. :)
At church, when he whines to be picked up, just have Dad do it. Don't say anything to your son, just make Dad picking him the auto response. At the grocery, again don't say anything, just pop him in a buggy.

Be consistent.
Praise him when he walks instead of whining to be picked up.
Ignore the fuss when Dad scoops him up. If he fusses too much have Dad walk outside with him until he calms down.

Be patient.
He will outgrow this phase.

Good Luck
God Bless

This sounds pretty similar to what i went through with my daughter at that age. She's 3.5 now and honestly, just within the last 9 months or so she's really been more accepting of her father's help! She also is outgoing, loves her extended family of course loves her Daddy to death, but she always wanted me and only me. Honestly, I think it's one of those things that you sort of have to deal with for the most part but I'm not opposed to some tough love. I would tell him that you aren't going to carry him to the store or in the store and give him choices....would you like to hold this hand or this hand while we walk in the store? Are you going to ride in the cart or walk beside me in the store?, etc., etc. If he doesn't answer, you choose for him BUT be prepared for crying, whining, disapproving looks from other people, etc. As far as the dad issue, do the same thing...Mommy is going to hold you or sit next to you (or whatever) during most of church today but when I ask you to go with Daddy you need to go with Daddy. Keep telling him that over and over...and again, expect tears, but honestly, unless you NEVER want a break, I think it's okay. I did it with my daughter and it was kind of heartbreaking b/c of course you don't want to see your kid cry or hurt them, but c'mon, Kid! ;)

I think it's partially the age, but like I said you can't be expected to be stuck to him 24/7, so do what you can and hang in there. Eventually it will get better, but mine took a looooong time, hopefully it won't be that long for you!! ;)

My kids are all grown and I am grandma to 3 so this comes from the grandma part of me. In another year or two, your son isn't going to want to cuddle or be carried or held as much and you will miss it. At church carry him in or have daddy carry him on his shoulders. I don't know a child around that wouldn't want to be on daddy's shoulders. No one at church is going to mind that and he can sit between you both. If daddy doesn't do his share of tucking in and being the caregiver, no wonder the change is bothering him. If you start with taking turns getting him ready for bed and tucking him in, you will get your breaks with less stress. I have a 4 year old granddaughter who still likes me to carry her out of the bedroom to the livingroom when she wakes up. At home she gets up on her own and isn't carried anywhere. I am working at breaking her of this habit by only carrying her part of the way.. but soon she will be too heavy for me to carry her at all and that will make me sad because I know how special it is. Our cuddle times are already cut down to just a few minutes a day when she is here. I cherish every moment I can get to do these things because I know I will miss them when she is to big for it all.

Its a stage. My 2.25 year old is this way too. Total mommy-velcro, anywhere with crowds or strangers makes the cling-on worse. But he is fine one on one with new people, and totally fine with extended family. But even at home he doesn't want Daddy to do bedtime or naptime routine, or bath. He doesn't get a choice, some nights, mom just needs a break, so he gets scooped up by daddy and screams all the way up the stairs.....but then he realizes it is not going to go his way, and he settles down and they have a nice story, song and prayer time and he goes to sleep just fine.

As for the store and church - can you use a small/umbrella stroller in church and a cart at the store? Then he wont' have to walk and you won't be carrying him. As for the daddy holding him, just make it clear to your husband that you need his help, and he needs to hold the kid and entertain him. Give Daddy a special toy or treat your son only gets when he is with Daddy. I know, bribery. But you need to "break him in" the hubby and the child....and keep it up consistently....have daddy alternate turns with you doing bedtime and bathtime too. He WILLL grow out of this. My older 4 and a ahlf year old daughter went through a phase of that too, and she is now in more of a Daddy time phase.