Hi everyone-- my daughter is about 20 months. She's been securely attached to both her father and I (as well as her older sisters), and absolutely loves the day care she goes to and the kids and teachers there.
But in the last month, she has gotten so passionately focused on me, her mom. Suddenly, she only wants ME to put her to sleep, give her her bath, take her on a walk, read a book. Most of the time, she can get convinced to do these things with her dad or a sister, but often enough, if I'm out for the evening, she will cry for me for an hour and sometimes it's almost impossible to cook dinner because she just wants to sit on my lap.
Is this a stage? Has it happened to others of you and resolved itself? I'm getting really anxious about a business trip I have to take in a couple of weeks, on which I'll be gone for two nights.
We haven't made any big changes that I can think would impact her like this, and we spent plenty of nice time together.
Thanks so much to everyone who responded and put things in perspective for me.
Baby has had a few "daddydaddydaddy" days lately, and I realize she is just expressing opinions for the first time and really having a go at it. She's passionately particular about what food she eats and what clothes she wears, and I think the "Mommy" thing is part of this stage.
My son is like this. I wear him while I cook and do housework.
This sounds like my two year old son when he had Lyme disease. Get her tested. This is easily treated when diagnosed properly. I finally took him to an Infectous Disease specialist, who immediately sent him for a spinal tap. After a month of penacillin, he was back to his non-clingy, energetic self.
Hi there, my youngest is 17 months. he is like this but has always been. He is a high needs child. He suffers separation anxiety really bad. i can't even move one step away from him. he also gets over stimulated as well. All I can say is your not alone. Since this is new for your child though it may be just a phase. Try to reassure her with lots of hugs and kisses since talking will most likely not be really understood at this age. You can say it's ok9give hugs n kiss0 let (so-n -so) help you play/read/ or what ever the activity is.
I only have an almost 17 month old of my own but i helped raise my 2 little sister who are 12 and 14 years younger than me. And i can remember my youngest sister doing this a little before she was 2. wanted only me to do things for her and when anyone else did she would get upset. It last for only a few months The PEDI told us it was just a phaze and not to worry about it. She is 16 now :)
I have a friend who always reminds me.. "this is a phase and it too will pass". She has always been right so far. My daughter is 4 and we have been through a simialr phase a couple of times in her life so far... one very recently. It thankfully has been temporary for her. I provide her with lots of reassurance, but do leave her crying at daycare or with Daddy when she gets this way. She is fine shortly after I leave. So, I have survivied!
My 17 month old son is like this too. I think separation anxiety and being super connected to one person is completely appropriate for this age. Usually after a clingy phase, there is a hyper-independent, "me do it!" phase, so my advice would be to cherish the extra time with your daughter while it lasts. She is probably just charging her batteries for a big developmental stage.
As far as being concerned about going out of town, im sure she will be fine. Its OK for her to be upset about you not being there, and a good learning experience that sometimes mama can't always be there. My son is slowly learning this. When I get out of bed at night to use the bathroom (we bed-share), he used to cry the whole time I was in there, even though my husband would hug him. Now he realizes im coming back very soon and everything will be OK.
