pick up or ignore?

[ElleOhElle]

When your little one is hanging off your leg and screeching, do you pick them up or ignore? Obviously providing they've not hurt themselves etc should this behaviour be ignored and wait for them to throw themselves on the floor in complete meltdown or is some kind of intervention best? DD, 19 months is going through a very clingy stage. I'm split between just giving her all the cuddles she needs until she comes out the other side or just ignoring her tantrum and try to explain that screaming at me and pulling my trousers down is not going to get her anywhere?
I try to distract her without picking her up but that has the same effect as ignoring her.
I'm not a huge fan of the 'naughty step' but I did put her on it for the first time the other day with some success; she'd gone into meltdown so I put her on the step asked her to calm down and walked away. She stopped screaming almost immediately and I went back to her straight away. However the second I picked her up and said "good girl" she started again. I asked her if she wanted to go back on the step and she said "no", so I think she understood what was going on.
So, to pick up or not?
Thoughts please? Thanks

[bonnieslilsister]

For me it sounds as though she needs some comfort and reassurance and I would give her that. Honestly you will both have happier lives if you do this!

[ElleOhElle]

yes, I think you're right. Thank you