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Original poster

V. clingy mindee - any advice?

42 replies

lechatnoir · 26/04/2013 14:10

I've had mindee (15mths) regularly for 3 months but periodically from age 8mths and she seems very happy & content in my care eating/sleeping well etc. She's always been very cuddly & won't venture far for my side but now she's properly walking & settled with me I had expected her to start to explore the world around her a bit more but if anything she clings to me more & more.

Toddler groups/playdates are a disaster as she'll scream unless I carry her and this is beginning to get both quite restrictive trying to interact with other mindees/my own DC & tiring as she's very heavy! Any ideas how I can encourage a bit more independence without leaving her to scream all day Hmm

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WouldBeHarrietVane · 26/04/2013 18:05

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stargirl1701 · 26/04/2013 18:03

I have left her with other people. All 4 of her grandparents and her godparents. She is fine with the godparents who all have older children - they just entertained/distracted her. She was inconsolable with my Dad (we had to come home but MIL managed really well - my DH was the same.

stargirl1701 · 26/04/2013 18:00

I do have one lined up. I have explained the situation. The paediatrician feels she will be much better by then as she will grow out of it (she is much better already) but there are no guarantees.

I take her to groups (one every day) to get her used to being with other children.

Her gross motor development is delayed with the reflux and she is little. I just hope things improve by then.

Original poster
lechatnoir · 26/04/2013 17:59

Not necessarily stargirl as every child react differently although you might want to find someone who doesn't have too many children at once so she can give her the attention she needs especially during the early weeks. One of my other mindees came to me as a very clingy 8mth old (pfb, never been left with anyone before etc) and now 13mths will crawl around exploring at toddler groups, interacts well with other little ones, doesn't bat an eyelid if I leave the room & is generally very chilled.

OP posts:
ReetPetit · 26/04/2013 17:55

do you already have one lined up that far in advance stargirl? or are you talking generally?
is she likely to still be clingy and in pain in 6 months time? if so, then it's an issue you will have with any childcare and a cm/nanny is probably your best option - in a nursery environment, they simply can't cater for a child who cries constantly where as some cms have only one child, some will have 3, it depends on individual circumstances.
you need to be honest with your cm, that's the key, then it's her choice whether she wants to take your dd on or not.

stargirl1701 · 26/04/2013 17:50

Oh god. My DD is 7 months and very clingy. She starts at the CM at 13 months. She's clingy because she is in pain from silent reflux. She cries a lot too.

Should I rethink a CM?

calmlychaotic · 26/04/2013 17:45

I had a very clingy child, she is now much better and happier. I did it gradually. Firstly sticking to routine. Going to the same groups every week.keeping to routines during the day. She wanted to cling to me literally with her arms round my neck! Started with sitting her on my knee but facing away from me with me holding her, then sitting on the floor with her sort of perched on my legs. Then her on the floor with my hand on her back. All very gradual, and it did take a while and if she is tired or a little unwell she'll go back to being very clingy.

ReetPetit · 26/04/2013 16:51

i agree, it's horrible, so stressful. I don't think anyone understands until they have had a clingy child 10 hours a day, solid screaming, while trying to care for other children just how draining it is. It's not like having your own clingy child - it's so much worse, a lot of the parents make it 10 times harder still by encouraging clingy behaviour at home, extended breastfeeding, rocking, wearing children in slings - and then to put them with a cm - it often doesn't work!

A 15 month old should be able to understand that you are not going to go away if you move away from them - 3 months is long enough for the child to be getting the hang of your routine. It sounds as though the child is allowed/encouraged to be like this at home with parents and then expecting the same when with you. Just stick with what you are doing and do talk to the mum about it. If you are both doing the same thing it will work quicker.

doughnut44 · 26/04/2013 15:42

I feel for you as I am going through the same. Since september I have had 4 new mindees - all clingy and tthis last obe may just be the straw that broke the camels back. Ten hours of crying is draining. I agree with trying to let them get bored x

5318008 · 26/04/2013 14:47

yes do talk to mum about it, good idea

good luck matey Smile

Original poster
lechatnoir · 26/04/2013 14:44

We go to the park most days but it's much the same - happy being carried screams if I try the swings/seesaw etc. don't get me wrong I'm happy to hold her & know not to try & leave her side but I can't have her literally clinging to me for 10 hours as it's starting to impact on the care I offer others. Do you think it would be worth having a chat to mum & see if she goes to groups or out & about much and whether she leaves her side & if not try & jointly encourage a bit less physical attachment.

OP posts:
5318008 · 26/04/2013 14:41

another thought is, again IME, babies who like to be carried also like swings, so with the nicer weather how about thinking about trying ditching a group and going to the park/playground?

Branleuse · 26/04/2013 14:34

Maybe shes just not ready to be away from a parent, or would be better with a grandparent who could look after her alone

5318008 · 26/04/2013 14:31
ReetPetit · 26/04/2013 14:28

i have had a couple like this - one i gave notice to as it was constant all day wherever i was an i couldn't take any more.
One I have had a few months. She is much better now. I did much the same as Cathyrina. I just ignored it and eventually she realised that she wasn't getting anywhere and just making herself miserable and everyone else too! She now goes off and plays which is good.

I really would advise against carrying her around/picking her up/constantly and a sling is ridiculous for a chid of this age! If a parent wants to make a rod for their own back that is their issue but the child has to realise that with you there are other children there too and she can not be the centre of attention all the time. It will pass (eventually!) so draining though i know in the mean time!!

Cathyrina · 26/04/2013 14:20

We had this in play groups a lot, I started just sitting somewhere reading a magazine and not play with her/ give her too much attention and she would eventually get bored and just go somewhere else to do something interesting instead of just sitting silently with me for half an hour.... needed some time and was not very nice in the beginning (everyone else must have thought what a terrible carer...) but it worked for us and now she loves exploring and playing with other kids!

I guess it just needs some more time, she won't be like that forever... good luck :D

5318008 · 26/04/2013 14:17

counter-intuitively it's better IME if you can carry her (wrap/sling?), and keep her close, maybe have her on your knee when on the floor playing, or keep an arm around her. IMO it's a primal thing, staying closeby to your caregiver means you are safe Smile, along the same lines as being afraid of unfamiliar men (a strange man meant DANGER when we lived in caves)*

This stage won't last long I promise

*please note this is all conjecture and observation, no scientific basis Smile