To question whether an 18 month old can be too attached?

[onamidsummer]

I'm actually hoping for the harshest of MN contributors to give their verdict on this one, because I'm not sure. 18 months old in the grand scheme of things is still really young, and they're at the pinnacle of their separation anxiety phase. So I'm wondering whether there's such a thing as being "too attached" at this point?

(To clarify I'm talking naturally, not because they've been nurtured in an environment that fosters zero independence/total reliance)

YABU - Yes of course an 18 month old should be fine to do X/Y/Z by themselves by now
YANBU - Some children just aren't ready at that stage and that's fine

I think we may need a little more context. Are you expecting them do to some things independently when they don't or are you referring to them generally being clingy?
At 18 months the child is not expected to do things independently but equally, it would be problematic if they wanted unbroken physical contact with you at all times. They should be able to do things with you in the room without hands on assistance (walking, reaching, touching, playing, drinking from a cup, climbing on furniture, finger feeding etc.)

You need to define what X/Y/Z is, surely.

My apologies, I'm referring to clinginess as opposed to gross/fine motor skills.

Yes, but in what kind of situation? There's a difference between 'will not go to his father/other parent and screams if they try to pick him up' and 'prefers to stay close to me at the village hall baby group'.