EXTREME separation anxiety! 16 month old. HELP!!

[Boozilla]

My 16 month old DD has suddenly become so clingy it's ridiculous. She basically screams blue murder unless I'm carrying her around. She doesn't want to go in the pram, won't let anyone else hold her.

The only way I can get a break is to walk out of the room, eventually she calms down and plays happily but then as soon as she sees me she starts screaming again. She won't let me sit and hold her, she claws at my clothes to make me get up and walk around with her.

Has anyone else experienced this? My family are shocked at how clingy she is and I'm knackered!! Hoping it won't last!!

Has anything changed recently? Might there be something she's sensing?

It'll probably be a develompental spurt - children often become suddenly clingy when they hit one. Usually it lasts a few weeks at most. My DS is always more clingy (although not this bad) when he's working on a spurt. You can read about the science behind it in The Wonder Weeks.

Separation anxiety often peaks at around 18 months I think.

The best way to deal with it is to not force her to detach from you.

If it carries on, the No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution by Elizabeth Pantley has lots of good suggestions.