my 15 month old is too attached to me....... Help

[rachelholdsworth1990]

Im a single mum with a 15 month old he wants to be around me all the time and follows me everywere if I close the door behind me he will scream until I come back. If I sit on the couch he will climb up and sitonn me, if anyone comes round he will scream and hold his arms out until I pick him up and screams even more if someone else holds him. I cant have anytime to myself when hes awake. Is this normal? What can I do? Thanks

My 15mo is also very clingy. She cries and shakes the bottom stair gate if I go upstairs, and screams when I have to shut her out of the kitchen in the evening so I can prepare the dc's supper. Getting supper ready involves a lot of sprinting into the kitchen for a minute then dashing out again before she is completely hysterical. It's not fun! It's certainly not unusual at this age. I wish I could be helpful but I am going through the same!

Aww bless, its nice to know im not alone with this problem I just worry he will get worse as he gets older. But hopefully they will grow out of it.

My ds1 was similar and yes, it got better! Actually, life becomes so much easier once it does improve. There's nothing like being able to relieve yourself without a small child wailing!

Yes it's perfectly normal.

Children of this age need to feel a strong urge to stay close to their primary carer in order to keep them safe. Your LO's instincts are just a little stronger than usual.

It doesn't get worse as they get older. With lots of reassurance and security, they develop their independence and start to cut you some slack. You can't force it because doing so makes them feel anxious and cling to you harder.

This too shall pass

It's normal. Be gentle, be patient. Take him with you. It will pass!

Thanks everyone feel a little better about the situation now :)

It's the most normal thing in the world. The best thing to do is to reassure, support, love and take baby steps. Always, always, narrate what you're doing. Gentle steps. Start with 'I'm just going to the other side of the room to do x' and do it with smiles and always announce 'look mummy comes back' when you return. Then progress to just outside the room, keep the 'mummy is just in x place, I will be back' and slowly but surely you'll get there. Games like hide and seek and pee-a-boo will also help as they reinforce the 'just because I can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there' message. They need to learn that their primary caregiver is always going to be there for them.

My ds is 2.4 and still suffers with separation anxiety but is getting better every day. His comprehension and growing independence means that I can leave him for short periods and even with other people as long as he understands why and when I'm coming back.

Try to look at it from this way: He's less likely to walk off in a shop or run out in the road.