20 Month old DD just seems to 'whinge' all the time.

[Tiredemma]

I cant remember if either of my eldest two boys were like this (they are 14 and 12)- DD just seems to whinge all the time, very clingy too. She appears to need 'entertaining' all the time- I set time aside in my day off to do play stuff (she generally joins in) but if I am doing laundry etc for example then she is whinging and doing stuff to attract my attention (for example she has just poured all of her juice over the floor whilst looking at me for a reaction.....)

any advice?

sorry, I snortled at that. So first off, get her a no-spill cup.

Can she join in with what you're doing, put the dishes on the drying rack, put clothes in & out of the machine, hand you things for folding, help you put them away in drawers, "hold" something for you while you mop, Carry the toilet tissue around the shop, etc?

Normal imo, especially for a third!

I am at home with dc3 all day while the other two dc are at school but I do have other things to do so she doesn't get undivided attention. If I am fairly available she is generally ok and can amuse herself. But if she gets an inkling I am trying to have five minutes off she goes wild! Eg got in the shower today and she was playing with the toilet which caused me to ask her to go away and play so she went all the way to the utility and got the outside Broom, which she came back and put on my bed on top of my nice clean white bedding!!

It sounds like normal behaviour to me. Definitely try to keep her involved with what you are doing. The whinging is annoying but it will pass.

Give simple time frames so that she knows when you'll be finished. So 'mummy will just put these in the washing machine and then she'll read you a story'. Ask her to help you or try things like get her to 'read' a book to her favourite toy while she's waiting. Favourite toy can 'ask' you to ask her to do it.

Thanks all- ive changed my tack with her today and included her in my mundane tasks. She is now exhausted and lying on the floor.

From what I remember, about the age when they're just trying to make themselves understood - hope things pick up.