Any ideas...clingy 8 month old

[ExTrouble]

My 8 month old DS is turning into a little pain. He constantly wants me to pick him up and screams and cries if I put him down. I have to leave him crying to try and get ready for work in the morning - he has toys to play with, baby TV on and I talk and sing to him but he's only happy when I pick him up.

Is this normal or should I be doing something different? Have I made him this/is it just a stage he's going through? He's my first child, please help I feel at the end of my tether today.

I know it's maddening but it is normal. It's obviously worse if they are teething or under the weather, would that be the case? There's not much you can do except know that it won't last forever.

He has been full of a cold and had an ear infection so I can understand and I feel sorry for him that he's feeling so poorly but I'm worried I'm making a rod for my own back each time I give in to him and pick him up. I've had to brush my teeth with him on my hip for the past couple of days!

Really don't underestimate how miserable he'll be feeling then with the cold/ear infection. It's very true that sometimes you have to let them wail a bit for a minute or two while going to the loo and stuff, but sometimes you just have to accept that you'll be brushing your teeth with a babe on your hip...
I swear, it doesn't last forever.

I have recently gone back to work as well yeah. He seems really settled at nursery, he's a lovely outgoing child in public then turns into a divil at home! I know he must be feeling so sorry for himself but the antibiotics are kicking in now so hopefully he'll be feeling better soon. I guess my main worry is that I'm turning him into a big softy with no confidence by constantly picking him up each time he cries.

No, the opposite will be true. He'll be much more confident in the long run if he's reassured when he needs to be.

Thank you Greenstone, that has reassured me!

Quite the opposite re confidence, I think. It's important that he knows you are there for him. That security breeds confidence and independence, ultimately. If he knows you're there for him when he needs you, when he's older he'll feel secure to do his own thing.

They do need you to help them regulate themselves in the world at this age, especially when teething etc - they don't know they are teething, they just feel discomfort and all they know is that Mummy = comfort so they want you (loudly and persistently! )

I often brush my teeth and my 5 and 7 year olds' teeth with my 8 month old on my hip. My older two were velcro babies but now happy independent children who didn't even want me to come into school with them this morning.

Agree it's a faff trying to get out when all the baby wants is a cuddle. But it doesn't last too long. You're important!

X post with Greenstone who was much more succinct!

What Greenstone said.

Thank you Sue - I'm glad you have two success stories to share with me, that fills me with hope! I wouldn't say he wants to cuddle when I pick him up, he'd rather pull my hair and wriggle around but at least he's not crying!

Next doors have a similar aged baby and I never hear a peep, sometimes I think they must wonder what on earth I'm doing to him!

I also think they cry louder when they are babies because they can't get to you. They are watching the most important person in their life walk away (even if it is only as far as the wardrobe! ) and they can't go and get you ... so they make you go to them.