Clingy at 5mths! Normal?

[mum2oliver]

My friends dd screams any time anyone else holds her or if she cant see her mum for a while.No one can calm her at all.Its getting her down.
My ds had hidden reflux so I could never hold him for long as he only ever got ease of pain if I laid him on his front and patted his bum,but my friend held her dd ALL the time(which is nice but....)I think this is the reason why she is now like this.
What can she do to change this?

Could she get someone else to play with her, perhaps with a favoirite toy while she sits nearby. Then gradually get further away? What haapens if she just leaves her? My dd sometimes gets a bit like this (6 months) and if dh distracts her she's normally ok

I don't think that holding her baby all the time "causes" this. It's just a stage. I introduced a bye bye game, were I said good bye and left the room for literaaly one second and then came back and made a big fuss over saying hello again. Gradually increase the time until you can go to the toilet on your own. It does work but you have to stick at it for a couple of weeks because it's a whole shift of behaviour. I also carried my son more rather than less whilst doing this (in a sling or pack)so he got the idea that whilst I wasn't always there, when I was it was brilliant and worth waiting for. He's now a very bold toddler who hasn't much time for cuddles!

Very familiar ! I'd agree with toddlerbob. dd had reflux but didn't get held all the time (you just can't with a toddler in tow too) and still became very clingy at 5 months. It is a normal phase of development but in our case lasted a long time although it became easier gradually. It is a case of leaving her for very short periods (ie popping to the loo or kitchen), still talking to her whilst out of the room, and then extending it but once dd was mobile she'd just follow me anyway. dd also liked to be carried in a sling and face us in her pushchair of that helps your friend, so that she had the reassurance that we were still there. If there is someone who could play one to one with her for short periods with your friend still in the room or background that might help too.

Thank you all.Its nice to know that its not her doing and that it is completely natural.She will be pleased.I will make all these suggestions to her and let you know how she gets on.