17month old seems to be more attached than others

[LaurenS26]

Looking for some advice/reassurance please.

DS is 16m old and always been clingy but I'd always read this was normal. We go to a few parent and toddler classes through the week and I've noticed the other kids will run in and start playing/nteracting with their parents and other kids but my little boy just wants me to hold him. I try and encourage him to play, and he will for a short while but usually needs to keep a hand on me.

We went to lunch today with a friend and her DS (3weeks older than my DS) and her son stayed in the high chair the entire time, ate everything on his plate and played when he wasn't eating. My DS entertained the chair for a few mins but then wanted out, getting really upset until I held him.

I wfh 4 days and when I'm not working I'm with him. DH wfh also, DS loves his Dad and they play and spend a lot of time together, we split bed/bath and morning duties so it's not like I do all the parenting, but if I leave the room or he knows I'm elsewhere in the house he gets really upset.

I don't know if I've caused this over attachment - we stopped breastfeeding 3 weeks ago but he's handled it very well.

Also looking for some good new stories, has anyone else experienced this and is it a phase?

I think it is normal for some children. My son was like this, he's now a very laid back and confident 6 year old - so I wouldn't worry too much 😊 try to gently encourage independence, but really for my son it just came in its own time. I'd say until about 5 he was one of the more shy/nervous children in his class, now he's one of the most confident and self assured. My younger child is still in the very clingy/shy stage (I'm hoping will follow suit) so I know it's difficult not to worry a little about it!

@Humptydumpty85 thank you for your response and reassurance. I'm so glad to hear your son came out of his shell in his own time.

He does really well when I'm not around, but as soon as I'm in the room he just wants to be near me. I know there will come a day in his teens when I'll wish for him to still be this way.