Suddenly clingy 3 year old - appreciate advice!

[jasperc163]

DD started being clingy about being left at nursery and preschool about 2 months ago. She has been at the nursery since last March and generally was happy to be left (she is there 2 days a week, preschool 2 mornings and childminder 1 day). This coincided with her having a lot of cold virus' etc and being generally under the weather. However she is now fine but clings to my legs when i try to leave, whatever approach I take. I am told she is fine there during the day.

I am also pregnant and I know this could be part of it, but the problem started before she knew.

Without being sure of the reason for this it is hard to know how I should deal with it. Am I making things worse by trying not to leave until she is happy (which doesnt seem to be working) and just giving more attention her clinginess? Is this a phase that they go through at this age?

Any help much appreciated as it is upsetting for both of us and I would really like to have improved things before baby is born (when I imagine we will def have some issues).

thanks

DS is 3.5 and has phases of being really clingy.

When I drop off at nursery I just do the same thing, whether he goes in smiling or sobbing. I take his coat off, take him and and give him a kiss then tell him to have a nice time and I walk out the door. I find it really hard to leave him when he is upset but I found that when I stayed and tried to calm him it just prolonged the agony.

If he is really bad I call them when I get to work and he is always playing happily and has been since two minutes after I left.

Do try and be firm and decisive when you leave adn don;t hang around and see if that makes things better.

Good luck

Thanks curlygal. Think this is what i am going to have to do from now on.

Thanks curlygal. Think this is what i am going to have to do from now on.