Anyone else got a really clingy 16 month old?

[janx]

I am finding ds pretty demanding at the moment. I am bfeeding him and basically he just pulls at me most of the time I am with him at home. I work 3 days a week and have two days at home with dd (4). If I try and put him down on the floor(he is not walking yet)- he bucks and throws himself backwards - often hitting his head! Sometimes it is really difficult to do the most of basic things - get dressed, go to the loo etc. He is worse when tired or unwell, dd is getting fed up with me having to drop what I am doing to feed him - anyone else in the same boat?

I was, with ds at this age.

Have you got a playpen? This was the age when mine was so, so handy. If I needed a coffee, or the loo, or to answer the door ds would go in there. We used his travel cot as a playpen as it was a big one. It strikes me that might be really handy for you, as if your ds throws himself around in there he is not going to hurt himself, specially if you put loads of soft toys about.

on the BFing I can't advise for this age; my instinct would be to make a very strong boundary that feeds happen at certain times but I'm sure that wouldn't be easy; but at least he'd know where the boundary was. And I would think that's important when you have an older child who also deserves some time.

Thanks - thats a good idea with the playpen- we do have a travel cot. Have stopped feeding him when I am out - he is alot better when out (so we go out alot!). I do need to firm out with the feeding, sometimes it is so easier to just feed him so I can read a story to dd

I'm sure it's not easy with the feeding! But at least you're giving dd a story which is a lovely thing anyway so don't beat yourself up about it!

This could be me (minus the bfing). DS is 16mths and jolly hard work at the mo. Also v clingy. DD is 3.9 and when she was his age I had already gone back to work 3 days a week whereas I'm now a SAHM. I put DS' clinginess down to spending all his time with me but as you work and your DS is like this, probably wouldn't make any difference.

Lots of people with older children have told me it's a boy thing - their DSs being much more clingy, sensitive than their sisters.

I think (hope!) it's a phase - lots of frustration about not talking and not quite walking in DS' case. It is difficult with an older DC - I feel like I don't get to spend as much time as quality time with DD as I'd like because DS is so high maintenance.

So no answers here but definite sympathy/empathy ...

hi LLL - my ds is definately more clingy than his sister and has been really difficult to settle at nursery. Dd was really happy being looked after by others apart from me and dp. I think he has got more clingy since I went back to work 3 months ago. He is fine when he is out - seems to be obsessed with bf when indoors....like you I hope it is a phase.
Hope it gets better for you