clingy baby - help!

[catastrojb]

Hi - I wonder if anyone has any reassurance or advice please! My dd is just over 1 year old, and she has always been a very easy, happy girl, quite content to go to anyone and smile at everyone. Nursery has been a breeze; she has loved it from the start and very rarely cries. I know I have been lucky and she is such an amazing child.

However, we are going through a slightly trying time at the moment. The poor wee thing has had a nasty cough/cold/virus/rashy thing and has been very under the weather for a few weeks, peaking with temperature and viral rash just before Easter. Apart from a phlegmy cough she has recovered but seems to have changed into a very clingy baby, and much more grizzly than we are used to. She still smiles and laughs very easily but only if I am holding her or within very easy reach - otherwise she gets quite distressed. Of course, I love the cuddles! But I am getting a bit upset for poor DH who is bemused and upset by dd's new game-plan of getting very worked up if he picks her up or if I (shock-horror) leave her for a minute to use the loo. And it was a disaster at the in-laws over Easter, really.

I know it is probably the tail end of illness, and I know that maybe there is a bit of separation anxiety there (but isn't she a little old?) but the constant crying and grizzling often even if I am holding her is getting a bit wearing (although it is nice that she is mostly over the illness and we have our smiley girl back at least some of the time). She's not sleeping well either.

Sorry this is a bit rambling - can someone please tell me again that "this too shall pass" and that she will be fine and happy again? I am dreading her going back to nursery next week after the holidays as I think it could be a disaster....

Please reassure me!

'This too shall pass'

And don't be too hard on her, separation anxiety can happen when they're 15, you know!

Seriously, I remember when mine were little that they can be ill and miserable, then wake up the next morning right as rain.

oh goodness - will she still have to come to the loo with me in her teens?!

thank you ILP - I know you are right. Just frustrated right now, and DH has gone out for the evening....

I think she is still not very well and it will improve once she starts sleeping properly. Fingers crossed!

she goes from giggling to grizzling almost in the same breath. Bless her.

Pisces - I really hope so. We've been a few places over the last week which probably hasn't helped, so perhaps now we are home she will start sleeping better. Definitely not going anywhere again for a while, if I have to barricade the front door.

just a phase

When I'm not well I still want my mum to tuck me up and look after me, even at my advanced age! Wait until she is back to normal and reassess.

This too shall pass. My DD1 was incredibly clingy until the age of about 15 months.....I had to sit on the floor and play with her and if I so much as stood up without even moving away she would scream. It's very tiring and frustrating when you can't even make a cuppa or go for a wee but it will get better. It sunds like it's probably a temporary thing for you that was triggered by the illness.

Thank you! I am feeling a lot better about it today, especially as she seems to be a little better (and even went to DH without a meltdown earlier!). I appreciate the reassurance loads - fingers crossed she is ok for nursery next week.