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DD suddenly being very clingy and babyish

4 replies

Xihha · 21/07/2013 18:50

DD is 4 and has suddenly started being ridiculously clingy all the time, she's always been very independent til now but the last few weeks she has barely left me alone, like constantly sitting on my lap, holding my hand, won't even let me go to the loo on my own and has cried every night when I've left her room after the bedtime story because she wants me to sleep with her. She's also started sucking her thumb, talking like a baby constantly, refusing to do anything for herself and crying over everything.

We have had to move into emergency housing in a town where we don't know anyone and her dog and pet newts have had to go to stay with my parents til we find somewhere to live and she's had a taster day for school last week and has just started to understand that after they break up on Tuesday she won't be going back to playschool next year (we've been getting the bus back for playschool each day) so I know that its probably because thats a lot of change all at once for a 4 year old and she is probably feeling insecure and she's said she doesn't want to be too big for playschool, even though she loved her taster day at school.

Should I just fuss over her for now and hope she settles down? or am i doing her more harm than good if i let her be this clingy?

Any ideas how to make her feel better about everything?

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Rummikub · 21/07/2013 18:57

Hi my dd did this too. I indulged her and said ok if you want to be a baby then you can be. I gave lots of cuddle, wrapped her in a blanket and no, babies can't have crisps! It probably lasted half an hour once she realised what she was missing out on. Dd about similar age and there were some changes, but not as many as for your dd.

You know your dd best. Is she feeling insecure? Will she talk to you about how she's feeling?

Xihha · 21/07/2013 19:30

Ah good plan with the baby bit, I hadn't thought of telling her what babies cant have.

I've tried talking to her, I get as much as 'I miss my puppy' then she cries or 'I don't want to grow up coz I'll miss my teachers when I leave playschool' and then she cries or 'I want to go back to my old house' and then she cries. I've tried explaining to her that the dogs only on a little holiday to grandma's, and that she will still see her teachers (I'm friends with them outside of playschool) and that cheers her up for a minute but then she seems to forget and gets upset about it again and I've explained as much as you can to a 4 year old why we had to leave the house and that we are going to get a new, better house but she doesn't understand.

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Rummikub · 21/07/2013 19:45

Aw your poor dd Sad

It is difficult. Continue to talk to her. She clearly needs support through this difficult time. Let her know you will be there for her. Loss of a family home is a big thing for a 4 year old.

Try the what babies can't have and do. It might work for your dd too. With mine, she got frustrated quite quickly because I did ban her from lots. No tv, tasty food, no big girl toys!

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Keepmumshesnotsodumb · 21/07/2013 19:56

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