Clingy crying 17month old

[nameisnotimportant]

I am at my wits end. I have a 17month old and she is just sooo high maintenance. Always has been, from the moment she was born, I could never put her down, still now even when in the house she wants to be carried constantly and never wants to walk anywhere. If I try to make her walk or don't pick her up she just cries following me around. I try to pick her up and cuddle her as much as possible but I have to get stuff done like preparing her food etc. Plus my back is absolutely killing me. I guess my question is have any of you had a toddler like this ? Does it get better? Or will I be picking up and carrying around a 7 year old that cries constantly. Don't get me wrong I do love the cuddles but there needs to be a balance. Is this just behavioural now ?
Please don't comment saying make the most of the cuddles while they're young, you will miss them when she's older. I think about this all the time and pretty much feel guilty every time I don't cuddle her.

Would a sling work? I have a 17 month old hes easier to carry in the sling.
Or i put him in high chair with cartoons on and some fruit while i prep his food or wash up.
Or we do things together ( he has his own hoover).

Hes not as bad as youra sounds but i dont see many 7 year olds or even 3/4 year olds being carried.

I find the carrier really bad on my back aswell. She's very tall and I also seem to have really short arms because I can barely reach anything when she's in the carrier 🤣

My toddler can be like this a bit and went through a pretty bad clingy phase around that age. Thankfully it only lasted a few weeks. It was brutal so you have my sympathies.

We find never giving into the crying is the only way, as if you give in on occasion it just reinforces the behaviour and they will do it even more just to get you to pick them up.

It's really hard especially when people are looking at you in the street and you're not picking them up but you need to stick to your guns.

It is getting a lot better now at age 2 and a quarter.

Not much help about the behaviour, but I saw your sling comment. I've got a ergobaby one where I can wear mine on my back and and get things done. I'd be completely lost without it... Or use a massive rectangular piece of cloth and wear him the 'African' way (YouTube...) on your back? I've got a terrible back too but carrying weight on my back, especially when distributed to the hips as well, is ok.

@artio0 I didn't think of putting the ergo on the back ! I'll give that a go. Thanks

Which ergo have you got?
Ergobaby adapt may be better or a casual sling from Amazon etc.

My DD was very similar as a baby and at that age. I’m pleased to say at 2.5 she is much better and plays well independently (though still has her odd clingy moments). I’m not sure it was anything I did but just her maturing. I do find she is clingy on days where I’m really busy. I try to give her pockets of my complete undivided attention when she’s playing (but let her lead) and also when doing things like getting her dressed / bath time. If I’m distracted or rushing she picks up on it and is more clingy. Of course there are some mornings when we have to rush, but she’s definitely better on the slower days.

I did recently read a good article on encouraging independent play. I can’t remember which website but I’m sure google would come up with a few. No miracle cures obviously but some useful tips to push her in the right direction.

My little girl was like this but she did grow out of it. Very hard at the time but as they grow up you just look back on it all with rose tinted glasses! I look at small children and babies now and realise they are "Trying to take control of the mum" and find it less than endearing, but with our own little ones, we cant see the manipulation!

No help but there is an end in sight one day!

Are there specific times she is clingy? When you at home alone with her? On play dates? At nursery? Can she be distracted to let you get on with things you want to do?

@Parker231 all the time ! When at home, while at playgroups and music classes, in the park. I can be sitting on the floor playing with her and she still whinges all the time. I make sure that I am giving lots of attention. I include her in the housework and get her to help me as we go along but she constantly wants to be carried around.