Tips needed on how to handle a very clingy child

[Chirpygirl]

DD hasn't always been clingy but lately it has got really bad.
She is 18 months and I am 35 weeks pregnant so I am hoping it is a pregnancy/phase thing but I have to go into hospital to have this baby and am really concerned about how she will cope.
She screams whenever I leave the room and has to follow me everywhere even if DH is in the room. If he tries to cuddle her and she can see me she pushes him away and comes to me.
If we go out for a walk or a play after a few minutes she comes up and demands a 'carry', throwing a tantrum if she doesn't get one. I cna cope with the tantrums (except its hard not to laugh when she stamps her foot!) but I physically can't carry her all the time. She is normally quite happy in her buggy but I want her to get some exercise, but every time we go to the park she just weeps until I carry her.

She is currently on the other side of the baby gate next to the pc as close as she can get to me, she is quite happy reading her books to her teddy but if I was to move she would lose it.

Help?!

I had this with DD1. It peaked when I was heavily pg with DD2, then after the birth, we moved house and DS started school. Even though I found it terribly hard I just kept imagining how she was feeling - probably very scared & anxious about all the changes and not really sure why IYKWIM - and that got us through it. Good luck

That's what makes it worse though, she knows something is going on with baby in mummy's tummy and wants cuddles and reassurance but I just can't carry her all day like she wants and I feel really bad that I can't just sit and cuddle her for hours on end!!

That helps knowing that it peaked during pregnancy though, I was hoping that might be it!

I have this with my 14 month old at the moment, and I'm not pregnant! It's all mummy, mummy, mummy just now, and DH is starting to feel slightly left out! He is cutting his molars now, so I'm hoping that's why.

It might be her next set of molars thinking about it, she has one on each side but there's another lot to come through, I thought I might get some respite from constant teething...oh well!

I think it probably is a pregnancy thing but you have said that she 'weeps until I carry her' which means you are giving in to her.

I think you need to be a bit harsh and stand your ground. It will only get worse if she sees you carrying the new baby around and she demands to be carried herself.

I used to drop down to DS1's level and give him a hug but wouldn't carry him, in fact I was banned from lifting him when I was pregnant with DS2 for 3 months due to complications in pregnancy.

Maybe try giving her a big cuddle but explain Mummy's back hurts just now.

Good luck

When she weeps its normally in teh park, she sits down and refuses to move unless I pick her up!
Ive tried walking away but she just screams louder so I have to give in. I had her at my feet wailing for about 5 minuts the other day before some nosy old bat came over and started making 'comments' that I was treating her badly!

At home she doesn't get that bad and I do sit down, but its when we are out that it gets really bad.

Having said that today was great, we were at the park and it was just us 2 whereas normally we are wit friends so I was near her all the time, no clinging, no demanding a carry and the only time she got upset was when I told her off for nicking my car keys out of my handbag and posting them down the slide

I have this with 18 month old ds at the moment and am also 35 weeks pg! I did a google search and it looks like most toddlers get a second bout of separation anxiety from 18 months to 24 months... Probably made slightly worse by the prospect of a new baby...

She has been a nightmare this afternoon, and I suddnely realised she had teeth marks in ehr fingers from biting her hands, so I asked if she wanted medicine for her mouth

okay

said this little tiny voice.

She is fine and happy now...dammit, she was just teething!!!!