Tips for leaving clingy toddler

[neverfade]

Looking for advice. DS is 2 and a typical covid baby. He's started at a preschool one morning a week and that's going ok but otherwise I can't leave him and he goes bananas when I'm out of sight. I'd like to just be able to leave him for the odd hour here and there so I can run an errand. Any advice on how to help him with this? A lot of 'well-meaning' friends say he's just got to get over it etc but it's not that easy so I'm looking for advice from people who really get what it's like having a v clingy child. Tia

Bump

He literally does just have to get over it though. He won't learn to cope unless you leave him. How is he if you leave him in a room alone at home?

He's ok most of the time, sometimes he'll cry when I go upstairs to grab some washing or something but I've started ignoring it. But when we're at grandparents he screams as soon as me and DH are out of sight for any length of time. It's completely draining and frustrating but I don't like him to be upset either

Sounds a bit bonkers, but try playing hide and seek! It made a huge improvement for us!

I completely understand but haven't started DD at nursery yet so can't really give advice. We've started to go to mum and toddler groups where she can go off and play with toys but I'm still there. Each week she has become more confident with more distance and is happy to wonder off and play by herself. As for GP - can you spend more time with them so DC feels more secure around them? And while you are there make small steps to leave the room more often ie go to the toilet, go to the kitchen to make everyone a cup of tea and build up from there? I always make sure DD understands when I leave that I'm always coming back ie "mummy needs to go to work and then I will come back to get you" hope it gets easier for you!