Is this level of clingyness normal? 18 month old

[Chocolatebox34]

My boy was a velcro baby from birth and hasn’t left my side since. When he could sit but not crawl, I could however pop him on the floor near me with some toys whilst I got on with a couple of jobs but since that boy could move, he’s glued to me. Not even TV works. He comes running after me I leave the room for a moment.

I have to prepare food one handed whilst holding him otherwise he’s screaming at my ankles “up! Up!” (Obviously sometimes I have to let him scream if it’s not safe to hold him. Or sometimes I can get away with letting him stand on a chair next to me). If I go to the toilet, he wants to sit on my lap, he likes to eat sat on my lap when I let him, he even prefers to be sat on my lap to play. I don’t get chance to do dishes (no dishwasher 😭).

I know it’s a common age for separation anxiety but this isn’t a new thing, this is just the way he’s always been. Apart from at nursery, where I’m told he’s really independent and great at playing by himself 😏

I also know they’re not little forever and it’s lovely that I’m the centre of his world but my god it’s exhausting! I wish at least sticking the TV on was enough to allow me a few minutes to tidy up or do some dishes. Rant over.

Is this just normal or is it on the extreme end?

It is on the extreme end, but that doesn’t mean it’s not normal. My DS was very clingy too, a lot of what you’ve written is very familiar to me.

It did get better as my DS got older, once he was 2 it was much more manageable. I can now leave the living room and go into the kitchen without him crying and clinging to me.

It’s really hard work to have a clingy child, it did get a lot easier for me though. Hope it does for you too.

This sounds just like my little one. I don’t have any advice but just wanted to say that you’re not alone. I find it exhausting too!

Sounds exactly like my DS who is also 18 months. Fine at nursery. Hysterical if I go anywhere without him in the house. God forbid I go upstairs without him, he clings to the baby gate at the bottom of the stairs, screaming his little head off (even though his dad is right there).

It's extreme, and exhausting, and heartbreaking at times. But I'm sure it will pass 🤞🏼 and I'm sure some weird part of me will miss some of it!

Sounds quite extreme but if he's fine at nursery I wouldn't worry about it.

My dc is the opposite and I tell her to play in the same room while I get on with stuff, and she roams all over the house and I have to run up 4 flights of stairs to find her!