2 year old DD...BIG emotions all of a sudden!

[noramoo]

My sweet daughter is turning 2 this week and the past month or so she has been SO emotional and needy! She is usually an "easy" toddler - eats well, sleeps well, very few tantrums, super chatty.

The last few weeks she has been up and down like a yoyo, and is showing intense separation anxiety particularly directed towards her dad. She has always clung to him to an extent (he has consistently been her "preferred" parent) but it's out of hand at the moment, he's trying to work and she scream cries whenever he has to go back to his desk! She also gets hysterical if he isn't the one putting her to bed in the evening which is tough.

She is also showing an increased intolerance of new environments, transitions and unfamiliar people. She has always been on the shy side and doesn't go to daycare (I work 2 days/week during which time my DM watches her) but it's definitely got more extreme recently.

Is this just something we have to ride out? Any tips? Thank you!!

Sounds entirely normal. Just lean into it, don't worry about 'fixing' it. She needs love and support whilst she goes through this time. Does she go to groups with you / your DM, like church playgroups or other classes? Might benefit to keep exposing her to things like that, to make the transition to preschool easier.

Thank you! It's just really hard seeing her really upset when she's usually so cheerful 😔she goes to all sorts of classes and groups so hopefully over time she will get more comfortable! We haven't ruled out sending her to nursery a couple of mornings a week from 3 years old either, just to help with the school transition.