[TXTennis]

DD is 23 months old and has been home since Dec. 2006. This last week her teacher has stated she has been very "emotional" and doesn't want other kids too close to her. At home she has also wanted to be picked up a lot and held a bunch - normally she can entertain herself for a little while so we can get her meals ready etc... but she is hanging on our legs. She is also getting over a fever and a virus.

So do you think this is normal 2 yr stuff or recovering from being sick????

[GuatMommy2Be]

My 2-year-old is absolutely like this, and has been for the past 2 wks. She has only been home 8 months.... but I think it is definitely age-related. She is a very emotional crier (screamer) ... I can only remind myself it's just a phase, and of course, video it to show her in 30 years when she has a child going through the same thing.

[blueprints]

My daughter just turned 2 and has also been home since dec 2006... She does this also, especially if she's tired or not feeling well. I bought the Ergo carrier and when she gets in these moods I just strap her on and then I can go about doing what I need to do. She loves it and will sometimes go and get the carrier when she wants to be close.

[Tammy2005]

We also brought our daughter home on Dec 21, 2006, the past 2 weeks she doesnt let me out of her site. If I go outside she has to go or she will cry up a storm. She still plays by herself and what not, but she has to be in the same room as me or she starts crying mommy, mommy. I too believe its a 2 year old thing. Tammy

[mommytoEli]

eli is 2.5. he is not clingy physically...bc he doesn't like being touched or held too much, but he is clingy emotionally. i can not leave him. i can barely pee by myself. i can barely leave him with his dad to shop for groceries. i remember my son before him being the SAME way. he cried ALL DAY at daycare "i want my mom." curled up in a ball in the corner until he fell asleep. that is one of the reasons i became a sahm..it broke my heart. but...i think it is totally normal. i think they just go through stages of independence and dependency. i know it doesn't make that easy on us....but it all evens outs eventually.

[adcollins]

I think this is normal for that age. My daughter did the same thing.

I have a friend who shared an interesting theory that she'd read somewhere that this clinginess is probably an evolutionary protection. Right as children get a lot more physically independent and able to get away from you, they get emotionally clingy. Because they don't have the judgment yet to handle the physical independence safely, they're wired to want to get closer to you, which keeps them safe. No idea if that's true or not, but it's so interesting that I've always remembered it.

Good luck! This will pass. And you'll need a good back massage by the time it does.

Anne

[jennsult]

DD has just started this clingy stage too. She is 20 mos old. She isn't walking yet but used to love to crawl everywhere and cried when you picked her up. Now, she cries to be held all the time. Oh, my aching back.

[joyloo]

My DS just turned 2 and he has always been clingy. I noticed that when he is sick or tired he is always extra clingy. I found that sometimes randomly grabbing him throughout the day for kisses, hugs and raspberries does the trick. He usually loves it and if I do it enough he doesn't seek me out as much to be picked up. I also make sure I spend at least an hour sitting on the floor with him and playing. That seems to help sometimes. But to answer your question I do think they get extra clingy when they are sick or getting over something.

Joy