Clingy Baby

lmbrandt

Have you noticed your LO being extra clingy recently?  I don't know if it's something that normally occurs around this age, but it's definitely a big change for our son!

He is about 12.5 months, and used to play pretty well independently for some time.  If I was in the same room as him, he would play with his toys, run around, etc and entertain himself which allowed me to get things done.  I could work on dishes, getting myself ready, cooking, etc.  For a good two weeks now he will RARELY play by himself.  If I try and work on something he will come and stand at my legs and whine, cry, and pull until I go join him.  I sit down on the floor and he basically crawls all over me repeatedly, not really playing with his toys.  I miss the independence he had!  

chaser61

LO climbs all over me and puts his head in my lap rather than playing when he is getting tired, not feeling well from a cold / allergies (runny nose), or teething (swollen gums before teeth actually cut through). Think there is something like that going on? Hopefully it is just temporary and he will play on his own again soon.

editing to also say that he will be clingy after daycare too. He needs time to play and snuggle with mom and dad after the day away. He plays more independently on weekends.

lmbrandt

@KristiSigma, I'm wondering if it might have something to do with teething?  EVERYTHING has been in his mouth recently, and his hands have been in there non-stop.  He does exactly like you're saying, he climbs all over and will lay his head down for a moment, and then do it all over again.  The last few days it seems like anything can set him off into a crying fit too.  Like today I made him PB & J for lunch, put it on his tray and he cried hysterically for like 20+ minutes over it!  I took him out of his highchair where he proceeded to cry and cry until I sat down on the floor and he came over and sat on my lap.  Something must be bothering him.  

amp61470

I went to my sisters the other night and put him on the floor so my niece could play with him. I walked over to the couch in the same room and he came crawling and crying over. My sister picked him up and his crying got harder (grasping for breath crying) he wanted me. This was totally new behavior for him. He hasn't had any separation anxiety up til now but is starting to show it a little. 

momofsweetps

Our dude has started too. We haven't dealt with any separation anxiety until recently. He used to go to anyone and now it's just me, sister, or Daddy. Heaven forbid if I walk out of the room, meltdown immediately and the world is ending!

ABombard12

My LO has been extra clingly lately.  For the first time he cried (only a little and stopped) when I left daycare the other day.  Normally he is too busy to notice I am even leaving (even with all the good byes I give and kisses). Even at home when daddy has him he reaches out for me and loses it if I go in another room, always wanting up when I put him down, etc. Secretly I love it ha that may be bad but I do!  As much as sometimes it is hard to get things done.

ReneeJ2011

Sometimes I think my LO is trying to crawl back in my uterus. He is super clingy lately and has stopped sleeping through the night when I'm gone (1 night per week for school) if I don't put him to bed he sleeps like crap. If I do he will sleep all night. He also has to be within touching distance of me at all times or major tantrums will ignite. Like OP said I kind of secretly love it because I know he won't want the cuddle time soon but I also would love 15 minutes of him being awake and not trying to crawl back inside me. 

lmbrandt

@amp61470, yes! He has started this new cry where he's like gasping for breath...sometimes I think he's just faking it though to get attention from me!

@ReneeJ2011, YES!! Yesterday I was sitting on the floor so he could crawl all over me and my husband said "so is he trying to crawl back inside?!"  It's crazy...it's like he wants to be attached to me at ALL times now.  It is sweet sometimes because our son was never really a cuddler, but I seriously get NOTHING done without him freaking out!!!

lynnaeschr

Omg yes!!!! Yesterday morning he was so mad for no apparent reason and threw a fit for 20 minutes. He HAS to be touching me or my husband literally all the time right now. However he is fine when I drop him off at daycare. 

wilcoxev

Yes same here. I read in one of my books that LO shows preference to their primary caretaker between 12-14 months so expect clinginess. Glad it's not just mine.