After all, when your little one is feeling unsettled, it makes sense they turn to you, their caregiver, for comfort. Clinginess can last for a while, but your tot should have an easier time by the time they turn 2, Hovington says, adding that most kids fully outgrow it by 3 years old.
How long should you expect this separation anxiety to last? It usually peaks between ten and eighteen months and then fades during the last half of the second year. In some ways, this phase of your child's emotional development will be especially tender for both of you, while in others, it will be painful.
Babies and toddlers often get clingy and cry if you or their other carers leave them, even for a short time. Separation anxiety and fear of strangers is common in young children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, but it's a normal part of your child's development and they usually grow out of it.
A lot of babies and toddlers go through a clingy stage. It mostly happens when they are between 10 and 18 months but it can start as early as six months old.
If you're wondering how to deal with clingy toddler behavior, you're not alone. The "clingy toddler phase" is a normal phase of development that most babies go through. It typically begins around 8 months of age and lasts until the baby is around 14 months old, if not longer.
A lot of kids become clingy when they're in a new situation or interacting with people they don't know. This is perfectly normal and appropriate, but it's important for kids to gradually find their independence separately from their parents.
Clinginess can be a caused by a variety of things. Very often, it can be caused by low self-esteem or insecurity. Expressing a strong need for attention can be a manifestation of the fear that a partner either doesn't like you, or that they'll leave.
Lavin says that children may show clinginess due to separation anxiety, the fear of being away from their parents, or because of stranger anxiety, where the fear is more about being around unfamiliar people. “These types of anxiety can be normal parts of child development,” he says.
Why do children get clingy? A child can show clinginess due to a fear of being away from their parents (separation anxiety) or because of stranger anxiety, where the fear is more about being around people the child doesn't know.
During the day, parents and caregivers can step away from a clingy baby for short periods. Stepping away for a few minutes will allow the child to trust that the parent or caregiver will return. If a child starts getting fussy during this time, the caregiver can talk to the child from another room.
Allow independence and autonomy
Your toddler will behave less clingy the more comfortable she is making her own decisions. This helps build her confidence to take action without your help all the time. How? Encourage self-sufficiency and independence.
It's common for children to develop favorites around age 2, and they may cycle from one parent to another, or prefer different parents for different activities, up through age 5. Showing a preference is one way children attempt to control their world, which might feel especially out of control right now.
Whatever the cause, there are some clear signs of clingy behavior, including: Not giving your partner space or alone time, especially if they have specifically requested it. Calling or texting your SO nonstop when you're not together. Panicking if your partner does not respond to your texts or calls.
Facts about separation anxiety
Although some babies display object permanence and separation anxiety as early as 4 to 5 months of age, most develop more robust separation anxiety at around 9 months. The leave- taking can be worse if your infant is hungry, tired, or not feeling well.
Children can't be too attached, they can only be not deeply attached. Attachment is meant to make our kids dependent on us so that we can lead them. It is our invitation for relationship that frees them to stop looking for love and to start focusing on growing.
Children with an ASD are not vigilant and do not look up to the caregiver for social referencing. They may not cling to the caregiver, although go up to them for succor. However, some cling to the caregiver because of extreme anxiety.
Clinginess can be a sign of a healthy relationship — it says that your child feels safe and comfortable with you. To that end, avoid ignoring, discouraging or punishing clingy behavior, as it can have lasting effects on your relationship.
Not worrying may be easier said than done, but truly, parental preference is a normal and healthy part of toddlerhood. It can pop up between ages one to three, as children become more independent and learn to express their opinions.
Acting clingy
An individual might hold on to a relationship even though it consistently makes them feel frightened or unloved. Moreover, relational trauma can also lead people to feel and act clingy even when they're in a loving, stable relationship.
Clingy, needy people of both sexes are a turnoff to most people, except people who capitalize on that dependence (and you want to stay away from those people). People in relationships should be balanced and self-actualized.
Clinginess can take a turn toward controlling behavior if power and wanting to gain the upper hand enters the picture. You may want your partner to fulfill specific expectations, and if they don't, it can intensify thoughts that they aren't doing what you need because they don't love you enough.