Hi everyone!

My DD is 16 months old and is absolutely driving me crazy with her clinging behaviour. She is a pretty smart kid for her age, and I think she may be reacting to the fact that my body is changing (I'm pregnant with twins due in March next year). I have no idea why she would be acting like this otherwise. I know they all go through stages of clinging, but is there anything I can do to try and discourage it?

It has got to the point where she has 'blue attacks' in the fit of a tantrum (when she doesn't get the reaction she wants from me...ie picking her up or giving her to someone else (like her father) to hold. She literally holds her breath in mid scream and almost passes out. It scares the *#@! out of me, but now I'm afraid of her doing it every time she doesn't get her own way.

Are kids capable of manipulative behaviour at this age?? I am in desperate need of advice, it's getting harder and harder for me to pick her up all the time or even get down on the floor to play with her.

She has sort of had me all to herself for her whole life, as DH goes away A LOT...maybe this is also a reaction to his being home for longer than a few weeks at a time????

Please help!!

Julesy