Velcro/Clingy Babies Anonymous

[Manhattan]

Ok, so DD is a velcro baby to boot! She won't go to anyone besides DH and my mum. And even then, if she can she me, she wants me. Whilst I love that she loves me so much, I would just like to be able to hand her over every now and then for a break. And I feel bad when people want to give her a cuddle, and she just screams in their face

So, how do you handle your velcro baby? Do you manage to leave the house at all without velcro baby?

Now I must add that she wasnt always like this. Prob been the last 2 months where its become an issue. So is this just a stage? Or did I do something to make her like this? Do you think a baby is born clingy, or as parents we turn them that way?

Any advice, tips, insights greatly appreciated

[Party-of-five]

your not alone there DD2 was really good until about 4 weeks ago. She is the same will go to mum or DH but as long as she cant hear or see me
I have managed to leave her with mum a few short times because mum says she only grizzles when I get home.
I dont think parents make clingy babies because DD2 is my 3rd and the others werent clingy. I think its just they way some are. I just try to see it as loving the extra cuddles because she will be off and independent crawling and walking soon( if I can put her on the floor to learn ) and then we will miss this I think.

[Arimeh]

Its definitely a stage. DD2 went through it from about 6 months to 9 months. She is much better now, doesn't cry when she sees people, and although she is still clingy, she will happily go to other people.

So no - I don't think you have done anything to "make" her this way - I think its just a baby being a normal baby!

[Manhattan]

Thank you all, your reassurance is very comforting

POF - I never thought of it that way, that soon she will be off and moving, and not giving me a second thought. I'll have to start making an extra effort to appreciate her special cuddles.

Sloane - your post was very coherent And i agree, it is nice to have a loving baby.

Arimeh - Glad to hear E went through the same thing, and has come out the other side. Ohhh, I just had a thought, maybe L got it from E???? Lol, at their first meeting! Hopefully DD will come out the other side soonish too.

Thanks again girls x

[Arimeh]

Arimeh - Glad to hear E went through the same thing, and has come out the other side. Ohhh, I just had a thought, maybe L got it from E???? Lol, at their first meeting! Hopefully DD will come out the other side soonish too.

Haha!! Maybe - you never know

[Arimeh]

Arimeh - Glad to hear E went through the same thing, and has come out the other side. Ohhh, I just had a thought, maybe L got it from E???? Lol, at their first meeting! Hopefully DD will come out the other side soonish too.

Haha!! Maybe - you never know

[onthefly]

It's a stage, which can be repeated. DS was super clingy. Not anymore. (he still demands cuddles with regularity, however)
Best thing is to go with it - you're building her sense of security and from there she will develop independence.

[sloane]

hi, i'm sloane & i have a velcro baby!

i have to say that it has eased a bit - since he started walking. for some reason, crawling didn't do it but walking has. for example, i took him to a playcentre not long ago & he wanted down when we got there & walked off to play himself. previously i would have had to hold him for a while before he'd be ready to do that.

if he can see me & he's tired or not happy, he'll cry. if i'm not there, he's a little angel

my DS has pretty much always been like that but i'm guessing maybe with your DD it's a stage & comes from them becoming more aware of the world around them?? not sure. i tend to think they're born that way & it's not something we've done as parents - it's all part of their personality. in recent months i've tried not to be frustrated (because as wonderful as it is to be needed, sometimes i need a break) but then had a bit of an epiphany - my DS is sooo loving. he loves to give hugs & kisses etc. so i realised that the big upside of my velcro baby is his wonderfully loving nature. so while the clinging can get a bit much sometimes, i wouldn't change it for the world because it's part of what makes him so loving.

i hope that all makes sense - the big downside of my velcro boy is that he wakes 7 times a night & only wants mum....not much coherent thought comes from me these day

[Catastrophic]

Hands up!
I have a velcro baby too, has been ever since she was born (now 14m) - she still won't go to anyone else if I am around, and will cry as soon as someone else picks her up.

I don't have any tips - just sympathy~

[Swoop]

I keep getting told that DD is much better when I'm not around. Do others hear this too?

Yes, constantly. And it always sounds so accusing!

We had a breakthrough this week; we went to the park with a MG friend and her daughter. We had a picnic, and at the end I went to put some rubbish in the bin, leaving DD with the friend on the picnic rug. The bin was about 30 metres away, and I stopped and waved half way - she was fine the whole time I was gone and didn't even clamber on me when I got back. I also left her in the park with DH yesterday when I went home to finish cooking dinner - i told her what was happening, we waved and then she happily went back to playing. Woohoo!!