Extended feeding/comforting and independence

[Pixie]

Do you think it affects a toddler in the long run to be more needy when the mother leaves?

This morning I took the garbage out I was gone for about 5 mins on returning E was hysterical and DH had no chance of calming her. I walked in to him following her around the place as she was looking for me.

He left for work and she immediately started getting her books out and looking for him to read to her. So I rang him left a message and when I went to say goodbye she became hyserical again so no daddy go and crying and crying.

Of course both times the sure fire way to calm her and she was asking was booby.

DH said it was nuts and nuts that the only way she will calm down is with a boob in her mouth although he did say it would calm him as well lol

Do you think it is the breastfeeding, I don't and I told him all kids go through this clingy stage and really it's a short time on the scale of things.

[ShadyCharacter]

All kids do it I reckon with different parents at different times.

My 3 year old is still B/F, and when he was younger, he would scream blue murder if I tried to leave the house without him. Now, he stays home 2 days a week with his Dad, and he waves me off at the door with "Bye Mummy! Have nice day!" Yet he is still b/f - he is just old enough to understand now that I will be back a bit later.

I think it just comes with age and maturity, nothing to do with BF.

[BreakfastatTiffanys]

I think it just comes with age and maturity, nothing to do with BF.


:iagree: All my kids did this at around the same age.

[Tam-I-Am]

DD's doing this ATM too. She's no longer breastfed - but you and I are at nearly the same stage of pg. I think for DD its the fact that for about 6 weeks of this pg, I was really emotionally unavailable to her - I was sick and weak, and in bed a LOT, and not the usual fun mummy that she had. I'm coming good again - but I think it shook her up a bit and she's become more emotionally attached and clingy. I imagine if she WERE still breastfed this would translate to more feeds....

Is it possible something similar is going on for wee E?

[0BleSseD0]

I think its normal. My DS is nearly 2 and is a very big Mummys boy.. DD is 7 mths and she wont be put to sleep by anybody but Mum..

Theyre both Mummys kids..:flowerz: Yay!

I feel loved! :smiliedance:

[the_queen]

Totally developmental, not based on breastfeeding - but lucky you're breastfeeding so you can quickly and conveniently comfort her :thumbsup: :D

I've got the opposite "problem" sometimes, he won't have a fricken bar of me unless he wants a Bitty, and even then it's a quick 5 second suck before running off to chase the cat. BUT if I go outside, he does get upset if I don't take him with me (ie we are in the rumpus room which leads to the outside, and I quickly nip out to turn the tank on - he can still see me through the door and window) but that's more about "oi person-with-the-bitty, that's not fair i wanna run around outside too" more than clingy to me, per se.

And pregnancy I think plays a huge part in it :yes: :hugs: Plus the stuff she went through last week, the poor little darling :hugs:

[Jenko]

My DD has been through this stage at different times with both me and DH. She would scream and cry at the door till we found something to distract her. She is 3.4yrs and still does it some times.