Ultra clingy child with a bub on the way

[MumNeedsCoffee]

Just looking for advice for my sis.
She is very concerned how she is going to cope with her 2 year old who has always been very clingy and a bub due on 25 Dec.

For her to hold my DD she needs someone to take him away to play with him so he doesn't know she is holding another child.

She has been given one good idea so far to buy him a baby alive doll so that he can participate with tending to his own baby.

Any other ideas out there?

[made2bAmummy]

Hi there, I don't know your sister but in some cases with a really clingy toddler the parent sometimes unknowingly encourages them to be clingy by staying too close by all the time and by not encouraging independance. It might be worth it to consider if your sister thinks she might be one of those parents.
The baby alive doll is a fantastic idea, they should practice with it before baby arrives, changing, feeding and burping espescially.
Also she should hold that other baby infront of her DS even if he doesn't like it, just so he gets the idea that sometimes Mummy holds other babies - as much as possible!
another one is for the baby to get DS presents when it arrives, they can be small things like a $2 car or a fruit bar, but saying they are from the baby and the baby got you this sometimes makes the existing child feel warmer toward the new baby.
Good luck!

[MumNeedsCoffee]

Thanks for the ideas, she will appreciate it.
She acknowledges that she is part of the problem.
However he is just a really sensitive child, he screamed so loud and at everything as a baby that other mothers refused to hold him.
I don't blame her really for caving in to his demands but it's created this situation.

[aphrodeity]

Sounds like bubs has got a very strong attachment!

I think the most immediate issue is her DS not letting Mum hold other babies. Could she try a gradual, gentle desensitisation - so e.g have Mum hold DS while sitting next to someone holding a baby, gradually moving on to Mum giving the baby most of her attention while still holding DS, then DS given lots of attention from someone super fun & awesome on the other side of Mum, and eventually DS being held by the fun person while Mum holds your DD.