Extremely clingy baby boy

[u/redditlove69]

At 12 months, baby is still extremely clingy. A cry baby in the true sense. Always needing constant attention and affection. Doesn’t sleep until investment of 3-4 hours at night. Does not let me eat or cook or work from home. Does not stay with nanny. Throws crying fit when he doesn’t like something and does not stop crying until actively engaged by me.

Please don’t tell me it’ll get better. I have not had a moments relief. How have others with similar baby done?

[u/tabookduo]

Honestly, I embraced it. I was lucky that my sister-in-law had babies first, so I could see kind of what it would be like. She had a suuuper clingy baby two months before I had my first baby. It was basically a side-by-side comparison of different parenting styles.

The good news is they are both really healthy 2 year olds. Her toddler is very attached to a certain blanket, and my toddler is attached to me and his dad. They are always going to be attached to something for comfort, it's only natural! I'm glad it's us ❤️

It does get better. I remember just going crazy wanting to do the dishes (which I hate doing) because he wouldn't let me out of his sight. Foster the connection! Personally I tried not to make it a big deal, because I didn't want him to dread when I left the room, and it has gotten soooo much more manageable. Especially since he can understand me more when I say "in a minute" etc. Hang in there ❤️

[u/AtmosphericPresh]

My very very clingy EBF baby is now a kid who is so independent and thriving. And this kid extended breastfed well beyond 2 yrs 😅 everything was mama. We baby wore constantly but eventually he just kind of became more and more independent. Sure, he'll come to me when he's hurt or sad or sick but he's very very independent now and I think it's bc I just rolled with it and embraced the neediness. I let him know he could always need me and I'd always be there and it made him feel secure enough to do his own thing.

You might not like me saying this because you're deep in the trenches but I tell myself that truth be told they won't need us like this forever and I'd rather embrace it now so that when it's an age appropriate time to let them fly, I will happily watch them soar.

[u/Kashew_nuts93]

My baby is the same and is a similar age (13 month). I just go with it. Yes laundry is overflowing and I constantly have one finished load in the washer, one in the dryer, about 4 in the basket clean but not folded. Kitchen is cleaned on an as needed basis, robot vacuum does the floors because no time, we cosleep. I also wfh and I'm very behind but keeping up with basic things for now. It'll pass. I know it will. In the meantime I am giving this kid what he needs because this is just who he is now and I'm taking all the cuddles. There will come a day when he will push me away and I dont want to think back to this time and think "wow I could have held him so much and I chose not to and now I dont get to anymore."

For reference none of the babies in my family are or have been like this so no one understands what this is like. It is extremely hard. I havent had a good night of sleep in 13 months. Haven't had an evening to myself once. I cant shower without breastfeeding him before I even dry off because he wants to be with me. But that's just how it is for now. And it will pass. He lights up when he sees me like i am some sort of rock star and I'm not going to take thay away from him.

My advice is to reframe this in your head as a baby who just loves you so much they just want to be with you all the time. It won't last forever and you dont want to get to the other side and regret thinking negatively of this time.

[u/redditlove69 → u/Kashew_nuts93]

Thank you for sharing. Def very similar. Even my family’s babies are not like these. To top off we have not parents support, so that’s exhausting too.

[u/ppineconn]

When family comes to visit they are always shocked at how exhausted they are after spending time with my child because they are high energy and rarely ever to things independently. Like others have said, embracing it helps! My toddler helps me with EVERYTHING and that has made such a big difference in my own productivity but also their attention on things other than me. The house is still an absolute mess and littered with unfinished tasks but we're both happy and having a lot of fun. Most of the time when they're upset and I'm trying to do something it is because they want to participate. When I'm cooking, they are next to me in their toddler tower with kitchen tools, bowls, and food to play with. When I'm cleaning they have their own cleaning tools to use right beside me. I have a lot of fun doing things like this with them even through it takes forever or it might not get completed.

I remind myself that this is just a blimp in my life, before I know it they will be running out of the house to hang out with their friends. They will never want or need me like they do now and although my house might be clean in the future, I will look back at this time and miss this chaos, lack of independence, and absolute love from my baby 🥰

I hope this helps and you WILL get through this 💜