How to cope with 13 months old son who is very clingy?

Question

i can't go out of sight. can't go to bathroom, can't go to the kitchen. he cries and cries till he vomits. what can i do? :(

Answer 1

Play hide and seek with him.  Start with hiding near him, under a blanket.  Then hide for just a few seconds around the corner. Show him you are close by but he can't see you.  Where's mommy?  Peek a boo.  Maybe if you play this often enough with him throughout his day, he will learn that you are always close by.

Answer 2

Classic seperation anxiety! It's textbook and rest assured, its just yet another phase he's going thru. It's not easy - I have 3 wee ones aged 4, 2 and 11 months - so I know how tough it can get. The best solution I've found..other than taking a break as often as possible and getting someone else to look after them...for your own sanity...is to use one of the baby carriers, baby bjorn, and strap them in so you have both hands free while they're getting a cuddle. Everyone's happy! Hope he's not too heavy mind you. It'll be over before you know it and he'll be back to 'normal' again soon. Trust me!

Answer 3

I teach a toddler class twice a week for parents and their children.  Most of the kids are between 12 months and 2 years of age.  There are all kinds of kids--the ones that won't pay any attention to anything that I'm doing at all (the totally non-clingy ones) and the ones that cling on mom or dad's lap the whole time and don't want to play/dance/etc.  

I think it's natural for some kids to be clingy, especially kids as young as 13 months.  What does your son do if you leave him with babysitter/friends/grandparents?  Does he cry when you leave then too?  It's a normal behavior.

What's not normal is the clingy kids at age 4 and 5 that won't let go of mom's leg!  I knew this one boy who would still sit on mom's lap at age 10!  Too strange for such a big boy!  

I wouldn't worry about him being so clingy since he's still so young.  I think every kid has that stage to a certain extent.  

I would recommend taking him somewhere with other children his age.  Children even as young as 13 months model their behavior after other children.  Check to see if you can enroll in a free toddler program or baby program at your local library.  It can be a fun social outing for the both of you.