2.5 Year Old Suddenly Clingy????

My 3 yr old is sometimes this way. She is becoming shy, even around people she knows. And she is also clingy at what seems to be random times or days. My older daughter did not go through this phase, so this is new for us. But, I'm actually enjoying it. She wasn't a very clingy baby, so this clingy-ness is fun for me now....even though I do have an 18 month old that is NOT liking this. :) I think it's because they are becoming more aware of things - dangers, strangers, being alone, etc. They're just trying to figure out when they feel safe and how to keep feeling safe.
Maybe offer a little extra snuggle time when he'll let you and be sure to explain when you'll be back or where you're going....just some reassurance. My 3 yr old cried once at school for a few seconds a few weeks ago (first time for her), which made me sad. But I just explained this was our routine and that I'd be back for her in a few hours.
Good luck!

I too really hope it's just a phase. Our daughter (baby #1) is about the same age and our newborn (baby #2) is 6 weeks old. A couple months before we came home with our baby girl #2 our daughter would run out of her room in the middle of the night crying for me. She is at the point now where she will come into our room in the middle of the night and climb over her father (he sleeps closest to the door and the co-sleeper is on my side) to get close to me.

It also seems like I am the only parent that can calm her once she is worked up about something. Yet, I am also the parent that catches the most grief from her as well (read this as temper tantrums).

Don't know if this is an age related phase or baby related phase but be assured you are not going through it alone. I'd say stay strong but I think it's copyrighted. Oh wait...that's live strong right? Who knows...hang in there and best of luck! :-)

im right there with you. my son will be 3 in january and this morning when i got up to go to work he cried, and said no mommy, baby sick. and he grabbed me and told me nooo. made me cry. im due nov 23 but have c-section planned for the 16th and he knows about the new baby. he has seemed very anxious lately and doesnt want me to leave. he wkes up in the middle of the night and will make a pallet beside my bed or he will crawl up in bed with me. i hope its just a phase and that once his little sister is here he will go back to his normal behavior. i think its just a phase they go through. ive been trying to show him a little extra attention lately so he knows mommy loves him and hes my favorite little boy!

We're nearing 3 yrs old and just hitting this ourselves. I think it is a stage. If you see anything that really worries you though, I would get a strep test done to be sure (rapid and 72 hour culture.) I'm really paranoid about strep affecting neuro behavior because my older daughter deals with this and it is pretty common but not well-known (the disorder is called PANDAS if you want to look it up, or I am happy to answer questions about it too.)

M.