Is this normal toddler behavior?

[Brie]

C is 2y9m. Lately he is very clingy/whiny at bedtime and seems to want a lot of reassurance. He says, "I want youuu" and "grownups come back?" and "one more hug/kiss" and the like. A few nights in the last week he's called out for us over the monitor crying shortly after we put him down. He is fine as soon as we go in and reassure him a bit. (This is way out of the ordinary for him, usually bedtime is a piece of cake.) He has also had a bit of trouble leaving me in the morning to go with H to daycare drop off lately which is also abnormal.

So, are we being manipulated into bedtime stalling or is there a legit separation anxiety phase around this age? Or both? Anecdotes welcome.

[catbus]

We've had similar lately, without crying. "Mommy, you stay with me?" has become a common question at bedtime. Then after we leave the room, he shouts out, "Don't make loud sounds!" and we have to open the door and say we won't. It's a very strange ritual.

[glinda]

I think it's normal, and since you guys just recently traveled even more so. We went away for a weekend and DS stayed home with my mom and he was insanely clingy when we got back. After about 2 weeks he was fine and over it, I hope C is the same.

[teatimefor2]

H is the same lately. Very clingy and he is using the phase "my mommy" all.the.time. He needs a ton of hugs, kisses, songs and cuddles.

He's the same age as C.

My vote is normal.

[greycat]

Seems normal. DS is a little younger and for the past couple weeks he calls for us right after we put him down. I go in and he usually has a very simple request (fix his blanket, etc) and settles right back down.

[Deleted]

It's normal. And sometimes bedtime stalling.

I always have to gauge with DD which one it is.

There was a phase about that age where it was bad. She's now almost 4 and they're fewer and farther in between now.
Even today at DC she needed a lot of reassurance and one more "love" and a lot of questions about where I was going while she was at DC. Which is weird. She loves DC. Rarely asks. Couldn't careless where I am most of the time. She knows Mommy milks cows or goes to school when she's at DC. I think she's just reaffirming and working through things in her mind.

[mlt]

Definitely normal. For DS1, it was/is manipulation to delay bedtime and we "mmmhmmmm"ed it a lot.

ETA DS1 did have a genuine fear of wolves for awhile and we sprayed "anti wolf spray" around his room when he got scared. I'm not mean, I just don't hold with shenanigans.

[mainelyfoolish]

My DS, a month older than C, has been very much into pretending to be a baby, asking me to carry him up/down stairs, stalling to get me to stay longer when I put him in his bed.

[soso]

Normal. Our kid goes to bed easily (now 4.5) but every six months as long as I can remember we have a new sleep issue that lasts for a couple of weeks and then it goes. We try to be supportive but firm and consistent and it goes away. For example, recently it was questions. I entertain a couple and then say "we can talk about it tomorrow" or "that's a good question, I'll write it down and we can look it up tomorrow"

[erbear]

Normal. Both of my girls went tthrough a sleep regression around 2.5.

[arch01]

Normal. DS is doing this at 3.5. Tonight I told him that he was fine and if I had to come back in and something wasn't seriously wrong I was taking away one of his stuffed animals (kid sleeps with like 8 in his toddler bed). He's been silent ever since. It's a stall tactic for him. It's easy to tell because he puts on this pitiful whine and then I go in and he's smiling. Sorry kid, mama only gets played a few times.

[thebreakfastclub]

Mine is younger, at almost 2.5. He has really ramped up the "I'm sad/angry" and general whining, moping and emotional outbursts recently.

[scribellesam]

DS1 went through a brief but very intense separation anxiety phase at 2y10m. It lasted about 3-4 weeks.

[Deleted]

I'm laying in DDs bed with her right now until she falls asleep, so I'm hoping all this is normal.

[gingerjar]

It sounds very normal to me.

[coleyv]

I hope this is normal! DD is about the same age and has been doing the exact same thing the last few weeks. She used to be so easy to put down for the night but now she freaks out when we try to leave her room. She is also very clingy when H drops her off at daycare in the mornings.

[dcn]

Ds started doing this shortly before our move and had been very clingy since. I thought that was all related but maybe some of it is just the age too.

[t]

Same thing happening here. Wolves, monsters, and the "man" are going to get her. She's afraid of pretty much every man besides DH and my dad.

[Deleted]

I hope it's normal, because DS (age 3.5) has been doing it for several months. He calls us back to his room to "help blow mah nose" or his bit his tongue (that was tonight), or he wants XYZ toy. Sometimes we help, sometimes we don't. Eventually we usually have to say we're not coming back in unless it's "really super important", and if he calls us again and it's not, he loses a toy. I hate to be harsh, but he'd never go to bed otherwise.

[longtimenopost]

DD has started this as well at 2.5. For example, she's developed a sudden fear of flies. When she sees one she starts whimpering and needs immediate cuddles. I'm torn between wanting the cuddles and talking down her fears. I expect things will get all kinds of crazy when this LO is born in the next few weeks!

[darnkatz]

DD2 is totally pulling this shit, and I'm not into it. As far as I can remember, it's completely normal and DD1 went through it as well. Bah. Giving her a book helps.

[Ashley&Scott]

I vote normal. We've been through a few clingy phases. They're almost almost always directly related to a new developmental skill or a change at school. (ie- new room, new teacher)

[jinxy]

We've been dealing with the same thing for the past few months and DS turns 3 on Saturday. It also seems cyclical where he'll be fine for a week and then it comes back with a vengeance. He also started having nightmares lately so that's making him extra clingy.

[Deleted]

Ugh. We are dealing with it too. I think it's partially bedtime shenanigans and partially just her being an a hole 2 year old. We also have been getting a ton of tantrums. She is either tied to me or on the floor flailing about something.

[Deleted]

J went through a stage like this. Actually, I think he had had a few at different times.

Do you think it could be related to stuff going on with P? All the extra attention in the sense of Dr. Appts and such? I know J tends to react clingy sometimes if something like that is going on. Like when E was really sick this winter and I had to spend a lot of time with her at the ER, Dr. Appts. And just to tending to her in general. J then had a clingy period for a bit afterwards.

[bearbaby]

This is reassuring - DS (younger, but similar age group - 2Y4Mos) has been much clingier than normal lately. Mope-y at daycare drop off (which was NEVER his MO) and takes a bit more time to snap out of it. Bedtime has gotten more elaborate with both parents/reading/bizarre rituals/etc.

I guess I'll ride it out a bit and see where we get to...

[Brie]

Jul 7, 2015 8:05:06 GMT -5 @awinter said:

Do you think it could be related to stuff going on with P? All the extra attention in the sense of Dr. Appts and such? I know J tends to react clingy sometimes if something like that is going on. Like when E was really sick this winter and I had to spend a lot of time with her at the ER, Dr. Appts. And just to tending to her in general. J then had a clingy period for a bit afterwards.

That makes sense.  We've also had a parade of houseguests this summer, so sometimes he goes to bed with grandma/grandpa/auntie there and they are gone when he wakes up in the morning.  (I mean, they say goodbye before bed and stuff, but yeah.)