My super cranky and super attached girl

I have a 16 months old who, lately, all she wants is ME!!  She wants ME to feed her, bathe her, put her to bed for her naps and sleeps, play with her, etc...etc....  She throws tantrums when DH or her grandparents try to take her away from me (so I can take a break).  I love spending time with her but I can't get anything done!!  Is she sensing that we about to have a big change in our lives??  I'm 31 1/2 weeks pregnant.  I'm exhausted!  Is her behavior going to get worse once the baby's here??  I'm scared that she'll be more clingy once she's not the center of attention anymore.  She's also teething so could it be it?  But then again, she's already got 14 teeth and she's never been THAT clingy.  Any advice?

[decogrl]

Oh boy!  DD has fits on the floor every day I leave for work.  I have to put her to sleep every night---she screams unless I do.  She scratches and hits me all the time (no longer bites thank GOD!) I must waste 2 hours each day that I am home trying to put her down for a nap.  It is the terrible twos coming early.  I don't think it is the new baby but rather your older baby just going through a lot of developmental issues.   I cannot feed DD anymore--her food flies through the air on her hair clothes, on me.  It is all about independence but when it is pushed too far, the panic comes looking for mama.  You and I both know we have difficult girls.   You are not alone -----trust me on this one.

[girlybuff]

It's very normal.  She is more aware of her surroundings now and she knows Mommy leaves.
My DD is 17 months and is super attached as well.  The new baby coming might actually help though.  Have her talk to the new baby, try and get her ready and pray.  LOL

[girlybuff]

By the way, I'll pray for you because if I were 31 weeks pregnant with the DD I have, I might seriously go insane.
LOL
My house is a wreck because she doesn't allow me to get anything done.  She takes 1 nap a day for an hour and I call it a snap cause you snap and it's over.  She goes to bed easily enough on her own in her crib now after sleeping with me for 15 months but she had me so exhausted that everything I need to do during the day and can't falls by the waste side because I just want to lie down.

[LACh1]

Hi, I totally know where you are coming from. I too have a 16mth old daughter who is very clingy and ridiculously attached to me.  I can't do a thing without her attached to my leg or hip.  She wants to be entertained all the time and because her attention span is so short and limited i am exhausted thinking of things to do with her.  I really do think it is the age a fight with themselves and us about independance verses wanting mummy all the time.  All i can say is good luck when the new baby arrives and hopefully like someone else said it may help.

[kellym]

Ugh.... Can I even begin to tell you how many times I've cried the last 3 days. DH is out of town for a week and I'm about to lose it. Of course my 16mo dd is the SAME. I think it's just a phase. Put 2 dogs a guinea pig and 23 1/2 weeks pregnant on top of that.... Well, Lily is throwing her food too, if  she lets you  put her in her seat to eat.  When she puts it in her hair I say NO! and she loves that. That makes her do it even more...so I just tell her no once and clean it up later. I just can't run around screaming NO ALL THE TIME! She climbs on the guinea pig cage and stands, on the fireplace and stands, I've had it. What are you doing when DD does something  bad? I mean, she thrives on NO.  You surely have less time than me to figure things out. I got dd in a music class 1x a week. Yeah, we only had one class and boy she was the "bad" one. I don't get it. I just take her outside as much as possible to get her worn out. She is teething too, not sure where but the drool and fingers in the mouth are really giving it away.
OMG Deco, you are still having sleep issues? You need to get some sleep!
I'll pray for you girls if you pray for me :)

[decogrl]

Sleep issues---umm..the last time I slept more than 6.5 hrs was 2 years ago.  DH still we not let me do cry it out so I am stuck a few days a week with her and more and more I am forcing DH to take her since he is not on board with me and the crying.  Let's just say I am hooked on sleeping pills and extremely angry   A LOT!  I have soo had it with DD not sleeping but mostly angry with DH.  He argues with me on EVERY little thing regarding feeding, sleeping, etc.  He never used to be that way.  His little girl is an angel to him and she can do no wrong.  The only time I can discipline her is when he is not home.  The only way things could be worse if I was pregnant. (I am avoiding that like the plague---that would be the end of me and our marriage if I was pregnant for sure!)  God I could not imagine being you ladies and pregnant AND dealing with a toddler

[haileysmomma123]

i have the same problem, my daughter goes into mommy mode if i sit down she pulls me up if im cooking i have to hold her or she screams i put her in her bed she gets out knocks on her door for about a half an hour and then falls asleep behind her door. she wont take a bath without me and if im not paying attention to her for a min she starts to cry she will be 2 in may and i hope she gets over this soon...

[haileysmomma123]

i have the same problem, my daughter goes into mommy mode if i sit down she pulls me up if im cooking i have to hold her or she screams i put her in her bed she gets out knocks on her door for about a half an hour and then falls asleep behind her door. she wont take a bath without me and if im not paying attention to her for a min she starts to cry she will be 2 in may and i hope she gets over this soon...

[kellym]

Ohhhh, I feel terrible for you. Your DH is my DH's twin. When she even squeaks in the middle of the night, he sits up and my horns come out. LAY DOWN, I say. SHE'S FINE! He thinks he needs to go in and check for poop & paci's and rock her, yada, yada...NO!  DD does sleep well, as long as she's not teething or sick. I nipped that one the best I could. DH travels w/his job so he doesn't understand that if he gets her up or messes w/my routine it ruins my week!  I have to take a sleeping pill every now & again (or more :) just to get my butt to bed to deal w/her in the am. She's nasty when she wakes up and nasty when she goes to bed. Oh, another thing. DH taught DD how to dip...yes dip her food...Ranch, Ketchup, anything. The other day she was dipping her peanut butter toast in her cheerio's. It does make her eat a whole lot better, but, for crying out loud...She dipped a green bean in her soup? Oh, well, I see her yelling & hitting the dogs w/her sippy cup & toys, I guess I'd better set a better example than I am with them. I'm seriously thinking their getting shock collars this week. Either that or I'm going to give myself a miscarriage screaming at them. Phew, sorry about all the venting. I sure hope you get some sleep. Have you talked to your pediatrician about the whole sleep thing? My pamphlet says once in bed they stay in bed. They shouldn't even be brought out of the room once put to bed. Well, good luck to us!!

[Me2mommy2b]

Girlybuff-thanks, I need all the prayers I can get!  
Decogrl- I know what you mean.  I get blamed for everything as well
Kellym- we do not sleep nights as well.  Lately, DD wakes up at 4 am and doesn't go back down until 6 am.  I start promising DH that I've had it and that she can scream all she wants the next night and guess what?  We still go to her and she EXPECTS us to pick her up and unless we do, all hell breaks loose.  *sigh*  I only pray for a healthy baby b/c all this stress and lack of sleep is definitely not healthy :((