change in interests and attachments 2.5 year old

[ykni]

My daughter just turned two and a half last month.  She was an early talker, saying her first word at 6 mos. and had advanced to phrases by the time she was a year old.  She had an early interest in scribbles and "organized" activities with mom and dad, such as fingerpainting, and had an unusually long attention span for such activities at her age.

Lately, we have noticed some changes in her behavior.  Her language skills remain strong, although she sometimes uses phrases that don't make much sense.  What is different is that she seems to have lost interest in some of the activities that she used to enjoy and when she engages in them now, its for much shorter periods of time.  what concerns me most, however, is her newfound attachment to inanimate objects and a desire to frequently hold my or my husband's hand, even while we're driving our car.  She always seems to need to be holding on to something, things like tubes of toothpaste, glue stick, paints, wands.  She sometimes gives these objects animate characteristics and has them dialogue with her or with each other, but often she just holds on to them and gets very upset with even the suggestion that we might ask her to give them up. She has had a lovey that she has used for comfort and to get to sleep since she was about 6 mos. old.  But when we ask her to trade these random objects for her lovey, she refuses.  

She also cries more now than she has since she was a year old, and her crying has become more infantile, i.e. putting her fingers in her mouth like a baby.  There are two things that we think may be behind the crying.  The first may be related to a new preponderance of infants in her home daycare setting; the other is that I'm expecting another baby in about 9 weeks.

We are looking for answers and would like to know if the change in behaviors that I describe fall withing the spectrum of normal child development for my daughter's age, or if there is reason to be concerned and seek a professional consultation.  Please advise.  Thanks!

[ykni]

Thank you so much for the reassuring responses and advice.  I'm glad to be a new  part of this community!

[jdtm]

I suspect what you are seeing is a mild version of separation anxiety.  Often, when children reach about two years of age, they realize they are "independent" people and this causes some stress.  Mom and Dad will not always "be there".  You might wish to google the phrase "separation anxiety and toddlers" or similar words/phrases to better understand this "stage" in your daughter's development.  Hope this helps ...

[allmymarbles]

Assuming that she has not exhibited a decrease in intelligence, I would look into problems at the daycare center.