As your daughter becomes more mobile and independent this phase will pass but you can help her to reach the next stage by encouraging that independence. How mobile is she at the moment? If she is beginning to stand and “cruise” around the furniture try putting her in a baby walker for short periods of time so she can be with you while you do some of your jobs – hanging out the washing – give her some pegs to hold and pass to you, give her a duster and some plastic or wooden items to dust while you do some housework. Above all, keep talking to her and have good eye contact, smiles etc while you carry on with your jobs then have some clear “baby” time when you play with her on the floor. She really must understand that you cannot carry her around all the time but that you can be together even though you are both busy. Encourage her to stand on her own two feet – literally!


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My daughter is 12 months. I've always just got on with what I had to do but perhaps it's because she's my second. She does sometimes get upset but I just try leaving her for a short time. If I need to go to the toilet I just tell her and run up so she's only left for a minute but it gets her used to being on her own and she now knows Mummy's will come back. Have you ever left her with other people? This really helps build up their confidence and learn that if Mummy goes away she will come back.

Good for you that you are not ignoring her sad upset feelings. Your daughter is still very much at the age when “separation anxiety” can be a big problem. Some children suffer from this more than others. Basically, because you are the most important person in her life, she is happiest being close to you, and she doesn’t really understand yet that when you go away, even if it is just to another room or to try and go to the loo, that you will definitely be coming back. This can feel quite frustrating to parents but she will grow out of it as she learns that you will always be back when you disappear. In the meantime, a sympathetic approach that understands she really can’t help this is exactly right. It might help to play games like “peek-a-boo” where you hide your face, then pop out, or hide behind the door, then re-appear from there. It might take quite a lot of attempts with this but it should gradually help.

thank you will try it xxx

try getting her involved in the tidying up with you, ie give her a little brush to sweep up with, let her help you put toys away- my youngest loves to empty the washing machine and move the stuff into the dryer- i put the clothes in and she presses the button to set it away! it will give you something to do together and once your jobs are done you could play together and when she sleeps you may be able to do that fabled thing i sometimes here people talk about- think it's called relaxing??! good luck x

my daughter is 13months and is so clingy that i find it hard to do anything when she is awake. i find when she goes for her sleep im rushing around to tidy the house washing etc!! if anyone has any ideas on how to help would be much apreciated. iv tries ignoring her but it breaks my heart help!!! xx