Listen to the article
Clinginess in Toddlers: A Sign of Healthy Development, Not Cause for Concern
When babies reach their first birthday, many parents notice a puzzling change – their once independent child suddenly refuses to leave their side, constantly seeks physical closeness, and becomes visibly distressed when separated. This behavior often triggers worry in caregivers who wonder if something is wrong with their child’s development.
According to Dr. Madhavi Bharadwaj, a pediatrician with over 1.6 million Instagram followers, this clinginess represents a natural developmental milestone rather than a behavioral problem. In a viral Instagram reel that has garnered over 2.6 million views, she addresses the common concerns she hears from parents.
“What has happened to the baby after the first birthday? The baby has become so clingy. He doesn’t let me go. He leaves everything and climbs on me. He doesn’t even go to his dad or grandma. He sticks to me all the time,” Dr. Bharadwaj says, echoing the confusion many mothers experience.
She explains that while a child’s first year primarily focuses on physical milestones like crawling and walking, the second year brings rapid emotional and cognitive growth. During this stage, children develop emotional awareness and attachment patterns that manifest as what adults perceive as clinginess.
“You call it clinginess, I call it secure attachment. Your child’s psychological and emotional health is very good,” she reassures parents, emphasizing that such behavior reflects emotional security rather than weakness or dependency.
Dr. Amit Gupta, Senior Neonatologist and Pediatrician at Motherhood Hospitals in Noida, reinforces this perspective, explaining that this phase usually begins around five to seven months of age and may continue until 18 months.
“It is completely normal. In fact, it is a developmental milestone,” Dr. Gupta explains. “Babies start showing clingy behavior, separation anxiety, and a strong preference for parents. They may cry when they do not see them or want to stay close most of the time.”
This developmental stage represents a crucial period in a child’s emotional growth. Babies instinctively seek comfort from their primary caregivers when feeling overwhelmed, confused, or distressed. Rather than indicating dependency, this behavior demonstrates a healthy bond between parent and child.
The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) highlights the importance of responsive caregiving during this phase. According to NHS guidance, physical affection and attentive interactions help babies develop emotional security, which paradoxically leads to greater independence later.
“The more you cuddle, look at and play with your baby, the more secure they’ll feel, and the more independent they’ll become,” the NHS advises. “This is because they will feel confident that you will be there for them if they need you, so they do not feel the need to hold on tightly to you.”
The NHS describes responsive interaction as “a game of tennis where they serve and you return,” emphasizing how this back-and-forth communication supports overall development.
Parents can take comfort in knowing this clingy phase is temporary. As Dr. Bharadwaj humorously notes, “That time is not far when we will close the door of our room and say, ‘Mom, please knock before you enter.'”
While clingy behavior typically represents healthy development, Dr. Gupta advises parents to remain vigilant for unusual signs. “If the child suddenly becomes extremely withdrawn, stops interacting, shows developmental delays, sudden changes in feeding, or does not respond socially, then parents should consult a pediatrician,” he cautions.
These warning signs could potentially indicate an underlying health or developmental concern that requires professional attention. However, for most children, clinginess around the first birthday simply reflects their growing emotional awareness and secure attachment to caregivers – positive indicators of healthy psychological development.
Rather than discouraging this natural phase, child development experts encourage parents to respond warmly to their child’s need for closeness, understanding that this foundation of security will ultimately foster confidence and independence as the child matures.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
11 Comments
Interesting to learn that baby clinginess is a normal developmental phase, not necessarily a cause for concern. It’s reassuring to hear from an expert that this behavior is just part of the emotional and cognitive growth happening in the second year of life.
Yes, it’s good to have that expert perspective and understand the context behind clingy behavior. It can be worrying as a parent, so it’s helpful to know it’s a natural part of child development.
Thanks for sharing this article – it’s a common issue many parents face, so it’s valuable to get the pediatrician’s insights on why toddler clinginess is a sign of healthy growth, not a problem to fix. I appreciate the reassurance that this behavior is normal.
Absolutely, having an expert weigh in and provide that context is really useful for parents dealing with a clingy toddler. It can be concerning, but good to know it’s a natural part of their developmental stage.
This is a great article addressing a common parenting challenge. I’m glad to see a pediatrician providing expert insights on why toddler clinginess is actually a positive sign of emotional and cognitive development, not a behavioral issue. That context and reassurance will be really valuable for parents dealing with a clingy child.
Appreciate the expert insights on why toddler clinginess is a sign of healthy development, not a problem. It’s a common concern for parents, so it’s valuable to have a pediatrician provide that important context and reassurance. Good to know this behavior is simply part of the emotional and cognitive growth happening in the second year.
Yes, exactly. The pediatrician’s perspective is really helpful in normalizing this experience for parents. Understanding the developmental drivers behind clinginess can go a long way in easing any worries.
Glad to see this common parenting concern addressed. The pediatrician’s explanation that clinginess is linked to emotional and cognitive development in the second year makes a lot of sense. It’s helpful for parents to understand this is a normal phase, not necessarily a behavioral issue to fix.
Yes, that’s a great point. Framing it as a positive sign of development, rather than a problem, is really important for parents to understand. The expert insights help provide that important context.
This is a really useful article for parents navigating the challenges of a clingy toddler. It’s reassuring to hear from a pediatrician that this behavior is actually a natural part of a child’s emotional and cognitive growth, not a cause for concern. Great to get that expert perspective.
I agree, the pediatrician’s explanation is very helpful in reframing this common parenting issue. It’s good to know clinginess is a normal developmental milestone, not something parents need to worry about or try to ‘fix’.