AnchorMommy

Clingy baby syndrome

April 20, 2011 by Shannon

It’s amazing how two kids, from the same two parents, can be so different. Kellan has been a social butterfly since he was an infant. He loved going to daycare, didn’t mind when people he didn’t know wanted to hold him, and generally just loved to be around others.

Then Ella came along.

I hate to admit it, but that girl just isn’t friendly. Well, that’s not exactly right. When we’re out and about – like at the grocery store, for example – she’ll offer up plenty of smiles to friendly strangers. But hand her to one of her grandparents, and she acts as if she’s being tortured.

Take this photo, for example. She’s tolerating my mom because she so busy giving the stinkeye to my uncle, who’s taking the picture. Have you ever seen a baby glare at someone like that?

So Kellan and I had to have our teeth cleaned at the dentist the other day. I decided to be brave and take Ella along as well. Because the last time we were there? Ella was probably about 2 months old and she was miserable. The sweet women at the front desk wanted to hold her while Kellan and I were in the dentist’s chairs, and she screamed at them the entire time. This time, I thought, “She’s older. She’s more used to being around other people. She’ll be better.”

She was not better.

The first 10 minutes were fine. She sat in her carseat and played with her favorite toy. Then she started to fuss. At the sound of her discontent, one of those sweet ladies from the front desk came in and scooped her up. I spent the next 20 minutes or so clutching the arms of the dentist’s chair, my knuckles turning white. Not because I was in pain from the cleaning, but because I could hear her squawking in the reception area. I kept thinking, “How can they answer the phone? How can they greet incoming patients? How can they hear anything???”

Now I totally get how parents of clingy children must feel. I adore my daughter, and we’re very tightly bonded, so naturally she prefers my company to that of someone she doesn’t know so well. But I want her to warm up to other people. So I hand her over every chance I get…yet when she screams, I just want to snatch her back. I can’t bear the thought of torturing other people with my baby’s fussiness. Because really, she’s an angel. When she smiles, when she laughs, when she squeals from excitement…it’s the best thing in the world! I just wish she’d let other people see that side of her.

She’ll grow out of it, I suppose. I guess for now I’ll just enjoy the fact that she’s clingy. Because really, how long can that last? Not long enough. That’s for sure.