There are clingy babies and then there are what is known these days as “velcro babies.” Do you suspect that your baby may be a velcro baby or maybe a close friend or family member has one? In today’s article, we’re going to cover the signs to watch for and some things that you can do to help lessen the severity of the clinginess should you want to. Please give us a shout out on social media with your experiences, stories, and suggestions, or write them in the comments below. We love hearing from you!
Signs That You May Have A Velcro Baby
Many, if not most babies want to be held or close to you a lot of the time. But, where do you draw the line between your average cuddly baby and a “velcro baby”? Here is what you can look out for. This is by no means a definitive list, but it is a good place to start. If you think that your baby may be too clingy, then you should bring it up with your pediatrician to see if they have any insight or suggestions for any potential medical impact.
- Does your baby cry immediately when they are put down by a parent?
- Do they cry or become distressed when a parent leaves or goes out of sight for even short amounts of time?
- Does your baby eschew tummy time for more time being held or cuddling?
- Is it difficult or even impossible to put your baby down for a nap or for the night without them becoming distressed, even while asleep?
- Does your baby balk at being cared for by others or become distressed when another caregiver takes over?
- Is your baby easily startled or upset by changes in environment or daily routines?
Does The Above Sound Like A Baby You Know?
If so, then there are things you can do to lessen the impact of velcro baby syndrome in your household. You can practice gentle transitions in which you set the baby down either in their crib or in their tummy time spot, then you can slowly make your way out of the room until they get upset. This will take days or even weeks, but if you try to get a little farther away each time and for a little longer, then they will eventually see that they will be OK without you directly in contact with them or in their line of sight.
You can do a similar thing when you are napping them. Try setting them down about 5 minutes after they fall asleep and stick around to see if they get upset. Practice moving farther away each time until you are able to fully leave the room without them getting upset.
Inadvertently Creating A Velcro Baby
Some families may find themselves in a situation in which their child’s velcro-baby tendencies may have been part of a self-fulfilling cycle. Here’s what that means. If an infant’s needs aren’t being met, like hunger, clean diaper, comfortable body/clothes, then they may present with clingy or velcro-like behavior. Sometimes, addressing a baby’s basic needs is a great place to start when trying to either diagnose or alleviate unwanted clingy habits. If you have any questions on this or you may want to know more, then we would love to hear from you. Click the button below for a free 1 Hour Ask Anything call and we can really dive into this or any other questions you may have.
Before You Go
We hope you enjoyed learning about the signs that you may have a velcro baby. If you would like to know more about this, our sleep learning, consulting or training programs or any of our excellent newborn care services, we are happy to help. Just contact us and we can go over your options and help you find the best path for your little one.
We hope these tips have helped you along your journey. If you have any questions about helping your baby to sleep better, or about your baby in general, please reach out to us HERE. We are experts in all things baby and sleep and would love to help!
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Katie has over 16 years experience working with children of all ages. As a Pediatric Sleep Consultant and Newborn Care Specialist, she has professionally supported families and babies worldwide over the last 10 years. Her mission is to help the entire family unit get better sleep, utilizing a holistic approach that supports the baby or child’s natural biologic drive to sleep. She has personally served hundreds of families, holds 20,000+ hours exclusively caring for infants & babies and has 69+ 5-⭐️ Google reviews.
