Hi, is anyone finding their child is very shy, not saying a lot, clingy, won't go to people after spending most of their life in lockdown?

[F1988]

My son is 15 months old, was born October 2019 & has spent the majority of his life in lockdown. He went to a few playgroup sessions when he was very small (until 4 months) but come the end of March 2020 everything stopped. He hasn't been able to socialise with other children, has had both myself & my partner at home due to furlough & shielding so has become beyond clingy & has now become very shy around other family members.

The last 3 weeks (since after Christmas), he won't look at other people, has become very shy around family when they have to mind him & has stopped being as bubbly as he was, laughing, shouting, wicked etc.

He only has 2 bottom teeth to date but I've noticed his top gums are very raised & you can see 4 teeth in the gums as if they are about to break through.

I had no issues with my oldest son teething & also nobody has been in this situation such as a pandemic before.

Is anyone else having simular issues with their babies/children due to the pandemic? Has anyone experienced this with teething? Any tips, advice or feedback with be greatly appreciated. Xx

[Dansolo92]

My baby boy was born on the second day of lockdown in March 2020 and when it came to being able to visit family he wouldn't even let anybody look at him or he would scream. He did get used to people after time especially when I had to leave him to go and register him as he was not allowed to come with us. I was so worried but he was absolutely fine. He did eventually get used to family members. But when I have to take him shopping for food or for a walk and anybody speaks to him he gets upset and wants me to cuddle him. I genuinely think its so hard for them with this pandemic and they don't know any different really but I'm sure with time your baby will be fine and especially when he is teething he might be more clingy. My little boy has just cut his 2 bottom teeth too and he was so clingy. I think some babies just want their mummy when their gums hurt xx

[GemX81]

I had my youngest in April 2019 and I feel he has missed out on so much. He had his first birthday during the first lockdown so we could only celebrate as a family of four and not the whole family and close friend get together we would have liked. I am glad he has his older brother to play with but he's missed out on time with his grandparents, one of which passed away due to covid last month. When restrictions were lifted during the summer I could take him to see my parents and he was very shy and extremely clingy. I couldn't go to the toilet on my own in their house. And my little one would have been the same age as yours at the time. I think some of it is developmental at that time. They get separation anxiety. Now he's a bit older he will interact with my parents over Skype and we needed my parents to look after our children when we went to my father-in-law's funeral. And my youngest was fine. I think as he grows up and hopefully when this pandemic is over he will be fine.

Both my boys were late teethers and only had about 2 teeth at the same age as yours. They could both get quite fussy and just want cuddles! Calpol and cuddles! But it's tough. Wishing you all the best!

[copperkettle4]

I know your pain and your fears - I have a little girl born July 2019 so I worry about many of these things too, she's just turned 18 months. However 15/16 months is the height of separation anxiety so it is a particularly difficult age for shyness. I've read a number of articles which say until age 3 we are very much most of what they need and they just love having their caregivers nearby, so although its rubbish and sad what they are missing out on from our perspective in many ways its the least damaging time for them to experience this. x