Why Do Babies Follow You Around? (ANSWERED)

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Why Do Babies Follow You Around?

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There are has been many beliefs that have pointed to the idea that babies recognize their parents the first moment you hold their hands.

By 4 to 6 months, babies will surely be quite clingy to their parents; they will turn to you for everything, especially when upset. Babies use body language to communicate and are likely to have a particular response just for you.

Since the beginning, people have wondered how traits are being emulated from generation to generation. When answering why babies follow their parents around, it is important to keep an open mind as there is a logical and not-so-logical answers to this question.

The primary reason your baby follows you around is that you are the center of their world and their safety net. Your baby’s braid starts developing in the womb, and they already recognize your voice when they arrive. As they grow older, their ability to recognize voices, faces, and even miss people around develops.

Babies can start to follow their parents around for many reasons, and understanding the reason behind it can help you plan how to make them independent. The bonding process between a mother and her baby is entirely normal; although it might take days for some mothers to bond, it is important not to feel pressured during this period.

Why is Bonding With Your Baby Important?

First, before you figure out why your baby follows you around, you should understand why bonding with them is vital. Although most babies are ready to bond immediately, it has been discovered that the bonding process can be different for some parents; they might have mixed feelings about this.

When you are a new parent, it might take time to understand your newborn, but luckily bonding is a process, so it can take minutes for some parents. For others, it can take a while hence it is not something that is limited to happening within a certain period.

Babies recognize their mother’s scent even before they are born and as early as 16 weeks in utero, they have started listening to everyone who is around frequently. Toddlers are also very affectionate, so they always want to be in close contact with you. In addition, it can help to pay attention to your baby’s different types of cries, this can go a long way in helping with bonding.

Why Do Babies Follow You Around?

Why Do Babies Follow You Around?
Image: The New York Times

Within a month or so of your baby’s birth, they already know how to respond to you and your facial expressions mainly, and coupled with feeling secure with you, they are likely to follow you around since you understand them better. Toddlers love knowing someone will always be there for them and one of the ways they express their safety and love is to follow you around.

Separation anxiety is another reason babies do follow their parents around. Anxiety can also be triggered by other things like feeling unwell, not having a consistent daily routine, or facing a new situation. Some babies do not do well with new environment or face so if your baby suddenly starts following you around or become clingy, try to figure out what changed.

When things seem scary and unsure for your kids, they turn toward you; they are essentially asking for support and love. Babies following their parents around is totally normal; however it might be best to help them be independent, especially when it’s time for them to attend nursery.

How to Stop Your Toddler From Following You Everywhere

While it is so adorable and beautiful to have your baby follow you around, it can be hard to deal with and become overwhelming sometimes.

Toddlers will go through many stages and as they progress in age and each step, they will become less clingy and independent.

However, being clingy between around 3 and 4 years has been discovered to be expected, and they may develop the fear of being separated from their parents.

A baby’s ability to recognize people continue to develop as they grow, and they will begin to test their limit while still wanting to please you. You have to encourage your child and allow them to slowly build their confidence which will enable them to interact with the outside world without your constant support. The tips below should help you.

  • Provide a safe and regular routine for them
  • Do not try to separate them from you when you work rather you can get them to work alongside you and stop and pay attention when they show you something
  • Understand why they are following you around
  • Encourage them to play independently while offering verbal support too
  • Never sneak away
  • Stay calm and confident when adjusting to a new environment like the nursery
  • You can also help them focus on their favorite time, especially bedtime.

Why do Babies Prefer a Certain Person?

It is quite common for babies to pick a favorite person as they tend to evaluate people the same way adults do.

Showing preference for a particular person is an essential part of their development. They can quickly form a special bond with their caregivers for their social, physical, and emotional well-being.

Wrapping Up

Your baby following around it is just their way of telling you they love you and find you to be their safety net. Studies have also shown that physical contact between babies and their parents can affect the chemicals inside your child’s brain, thereby making them clingy.

As your baby grows older, as their worries and fears go away, they will learn to be independent and not follow you. This might be sad, but it is also good that they are learning to cope and grow without needing constant support.

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