is your 2 year old just clingy when it comes to other people or when its something like leaving the room to use the bathroom, for example?

 My son has just turned 1 and is already very clingy so if i need to leave him for a minute I've got in the habit of saying something like "Mummy's just going to the loo and I'll be right back" and being smily and happy while saying it and waving. I do find its best not to leave when they're not looking because one minute you're there and the next your not and that can make it worse.

 My little one probably still doesn't quite understand what i mean but yours most likely will.

two year olds are clingy as that is the age they go from being a baby to a toddler hence the name the terrible twos.  when my first daughter was 2 i would let her do housework with me using her own things.  she had a clothes line with pegs, a vacuum cleaner, iron and ironing board and a shopping trolley and cash register.  i would wash her dolls clothes first so that she could hang them on her little line while i did my washing.  if you have more than one child, get the two year old to help you so that they feel important too.  my girls were 4,2 and 1.  my middle girl always needed to be busy, so my older daughter would pretend she was the mum when i had to attend to my youngest daughter.  this kept my 2 year old happy and my 4 year old enjoyed playing mum.

 It is normal for this age to be clingy. Separation anxiety heightens at about this age, some earlier and some later than others. My son's separation anxiety peaked between 18 months and 2 years old. I couldn't even leave him in a church nursery to attend a Sunday mass.   This is also more intense for first babies because they usually spend a lot more time with their mom.

The best thing I can say is that this phase will pass. Be encouraging when your child plays by himself/herself. Also, you can encourage independence and self-esteem by teaching him to be social with others when you are out and about meeting people. "can you say hi?", "can you tell them your name?" etc..

Good luck to you.