Lovey attachment

Just over the course of this last week, my son (almost 20 months) has become very attached to his lovey. He’s had this lovey since birth, and for a while his pacifier was attached to it because it kept falling through the slats on his crib. Since removing the pacifier (around Christmas), we’ve started calling the lovey Binky in an effort to pretend nothing happened and the pacifier just fell off.

Anyway, over the course of the last week, Oliver has become VERY attached to Binky. For example, we went to three stores one day and I allowed him to bring Binky with him in the car (first time we’ve really done that.) He was fine in the first store, in the second store he threw a fit because Binky had been left in the car, and I allowed him to bring Binky into the third store where everything was fine again. (Bad Mommy, I know, but he’s my first so I’m learning as I go.)

He has also thrown tantrums when we have to take a bath and I refuse to allow him to take Binky (although I explain that Binky doesn’t like to get wet, lol.) Today, he refused to eat lunch unless he was allowed to hold Binky, which I did give in to because I didn’t want him to go hungry (again, bad Mommy!)

I read online that lovey attachment peaks between 18-24 months which fits his age perfectly. I’m also 23 weeks pregnant and really starting to show so maybe he feels that something is different/changing and needs the extra reassurance of keeping Binky close? He has done very well from the first day we took the pacifier away so I don’t think that is the cause of this behavior. I’ve also noticed that his attachment behavior increases significantly heading into his nap time, which makes complete sense.

I guess my question is, is anyone else’s 18-24 month old exhibiting the same behavior? How do you recommend limiting the attachment during certain activities like eating (because I really don’t want Binky at the dinner table.) Should I make a “Binky stays home” policy and not allow him to come with us to stores, etc? (If he does leave the house he will need to stay in the car for fear of getting lost or becoming a germ carrier, IMO.) Help a FTM out!