Babies and toddlers go through seperation anxiety, so it sounds like that’s what’s happening.
Have you left him with someone else for longer than usual or something recently, that might have triggered it?
My kids all went through seperation anxiety but my youngest went through it a second time really bad after I left him with famiily to go for a night out (first time I’d done that since he was born). Following that his seperation anxiety went through the roof and I ended up deciding to put him in daycare two days a week to break the seperation anxiety, but also to give him the opportunity to play with kids his own age and be ok having someone else looking after him.
It’s worked well for our family as now I get a bit of time to myself to get housework done and things like that.
Try not to worry too much though because this phase should go away, just needs some time and remember that everyone is different so what worked for my family mightn’t be the answer for you.

This is a phase they go through, soon it will be something else. When you are going to leave the room tell him you are going and what you will be doing and invite him to come with you as you need his help and let him help with some tiny task. Play hide and seek games, this makes fun out of you not always being in his reach/sight. Because he is clingy in the afternoon, set some of this time aside for some quiet play or story time with you.

nawww I wish mine were still so clingy

This happens a lot and my son and daughter was the same but I kind of got them to sit down to toys and played with them for a while and then they were OK.

Maybe he’s tired in the afternoon?

If it’s in the afternoon only I think he might just be tired and grumpy. They always seem to want Mummy when they get tired!

thats hard my son did that and the thing that helped was leaving him home with daddy for a bit while i did shopping ..

What do you think has happened that makes him anxious when you are not around! Try putting him into kids classes, mothers groups so he can see other kids and how they behave. Get him to care a few days a week to get used to you not around and so it helps him realise it is going to be ok if you are not there. Good luck

How is he going now?

Mine is very clingy when she is tired

i hope you’ve had some change

I think it is a phase that they go through and then they can’t seem to get away from you quick enough. 19 month old who seems to want to be on her own and not hang out with mum!

Hope you found the answer you were looking for.

Hope you found out why

You could carry him around in a baby sling while doing the house work