My 1 YO will only show affection to mommy, not to daddy?

Question

About 2 weeks ago my little one started becoming very clingy to me (we had just moved into a new place, so I thought that was why) but as the time keeps going on, she seem to not want to have anything to do with Daddy. He is very active in taking care of her, so I can't figure out why she would suddenly scorn him. Any suggestions, is this normal? What can I do to make my hubby feel better, and what can I do to make my baby give him fair treatment?

Answer 1

my 3 year old has always liked me more and my 2 month old acts like she likes me more. it's just because you're the mommy and the kind gentle nature that all good moms treat their kids with. usually mommy is the sweet, kind, protecting parent and the daddy is seen as the stern, not so fun parent.  

Answer 2

My first child was the same until I returned to work when she was one.  I got a part time evening job which I went to when her Daddy came home from his job.  During the first week she would kick up an awful stink when she saw me get ready to go to work.  But by the second week she would get my work shoes out of the cupboard and put them at the front door for me at about lunch time!  Turns out when I gave them enough time on their own without me she bonded with Dad.  If you don't work, how about a trip to the movies or coffee out with a friend and leave them to?  Also please remember this is probably a (self preservation) phase and she may prefer Dad to you in 6 months time.

Tell hubby not to it to heart many babies do this.

Answer 3

It is common. I know that when I took my 13 months old in for her check-up, my Dr said that this will be the time that the baby will cling to the mom more. She said that she will get over it and start getting independent with in a year.  

Answer 4

The first thing that popped into my head was: Did he do something to her when he was alone? I am not implying he's an abuser, but it could be that he just snapped at her one day while you weren't there and now "mommy" is the protector and Daddy is the mean one......Or maybe it did go as far as abuse...I don't know but that was my first thought.

Answer 5

maybe when you aren't around he is doing something to her to make her not like him and want to be protected by you.

Answer 6

My 16 mo old became like this a few weeks back too,  now daddy is feeling left out.  I think it's called separation anxiety, especially if you have been home on mat leave for most of her 1st year.  

In order to make sure daddy got his "Kay & Dad" time, he has always been the one to give her a bath right from when she was first born, and he cuddles her to sleep.  That way, he can still feel involved, and I don't feel guilty because she's following me around the house the whole night!!

Maybe try giving him some set thing to do with her every night, like giving her a bath if she likes them, or reading her a nighttime story.

Answer 7

All of my kids were the same way.  They were very clingy and they wouldnt have much to do with daddy.  I think it was because mommy was the one who feed and bathed them and played with them and took care of them and daddy was always the one to get onto them about something.  I got him to spend more time alone with them and conviced him to not be so hard on them and they really opened up to him after a while.  

Answer 8

It is normal for toddlers to play favorites with parents.  It's nothing personal, so daddy shouldn't feel bad.  Give it a couple months, the phase will pass.  :)

Answer 9

That's very normal. Toddlers tend to cling to one parent and being a girl, she chose you, her mommy. She loves her Daddy but is just very clingy towards Mom right now. It's just a phase.

My daughter went through when she was that age. Don't worry about it!

Answer 10

Its because you are the mom. You have to remember that you carried your baby for 9 months and built a sense of comfort with that baby. There is nothing wrong with her clinging to you, tell your husband not to worry, she is just going through a stage where she feels better being with mommy. My son is 9 months old and he is like that too. He would rather me pick him up then my fiance. Its all about the mothers bond from the day you got pregnant. Treasure that while you can and one day she will start clinging on to him and not you. Just make sure he continues to do the same things he does with her now so she feels loved from both you and your husband.