New as a SAHM to Toddler. Becoming Overly Attached to Me and Rejecting Father ;/

My daughter is a true "momma's child" as well, and it's something I've had to manage for a long time. I think some of them just do it for a phase and then change. We have had to force the issue a few times, giving me some nights out with the gals, and Dad became more acceptable for taking care of her. If it's often enough, at least once a month, her attitude is great about staying with Dad, but if it's been a long time, she still cries when I leave, and she's 4! You can start with 30-minute trips to the salon or grocery store if you want, and work up from there. Otherwise you're basically her slave, and that's not a good lesson for either of you. Good luck!

I'm not a SAHM, but through the years my son went back and forth quite a bit over favoring one parent over the other. Initially I was the hands down favorite. Then when he was 3 or 4, he liked Daddy a lot because he liked to look at all the fire trucks with him (and our son had his own tool belt and became Daddy's little helper). When school started up I was in the lead again. Now he's in middle school and I think he likes us both fairly equally. I'm wondering which one of us he'll favor when it's time to teach him how to drive. It's very normal. When you can, you've got to leave them together (you go out and run errands on your own) and give them their time to do things their own way.

Here is what your husband needs to do:

This was happening with us; my husband would say "oh your a momma's girl" I told him that's not it. I told my husband when he gets home to get down on his knees to say hi, then ask for a hug, and make the effort to play with our daughter as soon as he got home. I make sure he takes her with him when he is ready to change into house clothes and we all sit down to dinner together. I make certain to always do bath time together to keep that connection. Sure she gave him a look like what are you doing here, but after he got down on his knees and played with the toys on the side of the tub she was okay.

It all boils down to they feel abandoned by the other parent that leaves and worry that they will leave again. So as long as the parent that has been gone for a while showers them with immediate attention, love, and praise it all works out.

I hope it gets better for your husband soon. Tell him keep trying.

Almost every toddler goes through this, the phase of preferring one parent over another. It's totally normal and it's just that - a phase. Your husband really should not try to take it personally because it's not anything personal against him. She might even end up switching sides on you guys at some point once she decides Mommy is competition for Daddy's affection!

For now, you can try letting him take care of her for the day, maybe once a week make it Daddy's Day Out. Have him take her someplace special, just him and her, so it gives you a little bit of a break and gives them the opportunity to have some quality time together and positive experiences, and hopefully eventually she will start coming around.

Remember too that even at this age kids can be manipulative to some extent (as I am finding out with my 3-year-old!) and play off of your feelings to see what kind of power they have over Mom and Dad. This is when you can start giving her limited choices to help her feel like she has some control without letting her run the whole show. For example, she gets to pick whether she goes to the playground or the petting zoo with Daddy, but not whether she gets to go with Daddy or not Daddy.

not sure where he works, but when we had this my husband would come home for lunch occasionally and we would stop by and visit him. also weekends are daddy time. good luck. of course it will change as you know. peace.

Totally Normal. I am a stay at home mom and my DD was like this from infancy to 2yrs old. Daddy tried not to get his feelings hurt, but it was hard for him to be rejected by our daughter. I say enjoy it while it lasts, because as soon as my DD turned 2yrs old it was all about daddy! I quickly became aware of how daddy felt all that time. It does level off and even out with time. Just try to take it in stride. What could help is "Special" one on one time with the parent being avoided.

My older two girls were just like your daughter. My younger two were not as bad. Does your husband have a job where he can call each day? Or you can call him? My husband works in a cubicle so this is possible. It really helps for them to talk to daddy, even just for a minute. Then before he comes home i get the kids excited. I keep saying daddy will be home soon in my cheeriest voice :) It really does help. It really is normal....eventually she will run to the door for daddy, don't worry!

normal normal normal normal normal normal. and some day she'll switch allgiances and you'll feel left out. Tell your husband to have some patience. She needs mama right now. That will change as surely as the sun will rise in the East.

My dd never ever let me out of her sight for the first 4 years of her life. She's 8 now and completely, head over heels in love with her daddy. I'm chopped liver, and I'm so excited for them but I miss my baby. :)

Its normal.
tell Hubby do not take it personally....
It is all developmental based... and normal.

Oh girl, you are preaching to the choir on this one! It is totally normal, although a huge issue in my house! I'm sure that now that she's with you all the time she's become used to you doing all those things and now it's normal to you. She doesn't remember when you both worked and shared the duties, so it's natural for her to only want you...however...it can be really stressful.

I don't have much in the way of advice, but my daughter is exactly the same way and has been since pretty much forever (she'll be 3 on Saturday). There are times when I just say no, dad is helping you and that is the end of it. There are tears and lots of them and many times she has to go in time out to calm down. Sometimes she's fine with and sometimes the tantrums last for 20 minutes...you never really know what you're going to get. Yes, it's heartbreaking and I hate to do it, but on the outside we both stay strong and follow through b/c you need a break. Granted, it's not much of a break when it's filled with screaming and tantruming, but in my opinion, she has to learn that she doesn't make the rules.

Good luck! I know exactly how you feel!

This happened to me with my first girl. I had not been working and I went to work leaving her with the neighbor and her three daughters. But at night because she was clinging to me, my husband and I set up a family time before we put her to bed. We would take turns reading to her, one of us would hold her and the other do the reading. The next night we would switch roles. Then one night we would have a mommy only night followed by a daddy only night. She would get to pick one book. If it was a short story we allowed two shorts. When there were two, we would change places. On the weekends that we had nice weather in Chicago, Daddy got his day or a few hours.Which gave me time to catch up on house work or get a much needed nap. She got the attention and learned that Daddy was also there for her when I was busy and I could go to the bathroom with out her screaming. It was a good thing we were able to do that because I was soon pregnant with our second daughter. And my timebacame even more precious. Good luck and remember this to will pass.

My 5 and 8 year old STILL do this! So I just leave. I say "daddy is in charge right now, mommy will be back in 2 hours" and I leave and they are crying, etc as I leave, but of course, they are fine in a few minutes and everyone has a lovely time. This is just "the drama for the momma". Wait until you drop her off at preschool!!!

She is only a baby let you husband do what he wants to help with you daughter she will get use to daddy again give him a chance good luck A. raised 4 children 7 grandchildren A. no hills